UK power generation becoming increasingly renewable. Government data has attributed this to windfarms, with wind generation increasing by 15%.
Solar also increased by 21% in the first quarter of 2022 allowing low carbon electricity to the source of over 60% of the UK’s generation.
Due to increasing gas prices and declining gas reserves, this increase of low carbon energy is likely to continue. This could be a vital development in the decarbonisation of the UK power system, as planned for 2035 by the UK Government.
Jess Ralston, a Senior Analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “For every megawatt of renewable power this winter, that’s basically a megawatt less of gas power we have to source and pay for.
“This trend is only set to continue with recently commissioned wind projects four times cheaper than current gas and new farms coming online every year. This will protect us from gas price shocks in the long term particularly as the North Sea is a declining basin and fracking is so unpopular with voters.”