Britain has used more renewable resources than coal to generate electricity for the first time in history. Solar, wind, and bioenergy (biomass and hydroelectric) resources provided a record 25.3% of the United Kingdom’s electricity in the second quarter of 2015. Renewable energy contributed just 16.7% during the same quarter last year.
Weather, increased renewable capacity and regulations all were contributing factors to this historic turn of events. On the less human-orchestrated end, the weather during this past quarter was extremely favorable for renewable energy generation. There was a noticeable increase in wind speeds, and heavy rains between the months of May and June contributed to the upturn in hydroelectric power generation.
That being said, humans did play a major part in this shift. Over the past year, there was a surge in the construction and installation of solar power throughout Britain. This, coupled with the operation of large offshore windfarms, led to a general increase in capacity for renewable energy. This historic shift in resources was also aided by the increased tax on carbon and the closure of several coal power stations throughout the UK.
This appears to be an ongoing trend for Britain, as more and more coal and nuclear plants are closing and there is a greater push for renewable energy from the British public. There is the expected business-political turmoil as with any major issue. Some conservative government officials have been working to cut support for clean energy, claiming that subsidies for renewable power have been given out too hard and fast. Others are claiming that cutting funding now will severely injure the UK’s standing as a leader in renewable energy. The UK government’s DECC recently announced plans to reduce direct support for solar. Whatever the outcome may be, when it comes to sustainable resources, it’s statistically clear that the population of Britain is beginning to rely heavily on renewable energy.
For more information on the UK’s recent boost in renewable energy usage, check out Daily Mail, Telegraph, and The Guardian.
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