News

Renewables increases energy share

The Department of Energy and Climate Change’s latest energy statistics show that renewables’ share of total UK electricity generation has increased by 0.6 percent compared to this time last year.

Renewables accounted for 9.6 percent of the UK’s electricity generation in the second quarter of 2012 whilst capacity now stands at 14.2GW – a 42.4 per cent increase on 12 months ago.

Over the same period, offshore wind generation increased by 46.7 per cent and onshore dropped by 11.4 per cent – attributed by DECC to lower wind speeds. Generation from PV increased from 0.05 TWh to 0.5 TWh driven by the Feed-in Tariff.

During 2011, England overtook Scotland in renewable generating capacity largely due to the conversion of Tilbury B to dedicated biomass.

Domestic electricity prices (inc VAT) continue to rise and were 5.5 per cent higher than the same time last year whilst gas prices rose 13 per cent. Total UK energy consumption rose by 6.3 per cent.