Green Energy Generated Six Days of Electricity in UK Last Quarter

A new study has found that more than half of the UK’s electricity came from low-carbon sources during the last quarter (July to September), and that the UK energy output was effectively coal-free for nearly six days during that period. The study, by energy company Drax, shows that electricity generated via low-carbon sources during the third-quarter of 2016 was 50.2%, the highest number on record.

“Britain’s electricity was completely coal-free for nearly six days over the last quarter,” the Drax report reads (via The Independent). “Coal plants have been pushed off the system by competition from gas, nuclear and renewables. 5 May 2016 was a historic day, the first time since 1881 that Britain burnt no coal to produce its electricity.”

“Far from being a one-off, this has continued to become the norm over summer,” the report added.

While the figures show a step in the right direction on behalf of the UK, fear of the country’s potential exit from the European Union, plus recent changes in policy by Theresa May’s Conservative government, have seriously diminished investment in the UK renewable energy sector. The impact of this has resulted in the UK falling out of the top-ten of the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index, now positioned in 14^th place, below Morocco.

“Uncertainty caused by Brexit, the closure of the Department of Energy & Climate Change and the approval of [nuclear power plant] Hinkley Point C all dealt a sizeable blow to the UK renewables sector,” Analysts EY, part of financial giant Ernst & Young Global, reported (via The Independent). “Some respite came when the Government approved 1.8GW Hornsea 2, which will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm if completed as planned.”