Maximised levels of solar generation have delivered a record coal-free period for the UK grid.
Clear skies and cool temperatures in recent weeks have provided optimal conditions for solar efficiency, which means coal power has been offline since midnight on Friday 10 April 2020.
Since then the UK has seen more than 1TWh of solar power enter the grid in that period – enough to boil water for over 25 billion cups of tea or drive 6.7 billion kilometres in a Nissan Leaf.
Solar Trade Association chief executive Chris Hewett said: “Solar is playing a critical role in delivering a fossil-free grid and cleaner, cheaper power to Britain.
“As we look towards a net zero future, solar will become an increasingly greater part of the energy mix, tackling high power prices, climate change, and biodiversity loss.”
According to Hewett, solar power offers a golden opportunity for the UK government to place renewables at the heart of its COVID-19 recovery package.
“Solar can provide a glut of quality green jobs and growth at short notice, with your average solar park able to be built in less than six months, and home installation in less than a day. The industry is ready to help drive the revival,” the chief executive said.
Last week’s bumper generation solar levels delivered over 11% of UK electricity demand and set both a new daily peak generation record of 9.68GW at 12:30 on Monday 20 April 2020, and weekly generation record at 485.41GWh.
As part of a planned phase out, use of coal for electricity generation has fallen sharply in recent years, from 70% in 1990 to only 2.3% in the past 12 months.
Over the past 28 days coal has accounted for only 0.7% of UK power, compared to more than 57% from low-carbon sources. The UK government has committed to phasing the high-carbon fuel out by 2024.
RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive Melanie Onn commented: “Renewables are taking over from fossil fuels, providing clean home-grown energy to Britain’s hospitals, homes and vital businesses.
“Alongside other low-cost options like onshore wind, there are huge opportunities for innovative technologies like marine energy, floating wind, battery storage and renewable hydrogen to accelerate the UK’s transition to net zero”.