UK solar output achieves record high

• 10 days ago (2024-07-17)
• David Flin

Europe 1075 Gas 382 Renewables 762 Solar 254

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Montel Analytics has reported that solar generation in the UK achieved its highest level ever for any quarter since Covid lockdown in 2020, increasing from 4.90TWh in Q2 2023 to 5.10TWh in Q2 2024.

At the same time, UK gas-fired generation fell by over a third to 13.4TWh, its lowest level for 20 years. The price of gas was high, varying between £21.26/MWh and £30.06/MWh over the quarter, and finishing Q2 at £27.35/MWh.

Due to mild weather conditions, average demand on the transmission system fell to 23.5GW, the lowest Q2 figure since 2020. Increased embedded generation from solar sources also contributed to this decline.

Renewable sources contributed 47 per cent to the overall power generation mix in Great Britain, with wind output reaching 17.2TWh, biomass 6.8TWh, and hydropower 1.1TWh. Total power generation, at 54.6TWh, decreased by 17 per cent compared to Q1 2024.

Phil Hewitt, Director at Montel Analytics said: “Solar generation rose by 4 per cent on Q2 last year, which is lower than the previous year-on-year growth in Q2 2023 but this is in the context of some pretty horrible weather.”