Renewable energy in the UK set a new record, providing 24 percent of the country’s power share over a 24 hour period between October 18th and 19th. This beat the previous 22 percent generation share from August.
Not only did wind turbines provide sufficient power for 17 million homes at the point of peak generation, they eclipsed the output of nuclear power stations over the whole weekend and allowed regular export from a number of coal powered plants to be stopped. According to Darren Edwards, a partner at Fisher German’s Market Harborough office, who works extensively in the renewable energy sector, a larger proportion of the UK’s energy output will come from renewable energy sources as more wind turbines are constructed.
“Despite the Government’s questionable attitude towards renewable energy and the role it has to play in future energy generation in the UK, this new power share record only serves to demonstrate the real time contribution wind energy – not to mention other renewable technologies – is making to our current supply mix,” Mr Edwards said. “I anticipate it will not be long before this record is broken once again as new projects come online and capacity continues to increase.”
Mr Edwards added that wind energy in the past has often been subject to criticism, with opponents citing its reliance on the weather and resulting intermittent supply as key detractions from its credibility as an energy source. However, the recent power share record follows hot on the heels of Germany’s opening of what it claims is Europe’s first and largest commercial battery storage facility.
“The fully automated 5MW plant houses 25,000 lithium-manganese oxide cells and can store and discharge power in milliseconds” Mr Edwards said. “It aims to stabilise fluctuations in grid frequency, helping safely integrate renewable energy into the existing grid – most notably that generated by wind and solar projects.”
The emergence of commercial battery storage facilities and the capability to interlink these with renewable energy projects is an exciting development which looks set to revolutionise the power supply industry. Battery prices are now falling rapidly and Fisher German expects the recent development in Germany to demonstrate that short-term battery storage can be a commercially attractive investment. The trans-European nature of the power market means it is only a matter of time before such facilities are seen in the UK.
Fisher German LLP is a national firm of chartered surveyors and specialist property consultants offering professional services and support in land and property management, including renewable energy, planning and construction.
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