Statistics released by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) show renewable technologies generated a record amount of electricity last year, outstripping fossil fuels for the second time. Renewables share of UK electricity generation increased to 41.5% from 39.6% the previous year, while fossil fuel generation fell to 40.8%. The increase is largely due to high wind and solar output, with wind generation reaching a record high share of 24.7% – almost a quarter of the UK’s total electricity generation in 2022.
At Thrive we were pleased to report strong generation of our own for 2022. In total our clean energy projects generated 133,858 MWh of clean electricity, enough to power 38,000 homes, the equivalent to a town the size of Halifax!
These figures are an important reminder of how effective proven renewable technologies like onshore wind and solar are, at a time when the climate emergency can feel overwhelming – Heatwaves in Europe and the US have seen temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius in some countries, with July being confirmed as the world’s hottest month on record.
The need for urgent, ambitious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has never been clearer and the UK government has faced increasing pressure to provide coherent policy on climate, with strong opposition from the business and finance communities to the Prime Minister’s decision to issue hundreds of new oil and gas licences.
Renewable technologies are popular
A few days following the announcement, the UK’s Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser, published a landmark report calling for new grid connections to be built twice as fast, including proposals to ensure that communities benefit. The building of new grid to support decarbonisation is supported by 64% of people according to polling commissioned by Renewable UK, whilst a separate poll by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) saw 70% of Brits vote in favour of Net Zero – both emphasising clear support for the UK to transition to a clean energy system.
Having allocated £11.4 million in 2022 to build new wind, solar, hydro and battery storage projects, Thrive’s focus as ever is on plugging funding gaps and getting more clean energy projects built. We’re pleased to report that England’s largest community owned onshore wind turbine, which we funded the construction of, is now generating clean electricity for the national grid in Bristol. We hope to fund many more vital community energy projects like this as part of a just energy transition.
If you would like to find out more about the work that Thrive Renewables is doing, visit their website at www.thriverenewables.co.uk
