Biomass Sets New UK Power Generation Records

 Biomass had the best year to date in electricity generation in the UK as a reliable and dispatchable renewable energy source. The latest report from Drax Electric Insights, dated 3 December 2025, indicates that on a calm and cloudy September morning with tremendous demand for electricity, biomass produced an all-time high of 17% of the total electricity generated in the United Kingdom. July also marked the sector’s highest-ever monthly contribution and a new daily output peak.

Source: https://www.drax.com/

This research shows that there is a big shift taking place in the way we produce and use energy in the UK. A large increase in the use of electricity from electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps and the rapid growth of data centres means that there will be an increased demand for electricity that is readily available and reliable. According to Imperial College London, the impact of weather on electricity supply is growing. Therefore, biomass will continue to be a major part of the energy mix in the UK because of its contribution to the ability of the grid to cope with changes in demand as a result of changing weather patterns.

The Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire is the largest renewable generator in Great Britain and serves as a model of how biomass can be used as a source of stabilisation for power systems. Drax has invested in significant amounts of storage for wood pellets to be used in its power plants and has developed a global supply chain to source pellets from a variety of regions. Drax's electricity-generating units provide energy when it is needed and are dependent on the use of stable and reliable sources of energy. In addition to generating renewable energy, Drax is also responsible for supporting ancillary services such as voltage support and grid inertia, essential for ensuring the reliability of the electrical system.

With the establishment of a new agreement with the UK government that will last until 2031, the use of biomass will continue to form a major component of the UK's clean and reliable energy supply for many more years. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For the UK to achieve a "just and fair" energy transition by 2030, there must be immediate political alignment.

Image
  The UK will not be able to achieve a "just and fair" energy transition by 2030, according to a new report from Robert Gordon University (RGU), unless there is immediate political alignment to support supply chain investments, jobs in the offshore energy industry, and the economic contribution of the workforce. Image Courtesy: RGU The “Delivering our Energy Future” report dissected north of 6,560 pathways for the UK offshore energy industry between now and 2030, of which, less than 15 or <0.3% meet the "just and fair" progress standards. It is presumed that the UK and Scottish political choices, rather than energy market economics , will identify the size of the supply chain and workforce.  To take note, the United Nations' definition of a "just and fair" change signifies:  "Guaranteeing that nobody is abandoned in the progress to low carbon and ecologically manageable economies and social orders". As per RGU, even these limited situation...
Read more

The Energy Sector Transition in the UK Gave Birth to the “Energy Skills Passport”

Image
  Leaders in the energy sector have come together to develop a prototype "Energy Skills Passport" that will allow training and experience in the area to be recognized across sectors. Image Courtesy: Popular Science The launch of the 'Skills Passport', a commitment in both the North Sea Transition Agreement and the Offshore Wind Sector Agreement, between industry and the UK government has taken place. Passport aims to show employees and employers how they can recognize skills and competencies in sectors such as oil gas and offshore wind. The ability for workers to move easily across all parts of the energy mix, from jobs in the oil and gas sector to specialist roles in wind and other energy transition sectors, would save the UK energy industry UK energy industry UK energy industry and help spread and accelerate the transition process.  “We are committed to make the transition easier for workers in the energy sector moving into renewable energy,” said Jane Cooper, Chi...
Read more

£30bn in Scottish Renewable Investment at Risk Amid Energy Pricing Debate

Image
Ministers, businesses, and the public have been alerted to the potential risk of losing up to £30 billion worth of planned investments in Scottish renewable energy projects. This warning comes as the government considers implementing zonal energy pricing proposals later this month. Currently, more than 10GW of onshore wind projects are in Scotland’s development pipeline, according to recent findings from the onshore wind sector deal. Independent consultancy firm Biggar Economics conducted research for the Fairer Energy Future campaign, examining the economic benefits of delivering these projects to Scotland. The analysis suggests that for every 1GW in developed countries between 2030 and 2035, around 800 building jobs would be done , as soon as a complete functional reaches another 200 operating jobs per GW. Today, Scotland's onshore area supports more than 12,000 jobs, many of which depend on the approval of this development pipeline. When we talk about onshore wind energy, each g...
Read more