Strong winds help record surge in green energy

BRITAIN generated more of its electricity from renewable sources than from burning coal for the first time during the second quarter of 2015, as more wind and solar farms were built.

A record 25.3 per cent of the UK’s power came from wind, solar, biomass and hydro-electric sources in the three months to June, up from 16.7 per cent in the same period last year.

By contrast the share of electricity from coal-fired power stations fell to 20.5 per cent from 28.2 per cent. The biggest power source was gas, which provided 30.2 per cent of UK electricity, while nuclear generated 21.5 per cent. The Government has encouraged the shift to green energy through subsidies for renewable generation and punitive measures on coal plants as it seeks to meet climate change targets.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change said the record figures reflected not only more capacity, such as big new offshore wind farms, but also “more favourable weather condi- tions for renewable generation”. Wind speeds were 1.4 knots higher, leading to more output from turbines, while hydro-electric power was boosted by the rainy weather in May and June.

Electricity generated by solar energy more than doubled, following a rush by developers to build new solar farms before their subsidies were cut in April.

Biomass energy, which is also classed as renewable, also increased following the conversion of part of Drax, Britain’s biggest coal-fired power plant, to burn wood instead.