According to new data from analysis website MyGridGB, renewables provided more power than coal plants on 315 days in 2017- more than 90% of the year.
Breaking renewables down shows that coal was beaten by wind on 263 days and by solar on 180 days.
In total, renewables generated more than three times the amount of electricity as coal over the year to 12th December.
These stats reflect a successful year for the UK renewable energy industry with several milestones passed and records broken. These included the first full day without any coal power on the system, new high levels of solar generation and tumbling prices for new offshore wind farms.
That these records are being set bodes well for the government’s target to completely phase out coal power by 2025 (except instances in which coal-fired plants have full carbon capture and storage technology installed).
Nonetheless, there have been calls for further support of the renewables industry, particularly in light of the very ambitious climate change targets to which the UK government has committed.
Dr Andrew Crossland from MyGridGB and the Durham Energy Institute said:
“The government has focused on reducing coal use which now supplies less than 7% of our electricity.”
“However, if we continue to use gas at the rate we do, then Britain will miss carbon targets and be dangerously exposed to supply and price risks in the international gas markets.”
“Clearly, refreshed government support for low carbon alternatives is now needed to avoid price and supply shocks for our heat and electricity supplies.”
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