A record high of 22% of the UK’s electricity was generated by wind on Sunday (17August), beating the previous 24-hour record of 21% set earlier this month on 11 August). Before that, the record stood at 20%, set on 20 December 2013.
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.
On Sunday, 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%.
A spokesman for Renewables UK, the wind-ustry trade association, said: “High levels of generation from prove that onshore and offshore wind has become a 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”.
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