Solar panels produced more electricity than Britain’s eight nuclear power stations for the first time on Friday 26th May. Solar power accounted for 24.3% of electricity being generated at 12.30pm on Friday and exceeded nuclear output for three hours from 11am to 2pm.
As solar power flooded the system on Friday, wholesale electricity prices fell to around £38/MWh, compared with about £50/MWh in spring 2013. Friday’s peak solar output was almost three times greater than the planned 3.2GW generating capacity of proposed new nuclear power plant Hinkley Point C.
Stop Hinkley Spokesperson Roy Pumfrey commented:
“Renewables like wind and solar are among the cheapest options for generating power in the UK. Eventually plummeting costs mean solar will no longer need subsidies, but the Government has withdrawn subsidies much too soon so installations are slowing sharply.”
Deployments of rooftop solar panels fell by three-quarters in the first quarter of this year compared with 2016. The Solar Trade Association, which represents the UK industry, said reduced subsidies and higher taxes were threatening to stall further growth in the sector.
“In effect the Government is trying to kill off an industry which promises to cut all consumers electricity prices so that it can afford to pay the ridiculously high price it has guaranteed to EDF Energy for Hinkley Point C. As the Financial Times pointed out last week nobody outside the industry now thinks the future of electricity generation is nuclear fission.
“If this unproven design ever gets built and produces electricity, the UK consumer will be obliged to pay over twice the current market price for the output. Surely, for the good of electricity consumers, it must be time to scrap Hinkley Point C.”
