Output from onshore wind power in the UK was up 20% in the first quarter of 2017 at 7.7 terrawatt-hours (TWh), compared with the same period last year, according to government figures.
Onshore wind was boosted by a capacity increase of 23% or 2.2GW on the first three months of last year. Increased onshore output came, despite lower wind speeds, the government said.
Overall wind capacity, including offshore, grew 10% year-on-year to 12.7TWh, the data showed.
Renewables share of generation stood at 26.6% in the first quarter of 2017, up one percentage point on the same period last year.
However, this was lower than the 26.8% record set in the fourth quarter of 2015, the government said.
Clean power generated a record 24.8TWh between 1 January and the end of March, a 5.1% increase on the first quarter of 2016, out of total generation of 93.2TWh.
Renewables capacity in the UK reached 36.9GW in the period, up 12% on last year.
In Scotland, renewables generation was up 13% in the period, with capacity rising 16% to 9.3GW.
Scottish government minister for business, innovation and energy Paul Wheelhouse said: “These statistics reinforce our country’s reputation as a renewable energy powerhouse and are a vindication of the Scottish government’s energy policy.”
Image: Pexels
UK onshore output soars 20%
7.7TWh of electricity generated in first quarter of year, despite low wind speeds
By EBS