In the second quarter of 2015, the UK generated more of its electricity from renewable-energy sources than from burning coal for the first time, according to new Government statistics.
A record-breaking 25.3% of the UK’s power came from renewable sources in the three months to June, up from just 16.7% in the second quarter of 2014.
The surge in renewable energy was led by solar power, which more than doubled between the second quarters of 2014 and 2015.
Electricity generated from wind rose by 65% during the same period, helped by the expansion of several large-scale offshore wind farms (wind speeds were 1.4 knots higher, leading to more output from turbines), while hydro-electric generation also increased due to the wet weather experienced in May and June.
Biomass energy, which is also classed as renewable, increased following the conversion of part of Drax (the UK’s biggest coal-fired power plant) to burn wood.
The drop in coal power also reflected the closure or temporary shutdown of other coal power stations and an increase in the UK’s carbon tax, which made coal plants less profitable to run.
A spokesman from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change) said: “Government support has driven down the cost of renewable energy significantly, enabling it to compete with other technologies.
“Our priority is now to move towards a low-carbon economy while ensuring that subsidies are used where they are needed most, which provides the best value for money for hard-working bill-payers.”