Latest data from the UK National Grid has shown that Great Britain produced a record amount of wind-powered electricity in 2022 as more electricity came from renewable and nuclear power sources than from fossil fuels gas and coal, the second highest after 2020.
Sources like wind and solar are cheaper and replacing fossil fuels with green power is a core way for the world to tackle the impacts of climate change.
As the effects of global warming are already being felt in many countries of the world, including in the UK, which last year recorded its hottest year since records began, scientists, governments and the UN have said switching to renewable power is now crucial to sustaining the environment and keeping the climate in check.
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According to the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), gas remained the single most significant source of electricity last year, but electricity from wind turbines continued to grow in importance as overall 48.5% of electricity came from renewable and nuclear power, compared to 40% from gas and coal power stations.
More than half of electricity came from so-called zero-carbon electricity sources renewable and nuclear in five months of the year in 2022 (February, May, October, November and December).
And the use of coal – the most polluting fossil fuel – continued to fall as it generated just 1.5% of electricity compared to 2012 when it was 43%.
As Great Britain builds more capacity for renewable energy, including wind turbines and solar farms, more of its electricity will come from these greener sources.
“The UK has a good record with offshore wind. We’re quite a giant in the offshore wind world and our industry is very attractive,” Head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, Jess Ralston, was quoted to have said by BBC News.
However, she said the UK has missed some tricks, an example of which is an effective ban since 2015 on the onshore wind that has limited the country’s capacity to increase wind power faster.
“Our old-fashioned energy grid urgently needs investment to maximise the opportunity that wind and solar offer to continue to reduce bills,” she said.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed in December to relax restrictions that effectively prevented onshore wind turbines.
But the government has also promised new investment in some fossil fuels.
Story was adapted from the BBC.
