Renewable electricity generation up 43%

Government figures out today show the progress made against the UK’s 15% target under the 2009 EU Renewable Directive.

Provisional calculations show that 5.2% of final energy consumption in 2013 came from renewable sources; up from 4.2% in 2012.

There was significant growth in the contribution of renewable electricity, up 30%; whilst renewable heating and renewable transport contributions also rose.

In addition, renewables share of electricity generation (hydro, wind and other renewables) increased from 12.4% in 2013 Q1 to 19.4% in 2014 Q1, with wind generation up 58%. – this was due to both increased wind generation capacity and large increases in wind speeds and rainfall.

Renewable electricity generation was a record 18.1 TWh in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 43% on the same period a year earlier.