UK use of gas and coal for electricity at lowest since 1957, figures show
UK use of gas and coal for electricity at lowest since 1957, figures show
Fossil fuel plants contributed about a third of electricity supplies in 2023 and renewables a record 42%
The amount of electricity generated by the UK’s gas and coal power plants fell by 20% last year, with consumption of fossil fuels at its lowest level since 1957.
Not since Harold Macmillan was the UK prime minister and the Beatles’ John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time has the UK used less coal and gas.
The UK’s gas power plants last year generated 31% of the UK’s electricity, or 98 terawatt hours (TWh), according to a report by the industry journal Carbon Brief, while the UK’s last remaining coal plant produced enough electricity to meet just 1% of the UK’s power demand or 4TWh.
Fossil fuels were squeezed out of the electricity system by a surge in renewable energy generation combined with higher electricity imports from France and Norway and a long-term trend of falling demand.
And don't forget about the people who are charging their full EV cars between midnight and 4am on the excess night time renewables from wind and tidal power to help drive the downturn in fossil usage. Champions 🏆
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The amount of electricity generated by the UK’s gas and coal power plants fell by 20% last year, with consumption of fossil fuels at its lowest level since 1957.
It was the third year this decade that renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, hydro and biomass power, outperformed fossil fuels, according to the analysis.
Dan McGrail, the chief executive of RenewableUK, said the data shows “the central role that wind, solar and other clean power sources are consistently playing in Britain’s energy transition”.
“We’re working closely with the government to accelerate the pace at which we build new projects and new supply chains in the face of intense global competition, as everyone is trying to replicate our success,” McGrail said.
Renewable energy has increased sixfold since 2008 as the UK has constructed more wind and solar farms, and the large Drax coal plant has converted some of its generating units to burn biomass pellets.
Electricity demand has tumbled by 22% since its peak in 2005, according to the data, as part of a long-term trend driven by more energy efficient homes and appliances as well as a decline in the UK’s manufacturing sector.
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What's behind the "long term trend of falling demand"? LED lights and OLED TV's? Aren't EV's increasing demand?
From the article
Electricity demand has tumbled by 22% since its peak in 2005, according to the data, as part of a long-term trend driven by more energy efficient homes and appliances as well as a decline in the UK’s manufacturing sector.
But also
Demand for electricity is expected to double as the UK aims to cut emissions to net zero by 2050 because the plan relies heavily on replacing fossil fuel transport and heating with electric alternatives.
I hope this is good news... but could this be an indicator of an economic downturn?
It seems to have been driven by 3 things.
- Reduced demand (which is your concern)
- More wind generation
- Higher imports from Europe. (new connection to Norway)
The demand has been dropping since 2012 (except 21 and 22), and this just seems to be a continuation of the trend. Now you could ask if we've been in an economic downturn since 2012, but I think we're getting more efficient.