Comparing the first half of 2024 to 2025, the solar share of total generation increased by 2.4 TWh, helping to balance out the 2.8 TWh reduction in the wind share. The result of the balance between wind and solar is that there is only a 0.4 TWh reduction, and likely to improve as wind speeds have returned to long-term averages. These diverse energy sources therefore help balance each other out both on a daily and a seasonal basis.
Strong generation performance in May and June means that renewable energy generation has recovered from a slow start at the beginning of the year. Wind speeds in the first few months of 2025 were at the low end of the typical range, with a notable absence of major storms after January. However, since a turnaround in the spring, higher wind generation, combined with record solar, means that clean power generation in 2025 has caught up with the 2024 half-year totals.
Comparing between years shows how well wind and solar power complement each other
While 2024 was windier and less sunny overall, the start of 2025 has been the opposite, with wind at the lower end of the typical range and solar outperforming previous records. As a result, the first half of 2024 was notable for its high wind generation and low solar generation days, whereas in 2025 there have been many high solar generation days during times of low wind generation.