Study questions British wind energy resilience

LONDON, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The British power grid may need to complement its wind energy output with fossil fuels to make up for production gaps, a study finds.

Though coal still dominates the British power sector, the country is emerging as a wind energy leader, and is the world leader in offshore wind installations.

A report from the Adam Smith Institute finds seasonal variations in wind energy output means there may be shortages that need to be offset.

Capell Aris, the author of the report, said deficiency forecasts suggest wind energy installations "would require an equal sized fossil fuel generation fleet operating alongside it, especially during winter months."

Offshore wind capacity increased by 52 percent and onshore wind by 40 percent. Combined, wind energy generated 28,4343 gigawatt hours of electricity for the British grid last year. Total wind energy represented 53 percent of the renewable electricity generated in 2013.

The British government said renewable energy resources like wind can help address climate concerns stemming from the burning of fossil fuels. Because wind may need a fossil fuel buffer, the study finds "the only benefit the U.K. wind fleet brings to the United Kingdom is that of reduced dependency on fossil-fuel imports."