The UK goes over 100 hours without using coal for the first time in a century

    The UK goes over 100 hours without using coal for the first time in a century

    For the first time in 100 years, the UK has gone without coal for more than 100 hours. By breaking the previous record set on the Easter weekend of 2019, Britain has reached this significant milestone


    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    For the first time in 100 years, the UK has gone without coal for more than 100 hours. By breaking the previous record set on the Easter weekend of 2019, Britain has reached this significant milestone.




    According to data released yesterday by the National Grid, the country for 122 hours did without coal, one of the major causes of climate-altering emissions.

    It is the first time the nation has been powered for so long without fossil fuel. Even though the country passed 1.000 total coal-free hours in 2019, scoring over 100 consecutive hours is a respectable target.

    "As more renewables enter our energy mix, weekends like this will increasingly seem like the 'new normal'", he said to the Independent a spokesperson for the National Grid Electricity System Operator. "We believe that by 2025 we will be able to fully manage Britain's electricity system with zero carbon emissions."

     

    First 100 hour coal free run!! Making steps towards our @ng_eso zero carbon 2025 ambition! https://t.co/3kRyAUuL4C #netzero #climatechange https://t.co/jXXhWHXfuk

    — National Grid ESO (@eng_eso) May 5,

    How has the energy been produced these days? If we consider yesterday's data, gas covered 38,0% of British electricity, followed by nuclear 24,0%, wind 16,5%, imports equal to 8,2%, solar 6,2%, from biomass to 5,9%, from hydroelectricity for 1%.

    “Emission-free operation of the electricity system by 2025 will be a fundamental change in the way our system is designed to function; integration of the latest technologies throughout the system - from large-scale offshore ecology to home-scale solar panels - and increased demand-side participation, using new intelligent digital systems to manage and control the system in real time " explained Fintan Slye, director of ESO.


    Despite the phasing out of coal, the UK is far from meeting targets that would lead to net zero emissions by 2020, as called for by government climate change advisers last week.


    As the data reveal, in fact, the largest slice of the UK energy mix is ​​generated by gas. Although less harmful than coal, it is still a fossil fuel that, under the 2008 Climate Change Act, requires an 80% reduction in emissions in 2050 compared to 1990 levels.

    Although the country was the first to declare a climate emergency, there is still a long way to go.

    These are the last data published on Twitter on the energy mix, relating to 5 May

    Yesterday #gas produced 38.0% of British electricity followed by nuclear 24.0%, wind 16.5%, imports 8.2%, solar 6.2%, biomass 5.9%, hydro 1.0%, other 0.2%, coal 0.0% *excl. non-renewable distributed generation pic.twitter.com/6hJMTwHK2J

    - ESO Control Room (@NGControlRoom) May 6, 2019

    and to 6 May:

    On Saturday #wind generated 27.1% of GB electricity followed by gas 25.4%, nuclear 24.3%, solar 9.0%, imports 6.8%, biomass 6.2%, hydro 0.9%, other 0.3%, coal 0.0% *excl. non-renewable distributed generation pic.twitter.com/iVBB1vAQkY



    - ESO Control Room (@NGControlRoom) May 5, 2019

    READ also:

    • Renewables overtake coal in the US: it's the first time
    • The UK declares the climate emergency: it is the first state to do so

    Francesca Mancuso

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