New record high: 22% of UK electricity from wind

The UK’s onshore and offshore wind turbines generated an average of 5,797 megawatts (MW) on Sunday – enough to power more than 15 million homes at this time of year, according to the statistics from National Grid.

RenewableUK’s Director of External Affairs, Jennifer Webber, said “We’re seeing very high levels of generation from wind throughout August so far, proving yet again that onshore and offshore wind has become an absolutely fundamental component in this country’s energy mix. It also shows that wind is a dependable and reliable source of power in every month of year – including high summer”.

On Sunday 17^th August, wind was generating a greater proportion of the UK’s electricity needs than coal (which was providing 13%), solar (3%), biomass (3%) and hydro (1%). Nuclear generated 24% and gas 26%.

Notes:

• National Grid statistics supplied to RenewableUK by independent data analysts EnAppSys http://www.enappsys.com/
• 22% = 17% metered wind (turbines feeding directly into the high voltage grid) + 5% embedded wind (turbines feeding into local networks).
• 22% is the highest proportion of the UK’s electricity needs ever generated from wind over a 24-hour period (5,797MW average over the 24-hour period on Sunday 17^th Aug).