UK renewables generation outpaces gas for the first time

According to the latest UK government figures, the share of total electricity generation from renewables in 3Q2019 – at 38.9% – was the highest recorded and marginally exceeded the share of generation from gas for the first time. Renewable electricity generation was 28.8 TWh in the period, an increase of 16% on the 24.7 TWh in 3Q2018. The increase was largely due to increased load factors for wind as well as increased renewable capacity.

Onshore wind generation rose by 24% (1.3 TWh), with offshore wind increasing by 43%, the highest increase across the technologies, to 7.2 TWh, says the government. For the first time, offshore wind generation exceeded onshore wind generation.

Renewable electricity capacity was 46.9 GW at the end of 3Q2019, a 7.2% increase (3.2 GW) on a year earlier, with more than half of the increase coming from offshore wind, and more than one quarter from onshore wind.

Liquid biofuel consumption increased by 18%, from 588mn litres in 3Q2018 to an estimated 696mn litres in 3Q2019. Bioethanol consumption decreased by 2.2%, while biodiesel consumption increased by 29%. In 3Q2019, liquid biofuels represented 5.8% of petrol and diesel consumed in road transport, up from 4.9% a year earlier.