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歷史轉捩點！ 英國燃煤發電量數度歸零 最久達12小時
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本報2016年5月19日綜合外電報導，許祺景編譯；蔡麗伶審校
英國的燃煤發電量在上星期數度降到歷史新低，更首次歸零。專家表示，這是從1882年倫敦第一個燃煤發電廠啟用以來首見。
燃煤電廠排放溫室氣體。圖片來源：Stuart Rankin（CC BY-NC 2.0）。
燃煤發電量首次歸零 英國寫下歷史轉捩點
英國新電力市場交易協定（New Electricity Trading Arrangements，NETA）網站的資料（BM report）[註]顯示，上星期一（2日）晚上到星期二（3日）清晨期間，燃煤發電量首次歸零。根據英國國家電網公司（National Grid UK）的資料，上星期英國燃煤發電量有數次降為零，上星期四（5日）燃煤發電量為零的狀況甚至超過12.5小時。也就是說，在大半天內，不管是低用電的深夜或電力需求高的白天，整個英國的燃煤發電都沒有貢獻。
根據英國氣候科學網站Carbon Brief，這是1882年英國首座燃煤火力發電廠啟用之後，燃煤發電量首次歸零。綠色能源支持者表示，這對於英國的能源系統而言是個「歷史性的轉捩點」。
再生能源電力供應商執行長達文波特（Juliet Davenport）說：「雖然煤炭是工業革命的主角，也是21世紀帶領英國前進不可或缺的燃料，但現在是開始說再見的時候了。」
「我們所使用的能源越來越乾淨、環保，風力、太陽能和其他的再生能源所產生的電力比以前多很多。我們對此感到高興，這表示我們的未來可能不需要化石燃料。」
2025年前火電廠全部除役 投資乾淨能源
英國目前即將進入夏季，燃煤發電量出現歷史新低，表示全國的電力需求降低，且目前因為維修等原因，一半以上的燃煤發電廠機組沒有在運轉。
也有部分的燃煤發電廠，最近因為經濟效益低落的關係而終止營運，像是北約克郡（North Yorkshire）的Drax發電廠就暫時改為燃燒生物質（biomass）。
當局希望所有燃煤發電廠能在2025年前除役，因為這種發電方式是污染最多的一種。此外，再生能源所佔的比例也漸漸提高，英國在2015最後一季再生能源例如風力發電等，所佔比例約27%。
現在無論是家裡的小型太陽能發電或者大規模的太陽能發電廠，其發電量常常超越燃煤，像太陽能在這周中午的用電尖峰期發電量達到6.8GW，而燃煤則只有3GW。
儘管太陽能發電無法整日供應電力，但根據Carbon Brief網站的分析，若以整個星期而言，上星期以乾淨發電方式所發的電比燃煤的還多。
譯註：平衡機制（Balancing Mechanism，BM）為英國2001新電力市場交易協定（New Electricity Trading Arrangements，NETA）中的一種機制，用來確保短期電力供給的品質與安全。（參考資料：經濟部能源局）
UK energy from coal hits zero for first time in over 100 years
Coal-generation hit historic low several times last week in what experts say are the only occasions since the first coal-fired generator opened in London in 1882
The amount of electricity generated from coal in the UK has fallen to zero several times in the past week, grid data shows.
In what green energy supporters have described as a “historic turning point” for the UK’s power system, coal-fired electricity first fell to zero late on Monday night and for the early hours of Tuesday morning, according to data from BM Reports.
On Thursday, there was no electricity from coal for more than 12 and a half hours, more than half the day, with it making no contribution to the UK’s power supplies late at night when demand was low and for a period in the day, the data shows.
It is thought to be the first time the UK has been without electricity from coal since the world’s first centralised public coal-fired generator opened at Holborn Viaduct in London, in 1882, according to the Carbon Brief website which reports on climate science and energy policy.
The record lows in coal power generation come as the UK enters the summer months, which sees lower demand for electricity, and with more than half of the country’s coal capacity out of action, for example for planned maintenance.
But there have also been a series of recent closures of coal-fired power plants as they become less economic, while plants such as Drax in North Yorkshire have partially switched to burning “biomass”.
The government has said it wants to see coal phased out by 2025, as it is the most polluting way of generating electricity.
There has also been an increase in the amount of renewables on the system, with a record 27% of the UK’s power coming from sources such as wind power in the last quarter of 2015.
Estimates of the power now being generated from solar panels, from household arrays to large scale farms, also show it is regularly outstripping coal during the day, reaching 6.8 gigawatts (GW) at a midday peak this week compared to a high of 3GW output from coal.
Solar is limited to generating power during the day, but analysis from Carbon Brief found that over the course of a week, the clean technology produced more power last week than coal.
Juliet Davenport, chief executive of renewable electricity supplier Good Energysaid: “This week marks an historic turning point for energy in the UK.
“Coal formed the backbone of the industrial revolution and was the fuel that powered Britain into the 21st century. But it’s time to begin to say farewell.
“Our energy is becoming cleaner and greener, with wind, solar and other renewables generating more of our electricity than ever before. We are celebrating this news as it shows that our future can be fossil fuel-free.”
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