Renewable generation in the UK grew by 56% to 12.8TWh in the second quarter of 2013 with its share of electricity generation up 5% from the same period in 2012 to a record 15%.

Figures from DECC’s Energy Trends report reveal biomass saw a 58% hike to 5.2TWh on the back of Tilbury’s return to operations and the conversion of Ironbridge and one unit of Drax coal stations to dedicated biomass.

Wind generation increased by 62% – with onshore up 70% to 3.8TWh – due to increased capacity and high wind speeds. Solar and wave & tidal saw a 22% increase while hydro was up 29%.

Renewable electricity capacity was 19.5GW at the end of the second quarter, a 38% or 5.3GW rise on the year-ago period.

Welcoming the figures, RenewableUK deputy chief executive Maf Smith said: “This confirms what we have been seeing for some time, which is renewables are steadily becoming more important in meeting our electricity needs and wind being responsible for the lion’s share of the progress.

“The fact that we have seen the record for renewables generation broken twice in the space of a few months shows for itself the progress being made in the race to decarbonise our economy and secure our future electricity supply.”

Elsewhere, the Energy Trends report’s breakdown on regional statistics shows that at the end of 2012 England had 29% more renewable capacity than Scotland.

Due to the different mix of technologies, with England having greater bioenergy capacity and Scotland more hydro, generation in England during 2012 was 56% higher.

Overall, generation in the UK was 9.4% lower than in the second quarter of 2012.