Solar generation in Great Britain reached its highest level for any recent quarter, according to energy data analyst Montel Analytics.
Solar generation rose from 4.90TWh in second quarter last year to 5.1TWh in Q2 2024.
Renewables contributed 47% to the British power generation mix, with wind output (17.2TWh), biomass (6.8TWh), and hydro (1.1TWh) all boosting the country’s clean energy output during the quarter.
Gas output reduced by over a third in this period to 13.4TWh – the lowest quarterly figure recorded by Montel Analytics in the last 20 years.
Average transmission system demand dipped to 23.5GW, the lowest figure for any second quarter since the first lockdown in 2020.
This was attributed in part to milder weather, particularly in May and late June and increased embedded generation from solar and load shifting from batteries and other sources.
Overall British power generation (excluding imports) fell 17% from the previous quarter to 54.6TWh, marking the lowest quarterly total since the second quarter of 2022.
This reduction was attributable to decreased demand and high levels of imports, which resulted in the steep drop in output from CCGT plants.
Phil Hewitt, director at Montel Analytics – which is part of the Montel – said: “Solar generation rose by 4% on second quarter last year, which is lower than the previous year-on-year growth in second quarter 2023 but this is in the context of some pretty horrible weather.
“The pattern of demand destruction also continued due in part to warmer weather and people and businesses becoming more conscious of limiting their energy costs.”
“Wind output fell from 24.9TWh in the first quarter to 17.2TWh in quarter two. Reductions in wind generation became necessary during windy spells, with bid volumes being used to reduce the excess of available wind generation.”