Latest official energy stats show wind leading the way - while coal drops to almost nothing

The Government’s latest Energy Trends report shows 35.5% of the UK’s electricity was generated by renewables in the second quarter of the year, up 3.5% from the same period last year. 

The report notes that “wind generation that was the driving factor” as onshore wind generation increased by 13% while “the increase was even more dramatic for offshore wind” which was 25% higher than the same quarter in 2018. Wind generated 44% of renewable electricity in Q2 2019.

The document also states that this was the first quarter since the 19^th century in which coal fell below 1% of total generation, providing just 0.6% of the UK’s electricity between April and June. The report highlights, in particular, that “coal’s share of supply fell to a record low of 0.2 per cent in May after just 5 days of coal-fired generation on the GB grid during the month and the UK’s longest period without coal generation since the 1880s, at 18 days and 6 hours”.

RenewableUK’s Director of Strategic Communications Luke Clark said: “The latest official statistics show wind is leading the way in cleaning up the UK power system, with coal generation dropping to historic lows.

“This month’s landmark steps forward for offshore wind, with a record amount of new capacity secured at record low prices and a further round of development announced, means that we’ll see renewables reaching ever higher levels in the next ten years.

"Now is the time to push all of our renewable energy sources, including onshore wind and innovative tidal and floating offshore wind, so that we reach net zero emissions as quickly as possible”.