Power Generation and Cumulative Capacity of Wind Power Plants in United Kingdom (2017 – 2021)
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Net electricity generated by Wind power plants in United Kingdom reached 68,812.6 GWh in 2021, declining 9.3% YoY
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During the same year, the cumulative capacity of Wind power plants in United Kingdom reached 25,604.0 MW, growing 3.7% YoY
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Power generation recorded a historical growth at a CAGR of 8.3% between 2017 and 2021, while the cumulative capacity growth at 6.7% between 2017 and 2021
Power Generation and Cumulative Capacity of Wind Power Plants in United Kingdom (2017 – 2021)
With the increasing demand for energy, rising levels of pollution, fear of global warming, scarcity of fossil fuels, and increasing levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, many countries opted for sources of clean renewable energy. Several countries signed protocols with pre-defined emission reduction targets. The Paris Agreement is the most recent initiative in this direction, whereby each country voluntarily determined and presented its emission reduction target and pledged to achieve GHG reduction according to this target. Several countries that are party to the Paris Agreement devised plans to reduce conventional power and aid the growth of renewable power to reduce emissions. The main renewable energy sources are Hydro, Geothermal, Wind, Solar, and Biopower.
Wind energy is the energy generated using wind turbines to convert kinetic energy of the wind to mechanical energy, which is then converted into electricity. Wind energy is considered to have a high positive effect on the environment in comparison to Hydro, Solar PV, Geothermal. Wind energy has the lowest water consumption, relatively lowest GHG emissions, and is considered one of the most sustainable sources of energy.
The global installed wind power capacity increased from 197.8 gigawatts (GW) in 2010 to 743.1 GW in 2020, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2%. The global installed wind power capacity is expected to reach 1,839.5 GW by 2030. In 2021, the top five regions in the wind power market are China, the US, Germany, India, and the UK.
United Kingdom is the fifth largest wind power market, with cumulative wind installed capacity of 26 GW as of 2021, growing at a CAGR of 6.7% between 2017 and 2021. The generation of electricity from wind turbines increased proportionally as capacity increased. The total wind generation in India increased to 69 TWh in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 8.3% between 2017 and 2021.
The UK government recognized the importance of developing the renewable sector to reduce carbon emissions and find a solution to the problem of depleting fossil fuel reserves. The government aims to cut emissions by 34% by 2020, and 80% by 2050, compared with 1990 levels. As part of its EU obligations, a target is in place for renewable energy sources to account for 15% of gross energy consumption by 2020. To achieve these renewable energy targets, the government started promoting renewable energy sources by providing significant financial support in the form of subsidies, active R&D, government-sponsored loans, and tax allowances. Additionally, regional governments announced separate targets for the development of renewable energy for their respective regions.
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