Output from coal-fired power stations halved in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2015. Gas generators largely made up the difference.
Meanwhile, output from renewables and low carbon generation increased slightly, mainly off the back of more wind and solar capacity and Drax converting a third unit to run mainly on wood pellets last summer, government statistics show.
The share of renewable power in the mix would likely have been higher but for lower than average wind speeds which offset higher onshore wind capacity. Offshore wind increased its contribution to the mix increased by 10%.
Meanwhile, the UK imported a record amount of power from the continent, suggesting a favourable price differential for our continental neighbours.
Final consumption of electricity fell slightly by 0.3 per cent, from 83.3 TWh in 2015 quarter one, to 83.0 TWh in Q1 2016. Domestic consumption fell by 1.5 per cent, from 31.7 TWh in 2015 Q1 to 31.2 TWh in 2016 Q1.
In 2016 Q1 industrial use of electricity at 24.9 TWh was 0.3 per cent higher and consumption by commercial and other users at 26.9 TWh was 0.4 per cent higher than the same period in 2015.
See the the statistics here.
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