Renewable Energy Trends Around the UK

A special feature in the September 2009 edition of Energy Trends, published by The Department of Energy & Climate Change, looks at renewable electricity in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England in 2008. The article covers all renewables including those that are not eligible for the Renewables Obligation. It updates a similar article that was published in September 2008.

The main features of the latest statistics are:

Scotland has a greater renewable energy generating capacity than England, but England generates more electricity from renewables than Scotland
this is because biofuels-based capacity (the most common source in England) is used more intensively than hydro and wind (which predominate in Scotland)
in Wales, generation from wind was nearly 3 times greater than the generation from natural flow hydro, and Wales generates more electricity from wind than any English region. In 2008, Scotland generated 50 per cent more electricity from wind than England did, and 3 times as much as Wales
in England, the region with the largest generation from renewables is the East, where nearly half the generation comes from landfill gas
the North West and East account for 48 per cent of England’s renewable generating capacity. London and the South West have the lowest capacities
Yorkshire and the Humber is the largest generator of energy from “other biofuels” because of the co-firing of biomass in coal fired power stations.

Graph

Trends in generation from renewables by English region

Full details can be obtained from the Department of Energy & Climate Change website

Charles HardcastleMRICS, FAAV

Senior Associate

Charles is based in Yorkshire, advising private, institutional and corporate clients on a range of renewable energy schemes across the north of England. He provides specific advice on the feasibility ...