Low carbon power provided half of the UK’s electricity between July and
September, official figures show.
Renewables such as wind, solar and biomass produced a quarter of the UK’s
electricity in the third quarter of 2016, while nuclear power was
responsible for another 25%, the Government data reveals.
Meanwhile coal fell to historic lows, contributing just 3.6% of the UK’s
power mix, down from 16.7% for the same period the previous year, as the
polluting fossil fuel continued to decline.
The Government has said it wants coal power plants which do not have
technology fitted to store emissions to be phased out by 2025 to tackle
climate change.
Gas’s share of electricity generation rose from 34.8% in July to September
2015 to 43.6% for the period this year.
In Scotland, where 42% of electricity came from renewables, low carbon
power’s share of the mix was more than three-quarters (77%), although coal
contributed 16% of the power over the three months.
Low carbon generation in the third quarter was up to 50% from 45.3% in the
same period last year, with nuclear and renewables on the increase.
Industry body RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive Maf Smith said: “The
Government took the right decision when it announced the phasing out of
coal, and its confidence in low carbon generation has been repaid by growth
in the sector.
“Renewables are now part of our energy mainstream, helping us modernise the
way we keep the lights on by building new infrastructure for the
generations to come.
“Wind is playing a central role as a reliable part of our new modern energy
system, delivering reliable low carbon power at low cost.”
A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(Beis) said: “We have made a firm commitment to reducing the UK’s carbon
emissions, and these statistics show that we are doing exactly that.
“Nearly £52 billion has been invested in renewables in the UK since 2010,
and just last month we reiterated our commitment to spend a further £730
million per year supporting new renewable projects over the course of this
parliament.”
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