UK Renewable Energy Surges, Fossil Fuels Decline in 2024

According to the latest figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the UK reached a significant clean energy milestone in 2024, with renewables generating more than half of the country's electricity for the first time. Wind, solar, hydro, and biomass accounted for 50.4% of the UK's power generation last year, up from 46.5% in 2023.

At the same time, the share of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas, fell to a record low of 31.8% of generation. This decline was driven in part by the closure of the UK's last coal plant in September 2024. The share of low-carbon sources, including nuclear power, rose to nearly two-thirds (64.7%) of overall generation, another new record.

Despite the surge in renewable energy, natural gas remained the single biggest source of UK power in 2024, contributing 30.4% of generation. However, this is likely to change as more wind farms come online in the coming years. Greenpeace UK's head of climate, Mel Evans, described the renewables figures as "fantastic news" and noted that globally, renewables made up over nine-tenths of new electricity capacity last year.

The shift away from fossil fuels has also been reflected in declining oil and natural gas production, which fell by 8.8% and 10% respectively in 2024, reaching record low levels. Demand for coal also dropped significantly, by 52% compared to 2023, as the fuel mix shifted towards cleaner sources.