According to national statistics, the British power mix is increasingly gas-oriented, with gas accounting for around 45% of the power generation in the second quarter of 2016 and coal accounting for 6%; the share of gas has been increasing since the first quarter of 2015 (around 25%), while that of coal has been collapsing (from 30% in the first quarter of 2015 to 20% in the second quarter of 2015), due to the decommissioning of Ferrybridge C, West Yorkshire, and Longannet coal-fired power plants. In addition, a coal-fired unit at the Drax power plant switched from coal to biomass, contributing to cutting coal consumption in the power sector.
Renewable accounted for 25% of the power mix in the second quarter of 2016; including nuclear, low-carbon energy sources covered around 46% of the British power generation. In April 2016, wind turbines generated more electricity than coal-fired power plants, while solar power plants outstripped coal-fired power plants in May 2016. This contributed to a 6% reduction in emissions for the year ending in the second quarter of 2016.
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