According to data from the National Grid, production of electricity from wind reached the marker on Monday (September 6)

At the peak time of 8.30pm on Monday 1860MW was being generated - largely from Scotland - accounting for 4.7% of total generation at the time.

If, according to the National Gird, wind power directly feeding into the low voltage local electricity networks by smaller wind farms is taken into account wind generated about 10% of Britain's power during the 24 hour period.

RenewableUK chief executive, Maria McCaffery, said: "We are expecting to see the contribution of electricity from wind gradually increase over the next decade, to around 30% of the UK's total consumption.

"This news confirms that not only are the wind farms we have built so far starting to deliver, but that UK wind farm electricity yields are the best in Europe, and comparable with established technologies such as hydro.

"These figures underpin the strong contention that renewable energy - and wind energy in particular - is no longer alternative. It is on the scale and growing rapidly."

The UK currently has 4,616.05MW of installed wind energy across 263 wind farms, with a further 2,716MW in construction and 6,126MW with planning consent.

The industry has highlighted that added together this represents 13.5GW about to come on stream in the next few years.

A further 10GW of wind energy projects in the planning system awaits determination.

(edie.net)

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