Wind turbines in the UK generated more electricity than gas for the first time from January to March this year, according to research by Imperial College London.
Around 33% of the country’s electricity came from wind farms, marking a significant milestone in the move towards cleaner energy. Iain Staffell, an energy researcher at Imperial College, called it a “genuine milestone event.”
Wind turbines are essentially large columns with blades at the top, which move when the wind blows, producing kinetic energy. This energy then powers a shaft in the nacelle, which drives a generator and turns the kinetic energy into electrical energy. Most of the UK’s wind power comes from offshore wind farms. However, Bioenergy and nuclear energy are also essential generators of electricity.
The National Grid, which operates the UK’s electricity supply, reported that record levels of solar energy were produced in April.
The UK aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, with plans to generate all electricity from clean sources by 2035. Most UK homes use gas heating, but the government wants to ban gas boilers by 2035 and replace them with alternative sources such as heat pumps.
While renewable energy production has increased considerably in recent years, planning restrictions have hindered the move to entirely renewable energy. As a result, the government is also looking into hydrogen, carbon capture, and nuclear power to help reach its target.
Despite this, the move towards cleaner energy is an essential step in limiting the effects of climate change.
