Renewable energy has for the first time surpassed coal generation in the UK, providing 25% of the country’s electricity in 2015 compared with 22% for the fossil fuel, according to government data.
The figures show renewables generation grew 29% in 2015, while coal fell by 30%, compared with 2014.
Almost half of the renewables generation – 48% – came from wind power, with one in eight units of electricity generated in the UK coming from wind.
Offshore wind grew by 30%, while onshore wind increased by 23% last year.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which published the figures, said this was due to increases in capacity, load factors and higher wind speeds.
RenewableUK deputy chief executive Maf Smith said: “The government took the right decision when it announced the phasing out of coal.
“Now we can see renewable energy filling the gap, replacing old technology with new. 2015 was the first year that renewables outperformed coal.”
Image: sxc
