New data shows** that last month (August) was an exceptional month for the wind industry in the UK – with new records set and generation levels exceeding both nuclear and coal, according to official National Grid statistics.
On five separate occasions, wind overtook coal-fired plants for generation over a single day – the first time this has ever happened.
Wind-powered electricity exceeded coal on August 3, 9, 11, 12, and 17. Towards the end of the month, onshore and offshore wind generated more than the nuclear fleet on the 29 August (5,805MW from wind compared to 5,379MW for nuclear).
On 11 August, wind also set a new daily record when it provided 21% of the UK’s electricity needs. Previously, the daily record stood at 20% set on 20 December 2013.
A spokesman for RenewablesUK said: “Wind energy is increasingly taking its place as the UK’s new powerhouse
“It continues to surpass its own records, and these figures prove that can happen at any time of year. As we approach autumn and winter, we can expect wind to maintain this strong August’s performance and provide electricity when demand is especially high”.
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National Grid statistics provided by independent data analysts EnAppSys http://www.enappsys.com/ This includes National Grid estimates for embedded wind (turbines feeding into local networks)
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