Hurricane Bertha Leads to Record Wind Energy Levels for August

The recent bout of stormy weather may have cast a shadow over many people's summer plans, but it has resulted in record summertime yields for Britain's wind farms.

Figures released today show that on Sunday night (10 August), as the aftermath of Hurricane Bertha battered parts of Britain, wind energy took its highest-ever portion of the country's August energy mix.

The Met Office issued weather warnings in parts of Scotland and the North, but the inclement conditions meant that between 21:30 and 22:00, wind generation averaged 5007MW, which accounted for 17% of the UK's total energy provision.

This dwarves August's typical contribution from the wind sector. In 2012, the highest amount was 3331MW and in 2013, 4064MW.

Over the same period of time, coal power provided 11% of the total mix, with gas and nuclear energy combining to deliver the dominant portion at 30%.

"These latest figures show that wind is continuing to provide a significant proportion of the UK's electricity all year round, including the hot summer months, outstripping the contribution from traditional carbon-heavy sources like coal," Jennifer Webber, the director of external affairs at Renewable UK, the industry body which compiles the data, told IBTimes UK.

The past few years have seen the energy press dominated by the potential benefits of shale oil and gas, which would be extracted from deep-lying rock through hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

Quietly, though, the UK's renewable energy sector has been growing in significance. In the first-quarter of 2014, renewables' share of electricity generation was 19.4% - a record figure, up by 6.9% on the corresponding period in 2013.

"Electricity generated from onshore wind increased by 62% in 2014 Q1, from 4.1 TWh in 2013 Q1 to 6.6 TWh, while generation from offshore wind increased by 53% on a year earlier, from 2.9 TWh to 4.4 TWh. Both increases were due to increased capacity on a year earlier, and very high wind speeds," reads a report on UK government's website.

Despite strong opposition from conservation organisations, the government is keen to press on with plans to develop the country's wind sector.

In July, energy secretary Ed Davey approved the £2bn Rampion offshore wind farm off the Sussex coast. The development will see 175 turbines constructed nine miles out to sea, which it's hoped will generate enough electricity to power 450,000 homes.

"This project is great news for Sussex, providing green jobs as well as driving business opportunities right across the country in a sector with a clear roadmap for long-term growth," said Davey of the project.

However the National Trust and South Downs National Park Authority have opposed the plan, saying the wind farm will "unacceptably spoil" the views from the coast.

German energy giant Eon is due to begin construction work next year.