Record renewables production

Well the 2012 renewables data is in for the UK and despite the weather, or because of it there was record production. That and a huge increase in capacity. As you can see we have good mix. Just not enough.

 

2009

2010

2011

2012 p

Cumulative Installed Capacity 1

MW

Onshore Wind

3,483

4,037

4,650

5,875

Offshore Wind

941

1,341

1,838

2,996

Shoreline wave / tidal

2

3

3

6

Solar photovoltaics

27

77

976

1,655

Small scale Hydro

179

188

205

217

Large scale Hydro

1,459

1,453

1,471

1,471

Landfill gas

985

1,025

1,067

1,068

Sewage sludge digestion

157

186

198

199

Municipal solid waste combustion

418

461

577

609

Animal Biomass (non-AD)

111

111

111

111

Anaerobic Digestion

9

28

55

82

Plant Biomass

300

330

1,159

1,191

Total

8,069

9,238

12,310

15,479

Co-firing

208

266

338

208

 

Source DECC

As for production.

 

Generation

GWh

Onshore Wind

7,564

7,137

10,372

11,915

Offshore Wind

1,740

3,044

5,126

7,463

Shoreline wave / tidal

1

2

1

4

Solar photovoltaics

20

33

252

1,327

Hydro

5,241

3,644

5,686

5,227

Landfill gas

4,952

5,014

4,979

5,221

Sewage sludge digestion

598

698

755

723

Biodegradable municipal solid waste combustion

1,509

1,597

1,739

2,286

Co-firing with fossil fuels

1,625

2,332

2,964

1,818

Animal Biomass (non-AD)

637

627

614

620

Anaerobic Digestion

30

92

239

330

Plant Biomass

1,343

1,624

1,683

4,206

Total

25,259

25,845

34,410

41,140

Non-biodegradable wastes

873

924

1,005

1,319

Source DECC

The standouts are obviously photovoltaics but also biomass (although I have concerns about the sustainability of at least some of the wood used). Offshore wind is another one. Its noticeable just how much more productive it is compared to onshore. A puzzle in such a wet year is why hydro output fell. We are going in the right direction with increasing speed but not fast enough…

Neil

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