New statistics released by the Government show that renewables generated a record 50.8% of the UK’s electricity in 2024 – the first year in which renewables have exceeded 50%, and a substantial increase on the previous high of 46.4% in 2023. These are the first figures to be published by the Government covering 2024 in its entirety.
They are included in the latest Energy Trends report by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which also shows that a record amount of clean power was produced last year, reaching a new high of 144.7 terawatt hours (TWh), up 6.5% from 135.8TWh in 2023.
The report states that wind generation increased to a record 29.5% (84.1TWh), up from 28.1% (82.3TWh) in 2023, due to higher wind speeds and further increases in capacity. Offshore wind generated 17.2% (48.9TWh) and onshore wind 12.3% (35.1TWh).
Solar provided 5.2% (14.8TWh) and nuclear 14.25% (40.6TWh) of the UK’s electricity in 2024. Low carbon sources (renewables and nuclear) generated a record 65% (185.2TWh), while fossil fuels fell to levels last seen in the 1950s at 31.5% (89.7TWh).
RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said:
'These new figures show the pace at which our energy system is changing, benefitting billpayers and the climate. The UK is moving away rapidly from fossil fuels to low-cost renewables which bring down consumer bills, with wind providing the bulk of our clean power.
'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.
'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. Not only would this mean higher electricity prices for households and businesses in England and Wales, but introducing such a radical reform to the market without the full details of what it will look like would also be incredibly disruptive to investment in new wind and solar projects, so we’re urging Ministers to rule this scheme out as soon as possible'.
The Government’s latest Energy Trends report is available here.
Source: RenewableUK
