Offshore and onshore wind farms generated more than one-third of the UK’s electricity last week, more than any other power source, according to industry body RenewableUK.
Data supplied by analysts Aurora Energy Research for the period 8 to 14 March shows that 35.6% of the UK’s power was provided by wind, compared to 31.2% by gas, 21.3% by nuclear, 6.7% by biomass, 2.6% by coal, 1.8% by hydro and 0.8% from other sources.
Offshore wind alone generated 21.4% of the UK’s electricity supply during the last week – which is more than nuclear.
“We’ve had a very blustery week, and that’s good news because wind has outstripped every other power source,” said Emma Pinchbeck, RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive.
“It’s further proof that wind is playing a central role in keeping Britain powered up at a chilly time of the year.
“It’s also interesting to see that offshore wind outperformed nuclear – showing the way our modern energy mix is changing, with low-cost wind energy becoming the backbone of our clean energy system.”
The new generation figures came in the week following the agreement of an offshore wind ‘sector deal’ between the government and industry which will see the current 7.9GW of offshore wind capacity in the UK grow to over 30GW by 2030.
Britain’s troubled nuclear sector is under intense scrutiny with UK lawmakers having this month launched an inquiry into the ‘giant hole’ in energy policy left by the shelving of projects at the Moorside and Wylfa sites.
