According to the latest data from Drax Electric Insights, wind turbines in Britain have surpassed gas-fired power stations in electricity generation during the first quarter of 2023, marking a significant milestone. The report reveals that wind power accounted for 32.4% of the country's electricity supply, outperforming gas which contributed 31.7%.

This achievement represents the first time that wind energy has claimed the largest share of power generation for a quarter in the history of the UK's electricity grid. Drax, the organization behind the report, released these findings ahead of the upcoming quarterly edition of Drax Electric Insights, an independent publication prepared by academics from Imperial College London, commissioned through Imperial Consultants.

Throughout the three-month period, wind turbines in Britain produced a total of 24TWh of electricity. Comparatively, wind energy output increased by 3% compared to the same quarter in the previous year, while gas generation experienced a decline of 5%.

Renewable sources, including wind, solar, biomass, and hydro, contributed to nearly 42% of the UK's electricity generation in the first quarter of 2023. Fossil fuels accounted for 33%, with the remaining power being sourced from imports and the country's diminishing nuclear fleet.

Dr. Iain Staffell, the lead author of the quarterly Drax Electric Insights report series from Imperial College London, expressed, "The renewable power revolution has fundamentally transformed the way the UK obtains its electricity, leading to a cleaner and greener power grid. In just a decade, the UK has made significant progress in phasing out coal, which had been the country's most polluting fossil fuel for over a century. While challenges remain on the path to achieving a completely fossil fuel-free grid, the fact that wind power has surpassed gas is a remarkable milestone. It highlights the potential for success when governments create a favorable environment for investments in clean technology."