Renewables contributed a record share of electricity generation in the third quarter of this year, according to new government statistics.
The UK Energy statistics bulletin for July to September, published yesterday (21 December) shows renewable generation was 22.3 TWh, which equated to 30 per cent of total generation.
While 11 per cent below the peak quarterly record of 25.1 TWh recorded in the first three months of this year, it was the highest figure recorded for Q3.
The total amount of electricity generated by renewables was 15 per cent higher than in the equivalent quarter of 2016, while the share of total output was up by 4.6 per cent.
Renewable electricity capacity totalled 38.9 GW at the end of the third quarter of 2017, a rise of 4.4 GW compared to a year earlier. Half of the 13 per cent increase was accounted for by a rise in onshore wind capacity.
Generation from onshore and offshore wind rose by 20 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.
Of electricity generated in the third quarter of 2017, the proportion accounted for by coal and gas fell to a record low of 42 per cent.
Of this, gas accounted for 39.1 per cent and coal 2.9 per cent. The total power generated by gas and coal decreased by 11 per cent and 20 per cent respectively compared with the same quarter in 2016.
Nuclear accounted for 24.4 per cent of total generation.
Total energy used rose by 1.7 per cent compared to the third quarter of 2016, mainly fuelled by an 8.5 per cent increase in domestic consumption that reflected cooler weather during the period. On a temperature corrected basis, final energy consumption rose by 0.9 per cent, according to the statistics.
Dr Jonathan Marshall, energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: “This latest record is yet another nail in the coffin for the claim that renewables cannot be a sizeable part of the UK’s electricity mix. Initial fears that high levels of variable output over short time periods could destabilise the national grid have been proven wrong, and now similar concerns over the integration of longer periods of renewable output have also been shown to hold no weight.
“As the technology to integrate more wind and solar improves, these headline figures are set to become more and more frequent. At the same time, record low prices for new renewables will bring bills down for British homes and businesses, on top of maintaining the UK’s leading position in the global battle against climate change.”