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Wind surpasses fossil fuels for UK electricity generation: Maguire

Wind farms have actually been the main source of electricity in the United Kingdom for the past 2 consecutive quarters, marking the longest stretch on record that renewable energy has gone beyond fossil fuels in U.K. electrical energy generation.

Overall electrical energy generation from wind sources throughout the first three months of 2024 was 25.3 terawatt hours (TWh),. compared to 23.6 TWh from all fossil fuel sources, according to. information from energy think tank Ember.

Wind power represented an average of 39.4% of overall. electrical power during the first quarter of 2024, compared to 36.2%. from nonrenewable fuel sources.

Wind output also surpassed fossil fuel-powered output during. the last quarter of 2023, marking the very first time that wind. power has actually created more electrical power than nonrenewable fuel source plants in. the U.K. for successive quarters.

When integrated with output from solar farms, total. electrical energy output from renewable sources in the U.K. was 27.1. TWh throughout Q1 2024, the highest quarterly overall ever for the. U.K. and a record 42.2% share of overall electrical power generation.

WIND LULL OVER SUMMERTIME

Due to seasonal lulls in wind speeds during the summer season, that. renewable electrical power generation overall might start to decline over. the coming months.

In 2023, wind generation during the second and 3rd. quarters were 46% and 34% lower respectively than throughout the. very first quarter, and comparable decreases in wind generation are. possible in 2024 if normal wind speed patterns unfold.

Higher solar output during sunnier periods will offset some. of the decrease from wind farms, as solar output in the U.K. tends to peak at around 5 TWh during the 2nd quarter of the. year, compared to just listed below 2 TWh during the very first quarter.

But as wind farms typically generate roughly 6 times more. electrical energy than solar farms in the U.K., total renewable. generation is still most likely to dip significantly throughout the middle of. 2024.

Energies aiming to keep fossil fuel usage to a minimum. during the summertime may release higher quantities of electrical energy. created by nuclear reactors, bioenergy centers and hydro. dams to make sure overall generation loads remain steady.

Failing that, additional use of gas and thermal coal. might be required to ensure power supplies suffice to fulfill. need during summer, which can creep greater due to rising use. of power-hungry a/c throughout the hottest durations.

After summertime, however, wind speeds tend to pick up again,. which ought to enable wind farms to reappear as the primary source of. electrical power supply in the U.K. and help power generators make. extra progress towards carbon decrease and energy. shift objectives.

<< The viewpoints expressed here are those of the author, a. columnist .>

(source: Reuters)