UK sets new wind power record

The UK set a new renewable energy record this week, with wind generating more than 16 gigawatts (GW) of electricity.

On Sunday, a new renewable energy record was set when wind generated more than 16 gigawatts (GW) of electricity in Britain for the first time, providing more than 40% of power.

Storm Aiyah - the first named weather system of the new winter season – blew in on Sunday night, bringing gusts of almost 80mph.

Renewable UK said that the previous wind energy record (15.32GW) was set on 8th February this year.  

National Grid broke the news on Twitter, saying the wind energy generation was enough to power 8 million kettles.

 That's enough #electricity to power 8 million kettles! Or 140 large hadron colliders! https://t.co/1XuKqcl37O

— ESO Control Room (@NGControlRoom) December 9, 2019

Their data shows that overall, on Sunday, wind provided 43.7% of British electricity, Nuclear supplied 20.5%, Gas supplied 12.8%, biomass 7.9%, imports 7.4%, coal 3.1%, hydro 1.7%, solar 1.3%, storage 1.1% and other sources 0.5%.

RenewableUK’s, Director of Strategic Communications, Luke Clark said: “This new British clean energy record is a great early Christmas present, and shows just how important wind is in an energy system that’s changing rapidly. On a dark cold Sunday when we need it most, wind was providing more than 40% of our power, far more than any other source of electricity. Wind energy is at the heart of our modern power system, enabling us to take practical action against dangerous climate change”.