Storms Eunice and Franklin generate half of Britain’s electricity
The high winds that swept across the UK as storms Eunice and Franklin battered the country generated enough electricity to power half of Britain.
This Monday wind produced 52.6% of electricity as storm Franklin hammered parts of the UK with strong winds and heavy rain, according to figures from the National Grid ESO.
The Met Office issued an amber warning for wind which could cause a “risk to life” and train services were paralysed by gale-force winds and lashing rain.
Read more: UK water bosses face pay scrutiny over sewage dumping
The highest wind gust speeds on Monday morning reached 79mph in Capel Curig in Wales, and 78mph in Orlock Head, Northern Ireland. On Sunday night, 87mph was recorded at the Needles on the Isle of Wight.
The National Grid ESO said wind power produced 52.5% of British electricity followed by nuclear 14.8%, gas 12.3%, imports 11.0%, biomass 4.3%, hydro 2.9%, coal 1.7%, solar 0.5%
Renewable energy, which includes solar, wind and hydroelectric, usually generates a yearly average of electricity of 19.3%.
Franklin came days after Storm Eunice killed three people and left 1.4 million homes without power.
The “the storm of the decade” caused wind speeds of 122mph at the Needles on the Isle of Wight, provisionally the highest gust ever recorded in England.
Southwest parts of England and southern parts of Wales were issued an extremely rare red weather warning for wind last week which advised people in the area to not leave their homes.
Wind energy generated 46% of electricity across the UK as Storm Eunice hit the UK on Friday.
Read more: National Grid share price rises as Macquarie aims for £7.3bn stake in gas unit
Any wind generation is not being stored, with all electricity produced and used instantaneously.
In an update on Tuesday morning, the Energy Networks Association said around 12,000 customers remained without power, while some 1.5 million had been reconnected.
Further unsettled weather is anticipated to hit the UK later this week. Particularly windy conditions around Thursday could end up being named as Storm Gladys.
Energy minister Greg Hands said that “'new practices will be implemented” after the storms.
Watch: Millions of people have been told to stay at home as one of the worst storms in decades, Storm Eunice, hits the UK.
