Wind turbines generate more than half of UK’s electricity due to Storm Pia

High winds brought by Storm Pia helped UK wind farms set new clean energy records, with wind turbines generating more than half of the country’s electricity.

Wind farms generated 21.8 gigawatts (GW) of electricity between 8am and 8.30am on Thursday, according to non-profit renewable energy trade association RenewableUK, citing data from the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO).

This beat the previous record of 21.6GW set on January 10th. Wind power accounts for 56% of the UK’s electricity, although this is lower than the record percentage of electricity produced by wind in the half-hour period (69% on 19 November this year).

Dan McGrail, chief executive of RenewableUK, said: “Setting a new wind energy record is a great achievement worth celebrating this festive period. Wind power is taking a central place in our modern clean energy mix, enhancing our energy security and keeping Britain powered through some of the coldest, darkest times of the year.

Storm Pia caused damage across the UK, with wind gusts of up to 80mph in northern England and trees blown across railway lines.

The news comes as Germany’s RWE agreed to buy a large North Sea wind project from Swedish power company Vattenfall for $963 million. In July, Vattenfall halted construction of the 1.4GW Norfolk Boreas offshore wind project in the North Sea, citing high costs and challenging market conditions.

RWE said it would buy three fully consented wind farms in the Norfolk region, including Norfolk Boreas, Norfolk Vanguard West and Norfolk Vanguard East.

It is one of the largest offshore wind power developments in the world and will eventually have a total capacity of 4.2GW, enough to power 4 million homes.

Danish renewables company rsted decided on Wednesday to move ahead with plans to build the world’s largest wind farm off the coast of Norfolk.

It took a final investment decision on the Hornsea 3 project off the UK coast, which will power more than 3.3 million homes and is expected to cost 70 billion to 75 billion Danish kroner (8.1 billion to 8.7 billion). It is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The project’s future has been uncertain after plans to build a wind farm off the U.S. coast were abandoned for the first time as rising interest rates, steel prices and wages send costs soaring across the global wind industry.

McGreal said: “In the new year, the renewable energy industry will work closely with the government to ensure that we maximize investment in new projects, most importantly through the next auction of new clean energy projects. Lower everyone’s energy bills and let’s get to net zero as soon as possible.

He called on ministers to be ambitious when setting new parameters in March for next summer’s auction, which he hopes will secure record new renewable energy capacity and boost jobs in the sector.

The last offshore wind auction in September attracted no bids because the energy prices offered to developers did not take into account high inflation in its costs. Industry insiders say the government’s disastrous handling has created a huge gap in future renewable energy.