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Low carbon generation in the UK accounted for a record 37.1 per cent of generation in the third quarter of 2013, up from 33.9 per cent from the same period in 2012.
According to the latest energy statistics published today, the production of coal fell sharply by 32 per cent following the closure of mines, oil fell by 7 per cent and gas fell by 3.8 per cent.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) noted that the production of oil and gas has been in decline over the last ten years, decreasing by an average of 9 per cent per year.
Bioenergy recorded the biggest jump in renewables generation – up by more than 25 per cent due to Drax and other conversions. Offshore wind generation increased by 7.4 per cent, with onshore wind generation down by 7.6 per despite capacity being up by over 25 per cent due to lower wind speeds.
Of the electricity generated in the third quarter of 2013, gas accounted for 27.2 per cent – its lowest third quarter share for 15 years.
Coal accounted for 33.3 per cent and nuclear generation accounted for 23.9 per cent, whilst renewables increased by 1.5 per cent to 13.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2013. Hydro output fell by 27 per cent due to lower rainfall.
In addition, primary energy consumption fell by 2.1 per cent, and when adjusted to take of account of weather differences between the third quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2013, primary energy consumption fell by 1.1 per cent.
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