UK wind turbines spinning to record levels in early 2018

Energy data for the first three months of 2018 have shown that wind energy is the UK’s star performer, having rewritten records across the board.

Energy consultancy, Enappsys, compiled the official National Grid figures, which show wind turbines reaching new heights for daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly output.

Wind power produced a quarterly high of 15.8 terawatt hours (TWh), a 39 percent increase on the same period last year. Windy conditions and new capacity helped push all renewable production to an all-time high of 25TWh, which represents 29 percent of all Great Britain’s power needs over the period.

By contrast, coal-fired power plants continued their decline and generated 9.4 percent of power; gas remained in pole position with 37.3 percent.

Early reports in March had concluded that the UK’s spell of inclement weather, dubbed the Beast from the East, had helped it provide high levels of renewable production. These latest findings show windy conditions have persisted throughout the early months of the year.

The latest data also confirms recent data that showed Scotland had a record-breaking start to the year for onshore wind generation.

Enappsys director Paul Verrill said: “The performance of renewables highlights just how important this electricity source – and particularly wind – has become to Britain’s power mix.” 

The company’s quarterly report also concludes that: “With offshore wind farms now being a very cheap and relatively uncontroversial source of additional renewables generation, these levels of wind generation are expected to continue to rise, with additional generation also set to be released once the Western Link (subsea cable) becomes operational”.

                                 Official data show the exponential growth in wind power in recent years

 

Photo Credit: chpv.co.uk/SSE/RWE