For the first time in history, wind turbines provide more electricity in the UK than gas-fired power stations. Last year, wind power accounted for 29% of the country’s total energy mix, while gas-fired power stations provided just a quarter – the lowest figure since 2013.
The UK is planning a significant expansion of wind generation to increase wind farm capacity by more than 200% by 2030. Cheap renewables are expected to provide most of the UK’s electricity needs, cutting emissions and lowering consumer costs.
However, the intermittent nature of wind farms means that gas-fired power stations remain essential as a back-up source of energy. The cost of running gas-fired power stations is forecast to increase by 33% by 2030, as their role becomes less regular but still critical. Additionally, energy production in windy regions is currently limited by insufficient capacity to transport electricity to regions with high demand.