The British Embassy in Madrid told Renewable Energy Magazine that, “An increase in renewable energy generation in the United Kingdom and the economic support given by the Welsh Government to regional renewables projects place the UK in the spotlight this month".
Department of Energy and Climate Change statistics show that the UK generated 5.5 TWh of renewable energy in the third quarter of 2009, 25% more than in the same period in 2008.
Electricity produced by wind turbines and hydroelectric power stations rose by 38.9% and 39%, respectively, while total energy demand in the UK fell by 208 million tep, representing a drop of 6.3%.
Gas’s contribution to total electricity supply reached a record level (52%), while electricity generated from nuclear power exceeded that generated using coal for the first time ever, rising 47% from 2008 and accounting for 20% of total supply.
Wales boosts renewables
Meanwhile, Wales has put €8.8 million on the table to fund regional renewable energy projects. The autonomous Welsh government, the Welsh Assembly, will allocate the money as part of the Local Community Renewable Generation Initiative.
The funds will provide €110,000-330,000 to 22 projects to establish community-scale wind, biomass and hydropower schemes. The renewable electricity generated by the projects will be used by the community or sold to the National Grid to generate income for local communities.
Another 135 grants of €3,300 each will help communities to launch feasibility studies of possible renewable energy projects. Follow-up grants of €22,000 will be open to 35 schemes for their second stage of development.
“It is an integral part of our agenda to cut carbon emissions and invest in the development of locally-based renewable energy solutions,” says Environment Minister Jane Davidson. “The Community Scale Renewable Energy Generation project will help realise this ambition, driving forward the way in which social enterprises can harness the opportunities presented by generating their own electricity using technologies that produce lower carbon emissions.”
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