Record-breaking wind generated over one-third of electricity last week - more than any other source

RenewableUK is highlighting that fact that Great Britain’s onshore and offshore wind farms  generated more electricity than any other source of power last week.  

38% of our electricity was provided by wind – a new weekly record - compared to 28.5% by gas, 20.9% by nuclear, 7.3% by biomass, 2.5% by coal, 2% by hydro and 0.8% from other sources, between Monday 11^th and Sunday 17^th March, according to data supplied by independent analysts Aurora Energy Research.

Offshore wind alone generated 23.3% of our electricity last week – more than nuclear.  The new generation figures follow the announcement of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal between the Government and industry which will see the current 7,899 megawatts of offshore wind capacity in the UK grow to over 30,000MW by 2030.    

RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Emma Pinchbeck said: “We’ve had a very blustery week, and that’s good news because wind has outstripped every other power source. It’s further proof that wind is playing a central role in keeping Britain powered up at a chilly time of the year”.

“It’s also interesting to see that offshore wind outperformed nuclear, showing the way our modern energy mix is changing, with low-cost wind energy becoming the backbone of our clean energy system”.

“This comes just after the announcement of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, which will see our industry grow to support 27,000 highly-skilled jobs by 2030, and the UK’s offshore wind supply chain generating billions every year in exports, as well as providing more goods and services for offshore wind projects in UK waters”.

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For further information, please contact:

• Luke Clark, Head of External Affairs 0207 901 3037 or 07973 481 907 Luke.Clark@RenewableUK.com

• Robert Norris, Head of Communications, 0207 901 3013 or 07969 229 913 Robert.Norris@RenewableUK.com

  Notes:

1. RenewableUK’s members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity. We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 400 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and access markets to export all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.
   
   

2. The previous weekly record for wind, 29.6 %, was set Mon 4th-Sun 10^th March 2019. This beat 28.1%, set Mon 17^th-Sun 23^rd Sept 2018.
   
   

3. More on Aurora Energy Research is available here.