December 2013 was a record-breaking period for wind power in the UK, with more electricity generated from wind than in any other month. A slew of other records were shattered too, including the amount of electricity generated in a week and the percentage of electricity supplied by wind in a single month compared to other forms of power generation, which was higher than ever before.
During December, a total of 2,841,080 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity were generated by wind power for the National Grid – enough to power more than 5.7 million British homes - at a time of year which traditionally sees a high demand for electricity. Overall, wind power supplied 10% of Britain’s total electricity demand for homes, businesses and factories.
Over the course of one week (starting on Monday 16th December), wind generated a record 783,886 MWh – the highest ever for a seven-day period – providing 13% of Britain’s total electricity needs that week.
The Saturday before Christmas (21st December), one of the busiest shopping days of the year, saw a record daily amount of electricity produced from wind with 132,812 MWh generated, 17% of the nation’s total electricity demand that day.
Maf Smith, Deputy Chief Executive of RenewableUK said:
"This is a towering achievement for the British wind energy industry. It provides cast-iron proof that the direction of travel away from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable sources is unstoppable.
"In December, we generated more electricity from wind for British homes and businesses than during any other month on record - and we also hit weekly and daily highs.
"This gives us a great sense of confidence for the year ahead, when we will continue to increase the amount of clean power we generate from wind, onshore and offshore.
"As we do so, we are lessening our dependence on excruciatingly expensive imports of fossil fuels which have driven people’s fuel bills up. British wind energy is providing a better alternative – a stable, secure, cost-effective supply of home-grown power”.
Notes
- The previous monthly record was October 2013, when wind generated 1,956,437 MWh, 8% of the UK’s electricity needs that month.
- The statistics refer to the amount of electricity monitored by National Grid. The amount of electricity generated by wind is in fact even greater, as some smaller wind farms generate onto local networks and their output is not recorded by National Grid.
December 2013 was a record-breaking period for wind power in the UK, with more electricity generated from wind than in any other month. A slew of other records were shattered too, including the amount of electricity generated in a week and the percentage of electricity supplied by wind in a single month compared to other forms of power generation, which was higher than ever before.
During December, a total of 2,841,080 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity were generated by wind power for the National Grid – enough to power more than 5.7 million British homes - at a time of year which traditionally sees a high demand for electricity. Overall, wind power supplied 10% of Britain’s total electricity demand for homes, businesses and factories.
Over the course of one week (starting on Monday 16th December), wind generated a record 783,886 MWh – the highest ever for a seven-day period – providing 13% of Britain’s total electricity needs that week.
The Saturday before Christmas (21st December), one of the busiest shopping days of the year, saw a record daily amount of electricity produced from wind with 132,812 MWh generated, 17% of the nation’s total electricity demand that day.
Maf Smith, Deputy Chief Executive of RenewableUK said:
"This is a towering achievement for the British wind energy industry. It provides cast-iron proof that the direction of travel away from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable sources is unstoppable.
"In December, we generated more electricity from wind for British homes and businesses than during any other month on record - and we also hit weekly and daily highs.
"This gives us a great sense of confidence for the year ahead, when we will continue to increase the amount of clean power we generate from wind, onshore and offshore.
"As we do so, we are lessening our dependence on excruciatingly expensive imports of fossil fuels which have driven people’s fuel bills up. British wind energy is providing a better alternative – a stable, secure, cost-effective supply of home-grown power”.
During December, a total of 2,841,080 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity were generated by wind power for the National Grid – enough to power more than 5.7 million British homes - at a time of year which traditionally sees a high demand for electricity. Overall, wind power supplied 10% of Britain’s total electricity demand for homes, businesses and factories.
Over the course of one week (starting on Monday 16th December), wind generated a record 783,886 MWh – the highest ever for a seven-day period – providing 13% of Britain’s total electricity needs that week.
The Saturday before Christmas (21st December), one of the busiest shopping days of the year, saw a record daily amount of electricity produced from wind with 132,812 MWh generated, 17% of the nation’s total electricity demand that day.
Maf Smith, Deputy Chief Executive of RenewableUK said:
"This is a towering achievement for the British wind energy industry. It provides cast-iron proof that the direction of travel away from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable sources is unstoppable.
"In December, we generated more electricity from wind for British homes and businesses than during any other month on record - and we also hit weekly and daily highs.
"This gives us a great sense of confidence for the year ahead, when we will continue to increase the amount of clean power we generate from wind, onshore and offshore.
"As we do so, we are lessening our dependence on excruciatingly expensive imports of fossil fuels which have driven people’s fuel bills up. British wind energy is providing a better alternative – a stable, secure, cost-effective supply of home-grown power”.
Notes
- The previous monthly record was October 2013, when wind generated 1,956,437 MWh, 8% of the UK’s electricity needs that month.
- The statistics refer to the amount of electricity monitored by National Grid. The amount of electricity generated by wind is in fact even greater, as some smaller wind farms generate onto local networks and their output is not recorded by National Grid.