It has already happened in Italy, Spain and Germany. Also in the United States last July, but this time it's up to northern Europe: is the first time since 1882 – when the first British power station was put into operation – that in the United Kingdom land renewable energy sources have provided more electricity to the country's homes, buildings and businesses than fossil fuels.
According to the latest research, as reported by the English newspaper The Guardian, this result was achieved during the third quarter of 2019, when the share of renewable energies rose to 40%.
What were just predictions by the British National Grid - a multinational electricity and gas company - have become reality. The northern European electric giant had explained that 2019 would be the first year since the industrial revolution that thezero carbon electricity would outstrip gas and coal production.
According to reports from the Guardian, the reasons that led to the realization of such a remarkable achievement at the heart of the energy transition process in the United Kingdom was the existence of a series of new offshore wind farms built during the year and which have allowed renewable energy to exceed 39% of fossil fuels, which less than 10 years ago they accounted for four fifths of the state's electricity needs.
Wind power is the UK's strongest source of renewable energy and accounted for 20% of UK electricity following a string of major wind farm openings in recent years. Electricity from renewable biomass plants accounts for 12% of the energy system, while solar panels contribute 6%.
The world's largest offshore wind farm, the Hornsea One project, started producing electricity off the Yorkshire coast in February, reaching a peak capacity of 1.200MW in October. The project followed the opening of the Beatrice wind farm off the north-east coast of Scotland during the summer, according to the Guardian.
Coal-fired power stations in the UK are shutting down, due to the coal-fired ban starting in 2025. By next spring, there will be only four coal-fired power stations left in the UK: West Burton A and Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, Kilroot in Northern Ireland and two at the Drax site in North Yorkshire, which are being converted to gas.
Combined, these projects nearly doubled the 2.100 MW of offshore capacity that began powering homes in 2018.
The green revolution is happening in 2019 which promises to be the year of zero carbon. Also at the heart of the work of the new European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen for the next five years will have the future of the planet at heart: “it is our commitment to become the first continent in the world with zero climate impact. It is also a long-term economic imperative: whoever acts first and fastest will be able to seize the opportunities offered by the ecological transition. We need an ambitious Green New Deal for Europe that shapes the future of our children and ensures their health, prosperity and security on a green and thriving planet”.
