The upward trend of the growth of renewables in the UK energy system continues, with 2019 beating 2018, will 2020 see yet another record year?
A report by the Carbon Brief found in 2019;
- Renewable energy including - solar, wind, hydro as well as biomass -production grew by 9%
- Renewables outpaced fossil fuel energy on a new record of 137 days
- Renewables were the UK’s largest electricity source in March, August, September, and December
- 83 Coal free days! Up from 21 days in 2018
- Coal was only a mere 2.1% of our electricity. Compare this to 1990, where it was a massive 75%
The National Grid also confirmed 2019 as a record-breaking year, with low-carbon electricity - which included power from renewables and nuclear - for the first time ever, making up over half the UK's energy.
However, with the UK's rising need for electricity - for heating and transport, with a huge push for the UK towards further uptake of electric cars before in 2035 where petrol and diesel cars will eventually be banned - there still needs to be huge investment in low-carbon and clean energy generation in the UK's power networks.
The growth over the past years has been promising, with 2019 being a fantastic year, but there's clearly a lot more work to be done. Especially if the UK is to meet its legally binding target to be net-zero emissions by 2050.
#cleanenergy #ClimateChange #wind #solar #coalfree