The use of renewables for electricity generation rose 32% year-on-year during second quarter according to a new report, Kallanish Energy reports.
The Drax Electrical Insights Q2 report, published on Monday by UK power generator Drax and compiled from analysis by Imperial Consultants, found that the share of renewables in the UK energy mix increased to 40% in second quarter this year compared to 30% the previous year.
As a result of the increased use of renewable energy sources, primarily solar, biomass and wind, and a decrease in electricity demand as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, carbon emissions were one-third lower than the previous year during the quarter.
Average carbon emissions fell to a new low of 153 grams per kilowatt (KW) of electricity consumed over the quarter. Carbon intensity also fell to a record low of 18 grams per KW on 24 May.
Solar panels supplied an average of 2.7 gigawatts of power during May, surpassing 10% of the month’s electricity demand. Growing output from renewables, along with suppressed demand saw no coal power stations operate for 67 days straight.
“The past few months have given the country a glimpse into the future for our power system, with higher levels of renewable energy and lower demand make for a difficult balancing act,” said Dr. Iain Staffell of Imperial College London and report lead author.
“To help the country decarbonise further it is vital that flexible technologies which provide power and system stability play an increasing role in our grid.”
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