UK renewables exceed gas-fired power generation for first time

• 4 years ago (2019-12-20)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Renewables 751

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Renewable electricity generation in the UK between July and September 2019 has outstripped the share coming from gas for the first time, according to the Government’s latest energy trends data. Renewable technologies produced 38.9 per cent of the total over the three-month period, compared with 38.8 per cent from gas. Generation from gas fell by 1.2 per cent compared with Q3 2018. Coal fell to one per cent of the UK’s energy generation, a 61 per cent fall from Q3 2018.

According to data from the Department for Business, Energy, and Industry Strategy (BEIS), there were increases in output for all categories of renewables, but were particularly substantial for wind and solar, jointly up 22 per cent to 18TWh, as well as hydropower generation, which rose by 58 per cent to 1.4TWh.

The growth of renewables was driven both by a 7.2 per cent rise in capacity, and favourable weather conditions, particularly for offshore wind generation, according to BEIS.

Rebecca Williams, Head of Policy and Regulation for RenewableUK, said that the UK grid has hit a “historic tipping point.” She said: “This is great news for all of us who are committed to reaching net zero emissions as fast and as cheaply as possible.”

The National Grid has predicted that over 2019, zero carbon power – renewables plus nuclear – will outstrip fossil fuels on the British grid for the first time, and it said that the data suggested that this prediction was on course for being correct.

The UK’s coal-fired power plants are continuing to come offline. Cottam Power Station closed on 30 September, and Aberthaw B and Fiddlers Ferry will close in March 2020.