Low-carbon generators provided half of the U.K.’s power demand for the first time in the third quarter of the year, according to new government figures Thursday.
Nuclear, renewables and bioenergy accounted for a record 50 percent of power in the third quarter of 2016, compared to 45.3 percent in the same quarter of 2015, mainly because of better weather conditions for wind and solar.
Generation from coal fell by 79 percent as a result of Drax Group Plc converting one of its units to co-firing with biomass, according to the statement.
Primary energy use fell by 5 percent compared to the same time last year, reflecting warmer weather in the quarter, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said.