Renewable energy supplied over 50% of the UK’s electricity in 2024, surpassing fossil fuels and setting a new annual record, according to government figures.
The Digest of UK Energy Statistics, published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, shows renewables generated 143.7TWh last year, or 50.4%, up from 135.8TWh in 2023.
Fossil fuel output fell to 90.5TWh, representing 31.8% of total electricity generation, down from 36.7% the previous year.
Low carbon sources, including renewables and nuclear, accounted for a combined 64.7% of electricity generation in 2024.
Wind remained the UK’s leading clean power source, generating a record 83.3TWh and accounting for 29.2% of electricity generation.
Offshore wind delivered 48.5TWh (17%) and onshore wind produced 34.7TWh (12.2%), both setting new annual records.
Solar accounted for 5% (14.4TWh), while nuclear contributed 14.25% (40.6TWh) of the UK’s electricity last year.
RenewableUK deputy chief executive Jane Cooper 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.
“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.”
Cooper added: “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.”
Source: reNews
