Renewables deliver 28.1% of UK's power in Q2

Renewable power plants were responsible for 28.1% of UK’s total power in the second quarter of 2018, shows data by energy information provider EnAppSys.

Renewables outstripped generation from coal and nuclear power plants combined thanks to favourable weather conditions leading to an increase in wind and solar power output. Coal plants generated just 0.9 TWh for a 1% share of the generation in the quarter, and nuclear power reached 15.5 TWh, or 23%. Gas-fired plants accounted for 41% with 28 TWh produced.

Renewables generated 19.35 TWh in the April-June quarter, down from 21.54 TWh in the previous quarter, but up considerably from the 17.4 TWh produced in the year-ago period. The main renewable energy source in the country is wind, growing to 9.5 TWh from 9.35 TWh a year back, and accounted for 14% of the country’s overall power output. New offshore capacity additions in the past 18 months, including the 258-MW Burbo Bank extension, 573-MW Race Bank and 400-MW Rampion, helped a lot, EnAppSys said.

As for solar, the quarterly output was 5.24 TWh, rising from 4.05 TWh a year before, due to long daylight periods and reduced cloud cover.

Meanwhile, biomass plants contributed 20.8% to the total renewables output, producing 4.02 TWh. Hydropower accounted for 2.9% with 0.56 TWh produced.

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