UK grid achieves “greenest ever” day on Easter Monday
The UK electricity grid was the greenest it has ever been on Easter Monday with 80% of zero carbon power, according to the National Grid.
The news came as the carbon intensity of electricity – measured by CO2 emissions per unit of electricity consumed – dropped to 39g CO2. This was the lowest figure recorded for the grid in history.
It was achieved due to windy conditions and sunny spells of weather, combined with low demand over the Easter holiday, allowing for renewable sources of power to dominate the energy mix. By the early afternoon, wind power made up 39% of electricity, solar was 21% and nuclear was 16%. As a result, zero carbon power made up 80% of the nation’s power
Sunny spells and blustery conditions, coupled with low demand driven by the Easter holiday, meant renewable sources of power dominated the energy mix over the holiday weekend. At 1pm wind power made up 39% of the electricity mix, solar power 21%, and nuclear 16% – meaning zero carbon power sources made up almost 80% of the nation’s power. The previous record of 46 gCO2/kWh was set on May 24 2020.
During spring 2020, Britain saw its longest run since the industrial revolution generating electricity without using coal, stretching almost 68 days (1,630 hours) between April 10 and June 16.
In total the country was powered coal-free for over 5,147 hours in 2020, compared with 3,666 hours in 2019, 1,856 in 2018 and 624 in 2017. Coal generated only 1.6% of the electricity mix in 2020, compared with almost 25% five years ago.
The last 18 months has also been record-breaking for renewable power sources. The record for the highest ever level of wind generation was broken on 13th February 21 (17.5GW) – while August 26 last year saw wind contributing its highest ever share to the electricity mix (59.9%).
Solar power, too, set new records for its highest ever level of generation (9.7GW) and its highest share in the mix (34%) – comfortably providing a third of Britain’s electricity supplies on several occasions in May 2020.
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