Gas generated more than 40% of UK electricity in 2016 while renewable power dips 2% and coal falls by 12%

The proportion of British electricity generated by gas thermal power rose by more than one-third in 2016 compared to the previous year.

According to the latest figures from the Dept. of Business & Energy (BEIS): –

• Gas’ share of generation increased from 29.5 per cent to 42.4 per cent.
• Coal’s share of generation decreased from 22.3 per cent to 9.1 per cent with a record low generation of 30.7 TWh as a result of a reduction in coal capacity, the closure of coal sites and the conversion of a unit at Drax from coal to high-range co-firing.
• Renewables’ share of electricity generation fell from 24.6 per cent in 2015 to 24.4 per cent in 2016 due to lower wind speeds, less rainfall and fewer sun hours.

Overall, low carbon electricity’s share of generation increased marginally from 45.4 per cent in 2015 to 45.6 per cent in 2016.

Net imports of electricity, were 17.5 TWh, making up 5.2 per cent of electricity supplied in 2016 and were down 16.2 per cent from 20.9 TWh in 2015. This fall was largely due to decreased imports from France, as a result of maintenance and damage to the interconnector in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The total amount of electricity generated in 2016 fell by 0.2 per cent from 339.1 TWh in 2015 to 338.6 TWh