According to new data released by the UK Government today, renewable energy sources generated over half of the country’s electricity demand in 2024. This marks the first time that renewables have accounted for more than 50% of the UK’s electricity consumption, reaching a record high of 50.8%, a significant increase from the previous year’s figure of 46.4%.
The figures, published in the latest Energy Trends report by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, reveal that clean power generation also reached new levels last year. Total clean power production rose by 6.5%, reaching 144.7 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2024, up from 135.8 TWh in 2023.
Wind energy contributed the largest share of the renewable generation, with total wind power rising to a record 29.5% of the UK’s electricity (84.1 TWh), an increase from 28.1% (82.3 TWh) in 2023. This surge was attributed to both stronger wind speeds and additional capacity. Offshore wind accounted for 17.2% (48.9 TWh), while onshore wind contributed 12.3% (35.1 TWh).
Solar power provided 5.2% (14.8 TWh), and nuclear energy accounted for 14.25% (40.6 TWh) of the UK’s total electricity production in 2024.
As a result, the share of low-carbon energy, combining renewables and nuclear, reached a new record of 65% (185.2 TWh) of the country’s electricity generation, while fossil fuel-based generation declined to just 31.5% (89.7 TWh), a level not seen since the 1950s.
RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper commented on the figures, stating, “These new figures show the pace at which our energy system is changing, benefitting billpayers and the climate. The UK is moving rapidly away from fossil fuels to low-cost renewables which bring down consumer bills, with wind providing the bulk of our clean power.”
Cooper also emphasized the need for government action to support the continued expansion of renewable energy, highlighting the importance of securing a significant amount of new wind and solar farms through this year’s auction for new projects. “The Government has a golden opportunity to secure a record amount of new wind and solar farms in this year’s auction for new projects, but we can only achieve this if we get the right framework in place to attract billions in private investment,” she said.
However, Cooper also expressed concerns about the potential introduction of zonal pricing, a system that could create regional variations in electricity prices. “One of the biggest worries in the industry right now is that the Government is considering a huge transformation of the energy market by potentially introducing a system called zonal pricing. This would divide the country up into different areas, with consumers paying different rates for the same amount of electricity depending on where they live, creating a postcode lottery for billpayers,” Cooper warned.
The data underscores the UK’s ongoing transition to a cleaner energy mix, with renewable and low-carbon sources playing an increasingly pivotal role in meeting the nation’s electricity needs.
