Graph of the Day: Wind, solar produce new record in UK

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A new record has been set in the UK, with clean energy providing 70 per cent of the country’s electricity demand on Wednesday afternoon, and each of wind, solar and nuclear power generating more  coal and gas combined.

The National Grid said the landmark was achieved for the first time at 1pm local time on Wednesday, and follows the first occasion of negative prices being reached a day earlier.

According to the National Grid, at 1pm, wind supplied 9.5 gigawatts, nuclear provided 8.2GW and  solar 7.3GW. Gas provided 7.2GW and there was no coal power at the time. The graph above, from Aurora Energy Research shows a slightly different time and total.

The combination of renewables alone reached a new record of 18.7 gigawatts at the same time, equivalent to 50.7 per cent of demand, the National Grid said.

 

Comments

4 responses to “Graph of the Day: Wind, solar produce new record in UK”

  1. Kevan Daly Avatar
    Kevan Daly

    This time of year is a doddle for National Grid in the UK – they have a plethora of options. Yet you can see their strategy – they operate the nukes, their cheapest source, at a constant level just below minimum demand. They operate wind and solar to whatever extent is available and then use CCGT’s to balance the system. They also have the option of operating pumped hydro as a sink should wind + solar become excessive, although over the above 2 days it was only sourcing. If only we had some (fully depreciated) nukes in Australia ……

    1. Bristolboy Avatar
      Bristolboy

      Agree – UK peak summer demand is about 10GW lower than peak winter demand.

      Also worth mentioning the UK has a “capacity market” which pays a subsidy to keep “dispatchable/realiable” nuclear, gas and coal as a backup. In the summer months there is a therefore a lot of idled/paused generating plant.

      1. heinbloed Avatar
        heinbloed

        True,RE- imports are preferred to home made (atom) power, they are simply cheaper:

        https://www.apxgroup.com/market-results/apx-power-uk/dashboard/

        Click on ‘Week’ at “EPEX SPOT Power UK Auction”

        France and Germany and Belgium saw record RE-productions between the 5th and 7th of June as well, the UK was a good client taking some of the cheap power all the time.

        Here you can see the power price situation, the UK being the most profitable market for continental exporters:

        https://www.apxgroup.com/market-results/apx-power-nl/dashboard/

        ( ” CWE and UK Power Day Ahead Prices “)

        From 8.00 in the morning the cables from France to the UK were running hot:

        http://www.rte-france.com/fr/eco2mix/eco2mix-echanges-commerciaux

  2. Bristolboy Avatar
    Bristolboy

    When it references coal and gas combined, note that it was in effect just gas as coal was generating 0MW across the UK.

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