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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
New UK wind energy and renewables generation records set in 2022
11/1/2023
The UK recorded a new wind energy generation record as 2022 drew to a close, with wind generating 20.918 GW of electricity in the half-hour period between 6 and 6.30pm on 30 December, beating the previous record of 20.896 GW set on 2 November and reaching a new high for the third time in the year. Meanwhile, Britain generated a record amount of renewable electricity for 2022 as a whole, but the rising cost of gas led wholesale power prices to almost double year-on-year.
In addition to recording a new wind energy generation record on 30 December, National Grid ESO also reports that a new record was set on the same day for the percentage of low-carbon electricity (ie renewables and nuclear) generated in a half-hour period, which reached 87.2%. Overall, wind provided 61.4% of the UK’s electricity on 30 December 2022.
Commenting on the news, RenewableUK’s CEO Dan McGrail says: ‘The fact that the UK’s onshore and offshore wind farms keep setting new electricity generation records shows just how important this technology has become in our modern energy system. Wind power is playing a central role in keeping UK homes and businesses powered up at the coldest time of the year… Wind is now the UK’s cheapest source of new power, so every unit of electricity we generate from it helps consumers by reducing ultra-expensive gas imports.’
Renewables reach record levels, but fossil fuels double power prices
Meanwhile, the UK generated a record amount of renewable electricity over the course of 2022, but the rising cost of gas led wholesale power prices to almost double year-on-year, according to new analysis published by Drax at the close of the year.
The study shows renewable power sources – wind, solar, biomass and hydro – generated 40% of the country’s electricity in 2022 – up from 35% in 2021, helping to cut CO2 emissions from the power sector by 2.7mn tonnes compared to the previous year. Overall generation from renewables has more than quadrupled over the last decade.
However, despite the record supply of cheap renewable electricity, the unprecedented rise in the cost of gas following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent power prices to a new all-time high. The fossil fuel supplied 42% of the country’s power in 2022, its largest share of the fuel mix since 2016. The UK was well on course to have an annual average wholesale price above £200/MWh for the first time ever in 2022 – up from £113 the year before, notes the study. This is nearly six times higher than the cost of electricity in 2020 (£34/MWh).
The report also shows that in 2022 the UK was a net exporter of electricity to its European neighbours for the first time in more than a decade. Electricity exports quadrupled from the previous year to 17.2 TWh of electricity – generating around £3.1bn for the UK economy. The country exported a net total of 1.9 TWh, representing a dramatic swing in power trading from 2021, when the UK instead imported a net total of 22.9 TWh.
Powering integrated energy hubs with offshore wind
In other UK wind-related news, Neptune Energy, Ørsted and Goal7 are planning to explore powering new integrated energy hubs in the UK North Sea with offshore wind-generated electricity.
Integrated energy hubs have the potential to combine multiple energy systems, including existing oil and gas production assets, carbon storage and hydrogen production facilities. They could extend the life of producing fields and support the economic case for electrification with renewable energy, to keep carbon emissions low, say the partners.
The agreement will see the companies examine the potential to supply renewable electricity from Ørsted’s Hornsea offshore wind farm projects to power future Neptune-operated hubs in the UK North Sea. Neptune has submitted three applications under the UK’s recent CO2 appraisal and storage licensing round. The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) is due to award storage licences early in 2023.
Floating offshore wind in Celtic Sea
Meanwhile, The Crown Estate is looking to accelerate plans for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea with a multi-million pound programme of marine surveys.
The Crown Estate, which manages the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has set out ambitious plans to deliver an initial 4 GW of energy capacity in the Celtic Sea by 2035, with the region assessed to have the potential to accommodate up to 24 GW by 2045.
By investing in these surveys at an early stage and making the data freely available to successful bidders, The Crown Estate is aiming to accelerate the delivery of projects, making it easier for developers to take early decisions and manage risk, while supporting future project level environmental impact assessments (EIAs) as part of the planning process.
