Coal still king... just

Coal was the major source of power last year in the UK, according to the latest GB Electricity Market Summary by energy analyst, EnAppSys, despite growing challenge from gas and renewables.

Levels of coal-fired generation dropped 23% y/y as the black rock faced competition from lower-gas prices and a booming renewables sector.

Gas-fired generation rose 8% to 28% of the total, while renewables generation jumped 19%. Wind energy accounted for most of that increase, rising 15% over the year to account for 9% of the UK’s energy mix.

In contrast, coal accounted for 31% of the energy mix – down from 41% in 2013.

“Since 2010 we have arguably seen the beginnings of a new era [in the UK power market],” said Paul Verrill, director of EnAppSys, in which “increased levels of generation from wind and other intermittent power sources, along with increased levels of imports from the continent, have contributed to a more complex electricity system.”

This creates new challenges for all participants in the market, continued Verrill: “As levels of renewable generation continue to rise there remain further challenges ahead as the market continues to adapt to requirements ‘to fill the gaps that arise’, with smaller lower-CAPEX plants having already succeeded at the expense of higher cost CCGT plants in capacity auctions earlier this year. All in all, 2015 promises to be another interesting year as this new low-carbon era continues its onwards progression.”

Written by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/26012015/coal-still-king-in-the-uk-but-only-just-enappsys-coal1789/