UK electricity generated by offshore wind between July and September increased by 52% compared with the same period in 2014, while onshore wind generation was up by 30%, according government figures.
In the third quarter of 2015, wind generated 9.5% of the UK’s electricity – 5% from onshore wind and 4.5% from offshore wind – as a result of higher wind speeds and increased capacity.
Overall, 23.5% of the UK’s electricity was generated by renewables in the period in 2015, up 6% on the same period last year.
Wind remains Britain’s leading renewable technology, followed by bioenergy (9.1%), solar PV (3.5%) and hydro (1.4%).
Coal’s share of electricity generation decreased to 17% from 21% and gas generation also fell to 35% from 38% in the third quarter of 2015 compared with the same period in 2014.
RenewableUK deputy chief executive Maf Smith said: “Today’s figures show that the wind industry is continually upping its contribution of clean electricity to British homes, offices and factories.
“Wind energy is a success story which the 35,000 people who this work in this industry in the UK are proud to be a part of.
“Our main focus at the moment is driving down the cost of wind energy even further, to help consumers.
“The more we install, the cheaper the clean electricity we generate becomes.”
Image: Gwynt y Mor offshore wind farm (RWE)
