Longest coal-free period since pre-industrial times

It has been revealed that record solar outputs have helped the UK to reach longest coal-free period since pre-industrial times.

Coal power plants have been offline since 10 April 2020, and since then the UK has seen more than one terawatt hour of solar power put on the grid in that period. That is enough to boil water for over 25 billion cups of tea or drive 6.7 billion kilometres in a Nissan Leaf.

Bumper generation levels last week delivered more than 11 per cent of UK electricity demand and set both a new daily peak generation record of 9.68GW on 20 April.

Chris Hewett, chief executive of the Solar Trade Association, said: “Solar is playing a critical role in delivering a fossil-free grid and cleaner, cheaper power to Britain. As we look towards a net zero future, solar will become an increasingly greater part of the energy mix, tackling high power prices, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

“With the government beginning to consider how best to kick-start the economy following the Covid-19 crisis, it has a golden opportunity to place renewables at the heart of its recovery package. Solar in particular can provide a glut of quality green jobs and growth at short notice, with your average solar park able to be built in less than six months, and home installation in less than a day. The industry is ready to help drive the revival.”

Ue of coal for electricity generation has fallen sharply in recent years, from 70 per cent in 1990 to only 2.3 per cent in the past 12 months.

Nina Skorupska, chief executive at the Renewable Energy Association, commented: “In a time when positive news is few and far between, it is reassuring to see renewables continue to signal towards a brighter and more hopeful future. Less than two weeks after breaking the record for power generation in Q1, renewables have once again raised the bar with solar power reaching an impressive 9.68GW peak this week.

“This is an astonishing feat and indicates only the beginning of what the industry is capable of. However, for this to continue into the future, the renewables and clean technologies industry needs assurance that in this trying time the fight against climate change remains a top priority for the government.”