Wind power exceeds hydropower in electricity generation

According to the annual energy statistics report that was released on Thursday, wind contributed more towards the UK’s power generation than water in year 2007. This has happened for the first time in the history of the country. In year 2006, renewable resources generated 4.6% of the country’s electricity and in year 2007, it has improved to 5 %.

The main highlights of the report say that the nuclear power generation has deteriorated even more in the year 2007. It has reduced to 15% of the total power supply. This is the lowest since 1987. The cause for this decline lies in the fact that the country’s old nuclear power generation plants demand high maintenance and care.

Even though international gas prices are constantly rising, gas is still given preference over coal because electricity generation by burning coal is more expensive than gas. Therefore, in the year 2007, the gas-generated electricity was 43%, seven percent more than the year 2006.

According to the data shared in the annual report, gas import has exceeded from gas export in the last three years, and from the past seven years, gas production is continuously falling down. In year 2007, it has further reduced by 10%.

Import of coal has reduced by 13%. At the same time, home production of coal has also gone down by 6%.

The capacity to generate electricity through wind has increased by 27%. There is 1.1% reduction in the overall power supply. A downward trend has been noticed in the electricity consumption. The industrial power consumption fell by 0.5%. Whereas, the household power consumption has fallen by 1.2%.