Page 6 - Gi flipbook August 2018

NEWS | INDUSTRY

UK heatwave sees solar

briefly take over from gas as

number one energy source

BRITAIN’S HEATWAVE UK heatwave sees solar
HELPED break several solar briefly take over from gas as
power generation records, number one energy source
with the renewable energy
source at one point briefly
eclipsing gas power stations
as the UK’s top source of
electricity.
While new solar
installations have virtually
flat-lined over the past year,
a run of largely cloudless
days this summer saw a
series of highs for power
generation by the sector.
Solar broke the record for
weekly output between 21
and 28 June, producing 533
gigawatt hours of power.
During that period, solar
generated more than
75GWh on five of the seven
days, another record. In a
first, solar output also hit
more than 8GW for eight The town of Quriyat, in to continue, as technology At the bigger scale, some
consecutive days. Oman, never went below advances and we find new developers believe they can
The records are largely a frightening 42.6°C for a ways to accommodate and build without subsidies, by
symbolic; gas and nuclear full 24 hours in June, almost manage more wind and solar going large.
generated much more power certainly a global record. power on our network.” Hive Energy recently told
in subsequent days, but the The warming trend is For about an hour on 30 an industry audience that
milestones show how far very clear: the US National June, solar panels across it believes technological
the technology has come, Oceanic and Atmospheric the country’s rooftops and improvements mean its
according to The Guardian. Administration shows that fields were the number one planned Kent solar farm
Earth’s climate system all 18 years of the 21st source of electricity, with a will have 14 per cent more
has always produced century are among the 19 share of more than 27 per capacity than originally
occasional extreme weather warmest on record; and cent. So far, solar has only conceived.
events, both warm and 2016 was the warmest year come top at weekends, The Cleve Hill scheme
cold. What is different ever recorded. when demand is lower. could have a capacity of
about the most recent Overall global surface air The record for peak solar as much 400MW, the
heatwave is that the extra temperatures have risen generation was 9.42GW, set company said, compared
short-term warmth – from by 1°C since the industrial on 14 May this year. to the UK’s current largest
the jet stream being further revolution. It is therefore no At the end of May, there solar farm, a 72.2MW one
north than usual – is adding surprise that temperature was a total of 12.8 GW of in Wales.
to the long-term trend of records are being broken. solar capacity in the UK, up Dr Alastair Buckley,
rising global temperatures. A decade ago, solar just 1.6 per cent on May 2017. a solar expert at the
Britain has been so hot contributed almost nothing The rate at which solar University of Sheffield,
and dry that peat fires to UK electricity supplies. records are set is likely to said: “This marks the start
have raged across its Duncan Burt, Director slow, as growth has petered of subsidy-free solar being
moorlands. Meanwhile, of System Operations at out due to subsidy cuts. economically viable, and
Montreal posted its highest National Grid, said: “During Incentives for householders I genuinely believe we’ll
temperature ever, with the past 12 months alone, to put panels on their see bigger changes to the
the deaths of 33 people in we have seen renewable roofs are due to expire electricity sector in the next
Quebec attributed to the generation records broken next year, with no sign of a 10 years than we’ve seen in
scorching heat. and we expect this trend replacement scheme. the past 10.” ■

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News.indd 1 19/07/2018 12:46