Renewables now generate more of Britain's electricity than fossil fuels – but what happens next?

Wind stormed (literally) past the 2014 record to break through the 10% milestone.

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The ConversationThe Conversation
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https://theconversation.com/renewables-now-generate-more-of-britains-electricity-than-fossil-fuels-but-what-happens-next-220499https://theconversation.com/renewables-now-generate-more-of-britains-electricity-than-fossil-fuels-but-what-happens-next-220499
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Thursday, January 4, 2024
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The Conversation, Conversation, Government, Research, Industry, Wind, Burn, Wood, Electricity, Technology, Biomass, University, University of Birmingham, Coal, UCL, Renewable energy
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WILSON, FOREST, MCNALLY, UK, UKRAINE
Summary
Key Points: 
  • Wind stormed (literally) past the 2014 record to break through the 10% milestone.
  • Wind, solar and hydro – the weather-dependent renewables – together generated 14.6% of Great Britain’s electrical energy in 2015, the highest ever annual amount.
  • In 2015, coal still generated a quarter of British electricity, but last year it was down to 1%.
  • Indeed the same author, energy analyst Grant Wilson, recently noted that 2023 was the first ever year when Britain would get more electricity from renewables than fossil fuels.
  • Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue.
  • That’s why “weather-dependent” renewables are more appropriate for a global transition, and why 2023 was such a significant milestone year for Britain.
  • The rate at which prices are rising is starting to fall, but remains significantly above where it was two years ago.
  • The rate at which prices are rising is starting to fall, but remains significantly above where it was two years ago.
  • But given electricity generation is a must, “what truly matters is the relative cost, and offshore wind remains cheap relative to other technologies”.
  • In addition:
    It could also include standardisation of technology to maximise further cost reductions and accelerate delivery.
  • And it should […] make auction caps more reflective of current costs, so that consumers do not miss out on the cheapest forms of electricity.
  • It could also include standardisation of technology to maximise further cost reductions and accelerate delivery.
  • And it should […] make auction caps more reflective of current costs, so that consumers do not miss out on the cheapest forms of electricity.
  • The companies that generate Britain’s electricity are doing well, at least.
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