UK generates most power from wind for first time out stripping coal and gas
In June this year, the UK produced more electricity from wind turbines outstripping the traditional gas and coal powered generators for the first time, according a report from Drax Electric Insights.
Fossil fuels have traditionally led the way as our primary source of electricity generation but with wind taking the load in June, carbon emissions also dropped to a three year low which is great news for the environment.
The analysis from Imperial College London, conducted by Drax, says that wind capacity reached 27.9GW in June, above the 27.7GW installed gas capacity of gas generation.
It marks the first time in more than a century that the UK has more installed wind capacity than gas generation.
Dr Iain Staffell of Imperial College London, who leads the Drax Electric Insights report series, commented: “Wind power is blowing away gas and coal from Britain’s energy mix, and in just a decade, we’ve gone from relying completely on the polluting fuels of the past to embracing the clean energy technologies of the future.
“The shift to wind as the largest power source by capacity is a clear sign of the progress we’ve made, showing countries around the world that they can decarbonise their power grids when government and industry work together.”
We have no choice but to move away from fossil fuels to the sake of our planet and the fact that carbon dioxide emissions resulting from electricity production dipped to less than ten million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the second quarter of 2023, the new strategy is working.
The only thing we have to accept is the cost of generating electricity from wind is currently more expensive than the more traditional fossil fuel methods.
As the UK rushes to build more renewable infrastructure this is the price that we all have to pay for a sustainable future.
This does mean that business electricity prices are not going to return to pre-energy price crisis levels.
As a business owner, we all just need to adapt the best we can and keep our bills as low as possible.