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UK renewables approach all time high of 10 per cent
- 12 years ago (2011-09-30)
- Junior Isles
Renewable electricity contributed an all time high of 9.6 per cent of the UK's power generation mix in the second quarter of this year, statistics released by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change have revealed.
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The 7.86 TWh contributed by green energy generators represented a 50 per cent rise on the same time last year.
The surge in green energy was led primarily by wind power, which saw its output rise 120 per cent year on year, with hydroelectricity rising 75 per cent year on year.
Nuclear energy also saw a significant boost, increasing by 38 per cent to 17.44 TWh, making up 21 per cent of the UK's overall supply, its highest since 2006. This put nuclear on a level with coal, which recorded 18.14 TWh of output, accounting for 22 per cent of all electricity generated.
Natural Gas still contributed the most at 44 per cent of UK electricity supply, but this was well down on 2010’s 53 per cent. Gas output fell 18.3 per cent to 36.37 TWh.
Total electricity supplied by all generators in the second quarter of 2011 was 1.7 per cent lower than a year earlier, while consumption of electricity fell by 1.6 per cent.
The large increase in low carbon generation is partly the result of weather-related variations and 2010’s below average figures. Wind output was relatively low during the second quarter of 2010, while a warm UK spring likely contributed to the fall in overall energy use.
However, supporters of renewable energy will also point to a steady increase in capacity evidenced by the opening of new offshore wind farms and biomass power plants as one of the factors behind the sector's strong performance.
The statistics also confirm Scotland's leading role in the UK’s renewable generation. In 2010, the country had around 20 per cent more renewables generating capacity than England, although generation south of the border was actually 45 per cent higher owing to intensive use of biofuels.
Similarly, wind generation in Scotland last year was nearly one third more than in England, and almost five times greater than in Wales.