New analysis from Carbon Brief has solar power in the UK beating out coal in May 2016 for the first time ever.
According to Carbon Brief, based on figures provided by Sheffield Solar, solar power in the UK generated an estimated 1,336 GWh of electricity in May, while coal only generated 893 GWh. May’s stunning achievement comes hot on the heels of Carbon Brief‘s earlier analysis that solar in the UK topped coal during a single day for the first time in April, followed by beating it for a full week.
Total electricity generation from UK solar and coal during the calendar months April and May 2016, in gigawatt hours (GWh). Sources: Sheffield Solar and Gridwatch. Chart by Carbon Brief.
During May, solar generated approximately 6% of the UK’s electricity needs, while coal only generated 4%. This might seem a small victory, until you take into account that in January, those figures respectively were 1% and 17%.
Shares of total UK electricity generation met by solar and coal during January to May 2016 (%). Sources: Sheffield Solar and Gridwatch. Chart by Carbon Brief.
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