Wind power became the largest source of electricity generation in the UK in 2024, marking a significant milestone as it accounted for 30% of the nation's total electricity supply, new data reveals. According to the National Energy System Operator (Neso), wind produced nearly 83 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity across England, Wales, and Scotland in 2024, a slight increase from 79 TWh in 2023.
For the first time, renewables provided more than 50% of the UK's electricity for four consecutive quarters, from Q4 2023 to Q3 2024, with an average of 51% in 2024. Wind power outperformed gas, which generated 26.3% of the electricity, up from 28% the previous year.
December saw particularly high wind generation, with wind supplying 38.9% of the country's electricity. The month also recorded a new peak of 22.523 gigawatts (GW) of wind power, providing 68.3% of Britain's electricity on December 18.
Overall, clean power sources contributed 58% of Britain's electricity in 2024, with nuclear energy accounting for 14% and other renewables contributing 13.8%. Meanwhile, coal's contribution fell to a mere 0.6% after the closure of the UK's last coal-fired power station in September 2024.
Barnaby Wharton, Director of Future Electricity Systems at RenewableUK, commented on the achievement, saying: It's great to start the new year with a fresh annual wind energy record. Neso's latest figures confirm that wind is the UK's most important clean power source all year round, outperforming gas – and that role is set to grow as fresh projects go live in 2025.
Wharton also stressed the importance of accelerating renewable energy deployment to meet the government's Clean Power 2030 target, stating: “To meet the Government's target of clean power by 2030, we will need to maximise the amount of new capacity we secure in every annual auction for Contracts for Difference across all renewable sources.
The Neso data also revealed that 2024 was the UK's lowest carbon intensity year to date, with an average of 125 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour (CO2/kWh). Additionally, solar power generation rose to 5% of the UK's electricity supply in 2024.
The UK government continues to shift away from fossil fuels as part of its broader clean energy strategy, with a focus on enhancing energy flexibility through projects such as large-scale storage and green hydrogen.
