May 28^th 2019 saw the 11^th consecutive day of non-coal powered energy generation in the UK (minus Northern Ireland) as we had gone more than 260 hours without coal-fired generation. In fact, May became a “record-setting” month for low-carbon production with more than 600 hours – around 25 days – of coal-free power generation.
The National Grid has revealed that 47.9% of the electricity generated between January and May this year came from clean energy sources – solar, wind, hydro and nuclear, while 46.7% came from coal and gas.
The second half of the year is predicted to see this percentage rise even further with the new North Sea Link’s forthcoming connection to Norway’s hydropower network.
The move to a net-zero power grid will continue next year when one of the six remaining coal-fired power stations in Cheshire will be decommissioned. Coal now accounts for less than 10% of national power output.
The Chancellor has also  recently announced a ban on gas boilers to heat new homes from 2015, relying instead on heat pumps and ‘world-leading’ insulation standards.
National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) plans to run a zero-carbon network for the UK by 2025  – excluding Northern Ireland –  ahead of the Government’s new plans for total decarbonisation by 2050.
National Grid is planning to invest around £1.3bn annually to support the net-zero transition. As part of this, it is planning that by 2030 90% of electricity imports will be from renewable sources, suggesting that this move will cut the carbon footprint of Britain’s energy sector by 17%.
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Research reveals consumer demand for climate change labelling
Reducing your running costs and carbon footprint  is not the only benefit of implementing renewable technologies, it can improve your sales and public perception too.
Two-thirds (67%) of consumers support the idea of a recognisable carbon label to demonstrate that products have been made with a commitment to measuring and reducing their carbon footprint, according to new international research released today by the Carbon Trust.
The YouGov study revealed that a majority (66%) of consumers confirm they would feel more positive about companies that can demonstrate they are making efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of their products.