2015: The best year for British wind energy

Official statistics just released by National Grid show that 2015 was the most productive year for wind energy generation.

Both the UK’s onshore and offshore wind farms supplied their highest ever amounts of clean electricity and their output smashed all weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual generation records.

In real terms more than 11 per cent of the UK’s electricity was generated by wind last year, up from 9.5 per cent in 2014. Experts estimate that level of production was enough to supply around 8.25 million homes (more than 30 per cent of UK households) which is a significant increase from the 6.7 million homes last year’s levels would have been able to supply.

December 2015 saw a fresh monthly record set. Wind energy produced 17 per cent of Britain’s electricity during one of the month’s that traditionally demands the most electricity. It’s also interesting to note that the previous record of 14 per cent was set in January 2015, underlining just how momentous the year has been in terms of wind energy generation.

December also saw the weekly production record broken. During Christmas week wind provided 20 per cent of the nation’s needs but that record breaking week was only one of the twelve weeks that made up a record breaking quarter. Between October and December 2015 13 per cent of the nation’s electricity requirements were met by wind which beat the previous record again set in 2015, this time in the first quarter.

Commenting on the figures Dr Gordon Edge, Director of Policy at RenewableUK, said: “The wind industry can be proud that it has shattered weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual generation records in 2015. This re-writes the record books. We’ve had a bumper harvest thanks to increased deployment and superb wind speeds.

“It also demonstrates why the Government should continue to support wind energy, as we’re delivering on our commitment to keep Britain powered up. We can continue to increase the proportion of the nation’s electricity which we provide as we move away from fossil fuels to clean sources of power.”