Renewables generate half of UK’s electricity in 2024 in new record high

Renewables generated more than half of the UK’s power for the first time in 2024 in a new record high for clean electricity sources.

Official figures show wind, solar, hydro, and biomass generated 50.4% of UK power last year, up from 46.5% in 2023.

At the same time, fossil fuels, mainly gas, fell to a record low share of 31.8% of energy generation, with Britain’s last coal plant shutting in September 2024.

“For the first year on record, renewables generated more than half of the UK’s electricity production,” energy minister Michael Shanks said.

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“This clean, secure, homegrown power is exactly what we want more of through our clean power mission – further reducing our exposure to the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets.”

The figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on Thursday show that the share of energy from low-carbon sources, including nuclear and renewables, rose to nearly two-thirds of overall generation (64.7%), a new record high.

However, gas remained the single biggest source of UK power, at 30.4%, still slightly outpacing wind’s contribution of 29.2% of generation.

Greenpeace UK’s head of climate, Mel Evans, described the renewables figures as “fantastic news”.

“More of our electricity than ever before is produced by the wind and the sun as we continue to move away from dirty gas,” she said.

But she said that with energy bills “sky high”, the figures highlighted the absurdity of continuing to allow a smaller and smaller proportion of gas to dictate the price of power.

Under the current system, the price that consumers pay for their electricity is mostly set by the cost of gas, driving up the cost of what households have to pay for power from renewables and nuclear.

“Right now, expensive gas power is pushing up energy bills for households and businesses,” Ms Evans said.

“Until we reform this system and stop gas from setting electricity prices, we’re not going to enjoy the full benefits and lower prices that more renewable power can bring.”

The figures also showed oil production fell by 8.8% and natural gas production was down 10% with output of both fossil fuels falling to record low levels.

Production of oil and gas is 75% below the peak seen in 1999, reflecting the decline in output from the UK’s shrinking North Sea reserves.

Demand for coal fell in 2024, by 52% to 2.1 million tonnes compared to 2023.

The figures also reveal that aviation fuel demand rose by 9.4% in 2024 and is now 1.3% above pre-pandemic 2019 levels.