According to research conducted by Imperial College London, wind turbines in the UK have surpassed gas in generating electricity for the first time.
In the first quarter of this year, one-third of the country’s electricity was produced by wind farms. Additionally, National Grid has confirmed that April witnessed a record-breaking period of solar energy generation. The UK has set a target to achieve net-zero emissions for all electricity by 2035.
“There are still many hurdles to reaching a completely fossil fuel-free grid, but wind out-supplying gas for the first time is a genuine milestone event,” said Iain Staffell, energy researcher at Imperial College and lead author of the report.
The study was commissioned by Drax Electrical Insights, a project supported by Drax energy company. Offshore wind farms have been the primary source of wind power in the UK, as the installation of onshore wind turbines has been effectively banned since 2015 in England. However, in December, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed to relax planning restrictions to accelerate development.
Switching to renewable energy is crucial to mitigating the impacts of climate change, which are already being experienced worldwide, including in the UK, which recorded its hottest year on record in 2022. Solar and wind power have experienced substantial growth in the UK, with renewable energy accounting for 42% of electricity generation in the first quarter of 2023, compared to 33% from fossil fuels such as gas and coal.
Despite this progress, there are significant delays in connecting green energy projects to the grid. Billions of pounds’ worth of renewable energy initiatives are on hold, with some solar and wind sites facing connection waiting times of up to 10 to 15 years due to insufficient capacity in the electricity system. It is important to note that electricity currently meets only 18% of the UK’s total energy demands, and other sectors such as heating, manufacturing, and transportation have additional energy requirements.
Currently, the majority of UK homes rely on gas for heating. The government aims to transition households from gas boilers to electric heat pumps. This transition reflects the broader efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote the use of electricity generated from renewable sources.
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The declines in our wildlife is shocking and frightening. Without much more support, many of the animals we know and love will continue in their declines towards extinction.
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