Wind power generation in the UK has broken records this month supplying roughly 60% of Britain’s electricity on two occasions.
National Grid ESO confirmed the latest record at 1.30am on Wednesday 26 August, when wind met 59.9% (14.2GW) of total power demand (23.7GW).
At the time the UK was experiencing high winds from storm Francis.
The rest of the power mix at that time was made up of gas (18.8%), nuclear (15%), biomass (3,1%), imports (2.5%) and hydro/others (0.7%).
This new record surpasses the previous highest share for wind of 59.1% set a just days before on 22 August.
The UK has an installed wind energy capacity of 24GW, broken down as 10.4GW offshore and 13.6GW onshore.
Last year wind provided 20% of UK power. By 2030 offshore wind alone is expected to meet over a third of the UK’s power needs by 2030.
Ahead of a next year’s auction of contracts to secure new renewable generation capacity next year, RenewableUK has stated a “high level of ambition” could deliver new investment of £20bn and support 12,000 jobs in the UK.
RenewableUK director of strategic communications Luke Clark said: “Renewables are breaking records faster than anyone expected, and this new wind record is a clear signal of the future of our energy system.
“We need to see a huge increase in low carbon power to meet the UK’s net zero target and if we can ramp up low-cost renewables in the short term, that will boost our economic recovery and speed up the switch to low carbon heating, electric vehicle and investment in new technologies like green hydrogen.”