Just days after setting a new record of just shy of 55 hours without coal power, the UK’s electricity grid this afternoon completed another record coal-free run of over 76 hours.
Coal units restarted generation midway through this afternoon, bringing to an end a record 76 hours and 10 minutes when no coal-fired power plants were required.
National Grid confirmed that the record meant that for the first time since the 1880s the UK electricity network has clocked up over three consecutive days without the need for coal generation. The new record came just days after the first ever 48 hour period of no coal on the network.
The final length of this record #coal free run was 76 Hours 10 minutes.
The record is part of a long-running trend. Analysts expect to see coal-free days and lengthy periods of coal-free operation become increasingly common as the UK works towards shuttering all its coal-fired power plants by 2025 at the latest.
Coal accounted for just seven per cent of the UK power mix last year and two more coal plants are expected to close later this year.
Meanwhile, renewables developer Ørsted announced today that it has completed the installation of the final turbines at the Walney extension offshore wind farm, paving the way for the world’s largest offshore wind farm to come fully online later this year. The boost in renewables capacity will further reinforce a trend that saw low carbon power account for over half the electricity mix for the first time last year.
Source: businessgreen.com
