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Low-carbon electricity’s share of generation jumped to 45.5 per cent in 2015, up from 37.9 per cent in 2014, according to new figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc).
The report said the increase was due to a rise in nuclear and renewable generation following recent increases in capacity.
Renewable electricity generation also increased in 2015 by 28.9 per cent to 83.3 TWh, with its share of total electricity generation up 5.6 per cent to 24.7 per cent. Bioenergy was up by 27.8 per cent and wind up by 26.4 per cent.
Renewable UK’s deputy chief executive Maf Smith said: “These excellent figures show that renewable energy is delivering huge amounts of clean electricity right now, and that overall energy costs are coming down – including wind energy.
“Putting the consumer first means putting renewables first. As old coal turns off, renewables is quietly taking its place, delivering energy security and value for money. It makes more sense than ever to fully support and take advantage of our natural resources”.
Coal production fell by 27 per cent from 2014 due to the closure of a number of mines, and generators’ demand for coal fell 24 per cent to a record low.
Total electricity generation fell by 0.4 per cent by the end of 2015 from 338.9 TWh a year earlier to 337.7 TWh.
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