Wind Energy Generation Increases As Coal And Gas Decrease
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New figured published by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have shown that renewable energy is becoming more and more a player in the wider scope of national energy production, with wind energy generation up 40% and coal and gas production and generation both decreasing over the 2013 period when compared to 2012.
According to the DECC (PDF), coal production was 25% lower than in 2012, and generators’ demand was lower by 9%, while natural gas production was lower by 9%, its lowest level of production since 1984.
“At a time when we needed it most, wind delivered,” said RenewableUK’s Director of External Affairs Jennifer Webber, speaking about 2013’s fourth quarter. “Onshore wind generation was up 64% compared to the previous year, and wind as a whole delivered over 10% of the UK’s total power needs across the quarter, proving it’s a force to be reckoned with.
Webber refers to wind statistics which showed onshore wind generation up 64% compared to the same quarter in 2012, while offshore wind increased 42% in the same quarter. As a result, 2013’Q4 saw coal’s share of the electricity mix drop 7% and natural gas mirroring its yearly drop record.
“Wind energy’s generation was the equivalent of power for 7.86 million homes for the full quarter,” said Webber. “By developing our wind resource we ease our reliance on costly imported foreign fuels and reduce the amount of polluting CO2 in our atmosphere. In addition by using our natural resources we’re creating thousands of jobs, like the ones Siemens announced just this week.”
Siemens announced in conjunction with the UK’s Associated British Ports that they would be investing £310m in UK wind turbine factories, creating 1,000 jobs across two locations — the Green Port project in Hull, and a second facility in Paull in East Yorkshire.
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