“Great Britain’s electricity system recorded its greenest ever day over the Easter bank holiday as sunshine and windy weather led to a surge in renewable energy.
“The power plants generating electricity in England, Scotland and Wales produced only 39g of carbon dioxide for every kilowatt-hour of electricity on Monday, according to National Grid’s electricity system operator, the lowest carbon intensity recorded since National Grid records began in 1935.
“The new low smashed the grid’s previous record of 46g on 24 May last year, during the country’s greenest ever month for electricity generation.
“On Easter Monday, wind turbines and solar farms generated 60% of all electricity as households enjoyed a bank holiday lunch. At the same time the UK’s nuclear reactors provided 16% of the electricity mix, meaning almost 80% of the grid was powered from low-carbon sources.”

In the larger scheme of things:

“Over 2020 as a whole, carbon intensity fell to 181g of CO₂/kWh in part due to the collapse in demand for electricity during the coronavirus lockdowns. But under the UK’s climate targets the electricity system will need to cut its carbon intensity to around 50g of CO2/kWh in 2030, 10g of CO2/kWh in 2035, and 2g of CO2/kWh by 2050.”

Which means that for a day (Easter Monday), the UK beat its 2030 targets.

That’s a good path to be on.

Right, off to the pub!

[Cover photo: Solar farm on Godley Reservoir in Hyde, Manchester. Ashley Cooper pics/Alamy Stock Photo]