Almost 30% of the UK’s electricity in 2017 was generated from renewables, nearly a 5% increase on the previous year, as increased solar and wind installations continue to decarbonise the UK’s energy and electricity mix. The UK Government’s latest Digest of UK Energy Statistics found that renewables accounted for 29.3% of the UK’s electricity in 2017, up from 24.5% in 2016. Wind power accounted for half of the renewables mix, with 8.6% source from onshore wind and 6.2% from offshore. In total, electricity generated from wind power increased by 11% compared to 2016 levels.
Edie 26th July 2018 read more »
Almost 30 per cent of UK power generation last year came from renewable sources, according to official government statistics that today confirm a raft of clean energy records were toppled in 2017. The latest edition of the DUKES energy statistics confirm the UK’s reliance on coal power continued to fall sharply throughout 2017 with overall coal generation falling 27 per cent year-on-year. Gas power generation also fell 4.6 per cent, as output from renewables soared 19.5 per cent compared to 2016. As a result renewables accounted for a record 29.3 per cent of all power generation during the year, up from 24.5 per cent in 2016. Increased renewables capacity, primarily through wind and solar deployment, coupled with relatively favourable weather conditions to drive the record-breaking performance.
Business Green 26th July 2018 read more »
The UK Government’s latest annual energy statistics show that renewable energy – and wind in particular – is consolidating its central role as a mainstream power. Figures published in the energy sector’s ‘bible,’ the Digest of UK Energy Statistics, confirm definitively that 29.3% of the UK’s electricity was generated from renewables in 2017 – up from 24.5% in 2016. Half of this came from wind alone, which provided 14.8% of the UK’s power (8.6% from onshore wind and 6.2% from offshore) – up from 11% in 2016. The publication also confirmed that the carbon intensity of the UK’s power supply has fallen to record low levels. On average, a kilowatt hour of electricity generated last year produced 225 g of CO2, down from 483 g in 2012. This reduction has been driven by a huge reduction in our use of coal and the rapid growth of zero-carbon renewables.
Offshore Wind Journal 27th July 2018 read more »
Today’s UK energy statistics reveal that renewable electricity generation increased by around 20 per cent in just one year so that 29.3 per cent of electricity consumed came from renewable energy in 2017. If at least 80 per cent of the offshore windfarms now in different stages of planning (let alone other renewable energy sources) come online, as could be expected, in the next 7 years, then renewable energy will comprise half of total UK electricity generation by 2025. Electricity consumption fell once again in the year 2017 compared to 2016. Electricity consumption is now 9 per cent less than it was in 2010. over 20 GWe of offshore wind are in various stages of planning and construction. In total these would generate around 25 per cent of UK electricity. Since the Government are saying they will hold auctions for offshore wind and some other renewables in 2019 and 2021 this means that a lot of them will be built by 2025. Of course we are going to have substantially more onshore wind and solar by 2025 to buttress these figures (although the Government are doing very little to help) meaning that electricity generated from renewable energy will top 50 per cent of total consumption in 2025/6.
Dave Toke’s Blog 26th July 2018 read more »
Keith Barnham has asked us to point out that if the UK Government hadn’t cut subsidies to renewables they could have provided 100% of our electricity by 2025.
Nature February 2016 (accessed) 26th July 2018 read more »
In response to BEIS’ publication of energy statistics, Kate Blagojevic, Head of Energy at Greenpeace UK, said “These highly encouraging figures show how onshore wind power stepped up and powered Britain when it had some political support. Unfortunately that support for onshore wind, and also solar power, has been effectively dismantled and replaced with huge public subsidies for a new nuclear programme and a planning system designed to foist fracking on communities that don’t want it. The government urgently needs to provide reliable support for these renewable industries that can deliver low cost energy, as well as turning its attention to reducing emissions from cars, planes and heating our homes, if we are to meet our climate targets.”
Greenpeace 26th July 2018 read more »
An MP-led inquiry into the technologies needed to support the government’s Clean Growth Strategy and meet the UK’s legally-binding climate change targets has been launched by Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee. Written evidence is being sought by the Committee until 26 October as part of the inquiry, which was launched yesterday. It will look at how the development and deployment of clean technology can be best supported, and to what extent technologies can help meet future emissions reduction goals.
Business Green 27th July 2018 read more »
