Renewable energy sources outstripped fossil fuels in the UK power mix for the whole of 2024 – the first time the balance has shifted for an entire 12 month period.
A new report from energy think tank Ember revealed that throughout this year, wind, solar and hydropower combined produced 37% of the Uks electricity, 103 terawatt-hours (TWh) – more than the 35% generated by fossil fuels, which amounted to 97 TWh.
In 2021, fossil fuels provided 46% of UK electricity with renewables accounting for 27%.
The report notes that fossil generation has fallen by two-thirds since 2000, driven by the near-elimination of coal power and a gradual reduction in gas generation.
Coal, which rapidly declined after 2012, contributed less than 2% of UK electricity and dropped to zero in October 2024 following the closure of the country’s final coal plant at Ratcliffe on Soar in Nottinghamshire.
Gas generation, which provided 30% of electricity in 2024 (85 TWh), has dropped from 34% in 2023 (98 TWh) and continues to be overtaken by cheaper renewable sources and imports.
UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association’s (UKSIF) CEO James Alexander said: “That we are seeing renewables overtake fossil fuels as a share of our energy mix is historic.
“It is clear we have now crossed the Rubicon; renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels.”
According to the report, wind power remains the dominant renewable source, supplying 29% of the UK’s electricity in 2024 (82 TWh). Gas remains the largest single source at 30%.
Onshore wind generation grew by 23% in the first three quarters of 2024, supported by an increase in capacity.
Offshore wind is set to grow significantly in coming years with new projects adding a combined 3.8 gigawatts (GW) of capacity by 2026.
Biomass and biogas contributed 14% of the UK’s electricity in 2024.
Electricity consumption in 2024 remained among the lowest levels in 20 years. Demand in the first three quarters was 1% higher than the previous year, but monthly levels in July and August were the lowest since before 1995.
Low electricity use, combined with increased imports—up 42% in 2024—further reduced gas-fired power demand. Imports displaced an estimated £125m in gas imports, with UK power prices remaining higher than those in neighbouring countries.
The decline in fossil fuel use, combined with renewable growth, has enabled the UK to continue reducing its reliance on gas and by 2030, gas is expected to account for less than 5% of electricity generation, thanks to extra renewable projects and energy storage. With the UK targeting a clean power system by the end of the decade, further shifts in energy production and consumption patterns have been predicted.
UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association’s (UKSIF) CEO James Alexander said: “That we are seeing renewables overtake fossil fuels as a share of our energy mix is historic.
“It is clear we have now crossed the Rubicon; renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels.
“The UK’s facilitative approach to renewables has already attracted billions in private investment but we cannot rest on our laurels.
“The Government must rapidly reform our prohibitively slow planning process to attract private finance from around the world which will insulate the UK from geopolitical energy-price shocks and help us reach our clean power targets.”
Syntegra MD Alan King said: “These are encouraging figures and show that the UK is willing to adopt more widespread use of renewable energy.
“Sustainability in all its forms is really starting to feature prominently in people’s mindsets and that has to be a huge positive.”
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