Evwind, Wind Energy

UK: 2013 bumper year for wind power

Provisional statistics released today by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that the amount of electricity produced by wind grew 38% from 2012 to 2013. In total the amount of energy generated by wind grew from 5.5% in the mix in 2012 to 7.7% in 2013.

The wind energy sector in the UK is continuing to grow at a respectable pace, based on the most recent figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Wind power rose to provide about 7.7% of the UK’s electricity in 2013 — up from 5.5% in 2012, a 38% year-on-year increase.

Other interesting stats from the new report include the fact that low-carbon electricity provided nearly one-third of all the electricity generated in the UK last year — largely down to a surge in wind power output. To be exact, low-carbon power represented 32.7% of the electricity supplied last year, up from 29.4% the previous year.

The majority of this surge was the continued growth of the offshore wind energy sector. Quite a number of large wind projects came online — capacity grew from 1.86 GW to 3.3 GW, a 79% increase.
The report from DECC states that for the first time in 2013 net imports of gas exceeded UK production.

Maria McCaffery, Chief Executive of RenewableUK commented: “It’s great to see the way wind power has grown in just one year. Each unit of wind power production means that we’re having to import less foreign fuel – especially gas which is eyewateringly expensive. There has been a steady decline of UK production of traditional energy sources, so we need to make sure there is something replacing that – and wind is increasingly playing that role. Developing our wind resource doesn’t just provide security of energy supply, it also tackles climate change and creates jobs in some of the areas which need them most. It’s crucial that we continue to develop our ability to harness our abundant natural resources to generate clean power.”

Notes:

The latest DECC statistics can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285004/press_notice_feb_2014.pdf