Solar panels surpass coal-fired electricity in previously ‘unthinkable’ feat

[NWCorona]

Source: Independent

Solar panels generated more electricity than coal in the past six months in a historic year for getting energy from the sun in the UK, according to a new analysis.

Research by the Carbon Brief website found that solar generated nearly 7,000 gigawatt hours of electricity between April and September, about 10 per cent more than the 6,300GwH produced by coal during the same period.

The figures represent a dramatic turnaround in the UK’s electricity supplies.

The first ever day when solar produced more than coal was only on 9 April – when there was no coal-fired electricity for the first time since 1882. But then May became the first ever month when this happened.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/solar-panels-electricity-coal-power-stations-uk-sun-a7344326.html

[SunSeeker]

1. K & R

[Blue Idaho]

2. In the U.K. - coal is dead.

Dead as a doornail. It should be so in the US - the trick is to move the workers into better jobs that have a future.

[saidsimplesimon]

3. k&r

Thank you UK, now, imagine the US with new storage technology and solar power instead of adding more oil to the climate fire.

"Some people say I'm a dreamer."

[DorothyG]

6. But you're not the only one.

[truebluegreen]

4. But that's not a fair contest!

The UK is renowned for its beautiful weather! Unlike the US. Well, Seattle might be close.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. when will any of the four presidential candidates start discussing this?

Hillary could easily (and should) grab this issue and run.

Teh Donald is neither inclined to support alternate energy, not when he can knock her as anti-coal. (which any realist really should be today).

[Hekate]

10. You do recall she had to walk back her comments to coal miners that their industry....

....is effectively without future. Right? She got badly slammed for that, and accused of arrogance and lack of empathy and whatnot.

I think she could have phrased it better ("We will have a bajillion new jobs for all of you building solar panels" kind of thing) -- but even so, she brought up the issue and her comments were misconstrued.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. Yon microscope pointed at her is YUGE.

While the MSM, until last week, has given Teh Donald free publicity worth billions.

[turbinetree]

7. So where is this country, when compared to others?

I realize that these two countries don't compare to this, but

http://www.liquisearch.com/free_speech_zone


http://www.isustainableearth.com/sustainable-living/iceland-is-the-greenest-country-in-the-world

[NickB79]

8. How much natural gas did they burn?

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0927/The-Americans-are-coming!-US-shale-gas-finds-a-new-market-in-Britain

[Denzil_DC]

9. Here's a real-time readout of the UK national electricity grid

showing how much different energy sources are contributing:

http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

Hover your mouse over the dials for explanations. Reload the page for updated readouts.

It doesn't include solar PV yet because it's not metered centrally, but says its impact shows up as "a mid-day dip in overall demand".

[bananas]

11. k&r nt