The UK’s renewable generation sector has started the year in full force with 4 January seeing 87.6% of zero carbon electricity generated onto the grid – a new record.
This is according to the National Grid ESO which detailed the record had been achieved at the start of 2023. This showcases the progress that has been made in the UK’s renewable generation sector and how, with further projects being connected to the grid, the UK could well hit 100% renewables in the near future.
This record also provides a boost to the renewable sector with the UK having established a target of achieving a 100% decarbonised energy system by 2035. The nation has an interim target in which the energy system will in part run at net zero by 2025 which is still on track, the ESO said.
The new record surpasses a previous one that had been set on 30 December in which renewables and nuclear generated in a half-hour period 87.2% of the electricity mix.
“It’s great to see that we’ve also set a new record of nearly 90% of our electricity generated by low carbon sources, as it demonstrates the enormous amount of progress which the UK has made in moving away from fossil fuels, getting us closer to our net zero goal,” said RenewableUK’s CEO Dan McGrail.
The end of 2022 saw another record broken by the UK renewable generation sector. The ESO confirmed that the wind generation record had been broken on the 30 December for a third time in 2022. On this day, wind generation reached 20.918GW in a half-hour period between 6 and 6:30pm. This is just higher than the previous record that was set on 2 November which stood at 20.896GW.
Analysis from Imperial College London showcased that the UK sector had a strong showing in 2022 with the data having suggested that renewables accounted for around 40% of Britain’s electricity mix last year. In comparison to figures in the previous decade, this has quadrupled.
