Wind generation hits record levels in the UK with over 19GW produced. Image: Piqsels NC.
Reporter, Solar Media
Wind generation hit a new record on 26 October with 19.936GW being generated across the UK, the National Grid ESO said.
Wind generation is regarded as one of the cheapest methods of producing renewable energy in the UK and, with an emphasis on transitioning to clean generation sources, this record could well be broken repeatedly in the years to come as more wind farms come online.
Earlier this month, LCP Delta indicated that the British energy system saw its highest ever available wind generation in the week commencing 3 October, peaking at 17.6GW of potential wind energy generated in the evening of 5 October.
However due to constraints on the transmission network, only 14.1GW was able to be used whilst the rest of the renewable energy was turned down. Despite this, wind generation achieved an impressive feat having accounted for 41% over the course of the week.
It is unknown how much of the record breaking 19.936GW wind energy entered the grid after the record levels of generation.
🌬️ Definitely windy out there today🌬️
At midday we saw a new record for wind generation at 🌟19.936GW🌟 beating the record set in May
With more wind on the way this week lets see if we can go past 20GW for the first time ever????
Both onshore and offshore wind have seen significant investment and backing from the UK Government in recent years in order to prepare the UK’s energy grid for net zero emissions.
Several renewable generation targets had been outlined in the British Energy Security Strategy released earlier this year. The strategy outlined a new target of up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050, and up to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030. It additionally highlighted that solar could grow five-fold by 2035.
The current rate at which wind generation is being expanded could see significant reductions in carbon emissions as well as a reduction in the costs of energy bills. In fact, wind power could save each UK household nearly £250 in savings per year compared to gas, new analysis conducted by RenewableUK said.
The analysis showed that the 19GW of wind farm capacity that won Contracts for Difference (CfDs) support will generate around 93TWh by the time it is all operational in 2027. This is around 30% of the annual UK electricity generation at present. This will be at a total cost of £5 billion.
RenewableUK stated that the equivalent cost of getting that electricity from gas would be around £26 billion at current prices, so this represents a saving to consumers of over £20 billion, with every UK household benefitting by £246 a year.
national grid ESO Renewables renewable energy wind generation offshore wind onshore wind onshore wind power Offshore wind power record generation energy security UK government wind WindEU
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