Our annual production of electricity in 2013 from renewable sources reached 52.8 Terra Watt Hours in 2013, a significant increase from 2012 when the production reached 41.3 TWH. Behind these statistics released yesterday by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and reported on in this account lies several more detailed stories. Apparently the supply of hydro power reduced by 10% as a result of insufficient rain in the right places, but there was a significant increase in wind production due to newly installed wind farms and increases in wind flows. Offshore and onshore wind, solar and bioenergy all recorded significant increases in 2013 from 2012. According to an entry in Wikipedia, the same place that I found this challenging graph, the total production in 2010 was 365 TWH so based on that level of demand our renewable power is close to meeting 15% of the total needed. Clearly there is a long way to go, but perhaps in the light of the news that the lights are all about to go out, which relates to changes in supply of nuclear and coal or gas powered sources, we need to see the valuable role played by the renewable market.

The increase in renewable power production is something that needs to be appreciated and indeed promoted. With at least one Political Party hoping to get elected in May’s Euro Elections with a policy to oppose wind farms, there needs to be a debate which is based on facts and not just given over to a reaction by people who dislike the sight of wind farms. Let us hope that the next 7 weeks will allow us to hear from all of the parties and candidates in the election on 22nd May.