4C Offshore Empowering Intelligence

New stats assure Renewables efforts for the UK

4C Offshore | Lewis Holdsworth
By: Lewis Holdsworth 30/07/2015 RenewableUK
RenewableUK, the wind and marine energy trade association, says new Government statistics released today show that onshore and offshore wind energy is playing a crucial role in securing clean energy supplies for British homes, offices and factories.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has published its key annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics covering 2014. Electricity generated from renewable sources increased by 21% in 2014 compared to the previous year, and accounted for 19.1% of total UK electricity generation (up from 14.9% in 2013).

DECC describes onshore wind as “the leading individual technology for the generation of electricity from renewable sources during 2014”, supplying 29% of the total, while offshore wind generated a further 21%, making a total of 50% of renewable electricity supplied by wind.




9.5% of the UK’s electricity was generated by onshore and offshore wind in 2014: 5.5% from onshore wind and 4% from offshore wind, saving more than 13 million tonnes of carbon emissions last year.

Offshore wind generation increased by 17%, and onshore wind generation grew by 10%. The installed capacity of renewables increased by 24% (to 24.6 gigawatts) in 2014, partly due to a 13% growth in onshore wind capacity and a 22% increase in offshore wind capacity. Wind powered the equivalent of more than 7.6 million British homes last year.

RenewableUK’s Director of Policy Dr Gordon Edge said: “Onshore and offshore wind is delivering the lion’s share of the clean electricity we need to keep the UK powered up. But, when it comes to onshore wind, the Government is lining up this lion to be shot."

7% of the UK’s total energy supply (electricity, heat and fuel for transport) came from renewables – up from 5.6% in 2013. The UK needs to meet a legally binding target of 15% of all energy from renewables by 2020.

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