Renewable energy sources supplied more than half of the United Kingdom’s electricity in 2024, overtaking fossil fuels and setting a new annual record, government data showed on Thursday.
According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Digest of UK Energy Statistics, renewables generated 143.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) last year, representing 50.4% of total electricity output, up from 135.8 TWh in 2023. Meanwhile, electricity generated from fossil fuels declined to 90.5 TWh, accounting for 31.8% of the total, down from 36.7% the previous year.
Low carbon sources, which include renewables and nuclear power, combined to provide 64.7% of the UK’s electricity generation in 2024.
Wind power remained the leading clean energy source, producing a record 83.3 TWh, or 29.2% of electricity generated. Offshore wind contributed 48.5 TWh (17%), while onshore wind accounted for 34.7 TWh (12.2%), both reaching new annual highs. Solar power made up 5% (14.4 TWh), and nuclear energy contributed 14.25% (40.6 TWh) of the UK’s electricity.
Jane Cooper, deputy chief executive of RenewableUK, said, “As today’s record-breaking figures show, renewables now account for the majority of our electricity generation and stand firmly as the backbone of the UK’s energy system.”
Cooper added, “This is good news for billpayers, as renewables provide electricity at stable prices. Now we need to make sure we don’t just continue to build new wind, solar and nuclear plants, but we reform our electricity markets and grid so that billpayers can get maximum benefit from the clean energy rollout.”
She also highlighted upcoming opportunities, saying, “We have a golden opportunity to build on this historic milestone by attracting record levels of investment in wind and solar farms in this year’s clean energy auction, which will open next week.
