Generation from the UK’s offshore wind farms rose by 10 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, from 4.7 TWh in the first quarter of 2015 to 5.1 TWh , with the impact of increases in capacity exceeding that of lower wind speeds, according to the data published by the UK government.
Despite higher wind speeds in February, wind speeds for the period were down 1 knot on a year earlier, and slightly below (0.1 knots) the 10 year average.
Total renewable generation in the first quarter of 2016, excluding non-biodegradable wastes, was 23.2 TWh, an increase of 6.4 per cent from 21.8 TWh in the first quarter of 2015, and just 0.5 TWh less than a record high in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Renewables’ share of total generation (92,522 GWh) in Q1 2016 was 25.1 per cent, an increase of 2.3 percentage points on the same period a year earlier, but a fall of 1.7 percentage points on the record share set in Q4 2015.
During the period, 22 per cent of renewables generation came from offshore wind. The UK had 31.2 GW of installed renewables capacity at the end of the Q1 2016, a rise of 12 per cent (3.3 GW) on a year earlier, and 2.4 per cent (0.7 GW) on Q4 2015. Of the 0.7 GW installed during the quarter, none of it was offshore wind.