Renewable energy outstrips coal for first time in UK electricity mix

Renewable energy has for the first time surpassed coal in supplying the UK’s electricity for a whole quarter, according to government statistics released on Thursday.

The revelation of the surge in wind, solar and bioenergy to a record 25% comes in a week when the government has been heavily criticised by business leaders and Al Gore for cutting support for clean energy.

The high performance of renewable electricity between April and June, the latest period data is available for, was due to both more wind and sun and more turbines and solar panels having been installed, compared to the same period the year before, when renewables contributed 16.4% of electricity.

Gas-fired power stations provided the most electricity - 30% - with renewables second. Nuclear power was third with 21.5% and coal - the most polluting fuel - fell back to fourth, with 20.5%. Ageing coal and nuclear plants have been closing in recent years, while renewable energy has been rapidly rolling out.

Since May’s general election, Conservative ministers have argued that the subsidies given to renewable energy were rising too fast and announced plans to cut them, including an 87% reduction for solar power and an end to support for onshore wind farms. Industry figures said the government was slashing support too heavily and would strangle renewable energy just as it was taking off.

“The new statistics show that the UK is relying increasingly on dependable renewable sources to keep the country powered up, with onshore and offshore wind playing the leading roles in our clean energy mix,” said RenewableUK’s chief executive Maria McCaffery.

“We’ve had a series of disappointing announcements from ministers since May which unfortunately betray a lack of positive ambition at the heart of government. If ministers want to see good statistics like we’ve had today continuing into the years ahead, they have to knuckle down, listen to the high level of public support we enjoy, and start making positive announcements.”

The renewable surge was led by solar energy, which more than doubled between the second quarters of 2014 and 2015. Electricity from wind rose by 65%, helped by the expansion of several large-scale offshore wind farms, while electricity from biomass rose 26%, mainly due to a switch from coal to wood chips at a unit of Drax power station.

“Government support has driven down the cost of renewable energy significantly and these statistics show that has successfully enabled renewables to compete with other technologies,” said a spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. “Our priority is now to move towards a low-carbon economy whilst ensuring subsidies are used where they are needed most, which provides the best value for money for hardworking bill payers.”

However, John Cridland, director general of the CBI, the UK’s leading business organisation delivered a scathing attack on Tuesday on the government moves that have weakened green policies. “These changes send a worrying signal about the UK as a place for low-carbon investment,” he said. “Over many years, the UK has built up real credibility on climate leadership and low-carbon investment. This is hard won, but easily lost.”

Former US vice president Al Gore also attacked the UK government, listing a long series of reversals on green policies and saying he could not understand the rationale, with climate change presenting a clear danger to the UK and the rest of the world.

Energy secretary Amber Rudd, visiting China with George Osborne this week, announced a £2bn loan guarantee for the proposed new Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset, saying the plant was “value for money” for low-carbon, baseload electricity. But critics attacked the £24.5bn price tag and history of nuclear cost overruns and delays, with a former Tory energy minister calling it “one of the worst deals ever” for British consumers and industry.

Energy minister Andrea Leadsom spoke out in favour of shale gas exploration on Wednesday, which ministers have pledged to fast-track, saying it was “an inconvenient truth” for the anti-fracking lobby that shale gas could have economic and environmental benefits.

“We need to meet the UK’s rising demand for energy, using clean and low carbon energy sources if we are to continue to combat climate change and grow the economy,” she said. However, the government’s energy statistics released on Thursday said demand “fell by 2% continuing the recent downward trend”.