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Capacity From Renewables Overtake Fossil Fuels For The First Time

Following a new report from Drax Electric Insights, it has been reported that fossil fuels have been overtaken by the total capacity available from renewables for the first time.

Fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil) were peaking above 60 GW of fossil capacity during the years between 2010 to 2012 at the start of this decade. However, the fossil fuel capacity has now dropped to 41.2 GW during October 2018. In comparison, renewable capacity (solar, wind, biomass, hydro and waste) was lower than 10 GW during the start of 2010 while it now operates at 41.9 GW.

The primary reason for the change is due to 40% of the UK’s fossil-fuelled plants retiring. With these fuels becoming uneconomical or reaching the end of it’s life expectancy.

Onshore and offshore wind farms equate to more than 20 GW of renewable capacity, with 7.2 GW of offshore capacity resulting in Britain being the world forerunner.

13 GW of solar panels are dispersed across 960,000 rooftop systems and a number of large farms, consequently becoming the second largest capacity of renewables in the UK.

Biomass has the third largest renewable capacity, mainly due to the two coal-to-biomass conversion plants in Lynemouth, Northumberland and Selby, North Yorkshire.