New statistics published today by the Government confirm that renewable energy accounted for over half of the UK’s total electricity generation for the first time last year, generating a record annual percentage of the country’s electricity in 2024, and outstripping fossil fuels for the fourth time in five years.

Renewables generated a new high of 143.7TWh, surpassing the previous record for the amount of electricity generated (135.8TWh) set in 2023.

Renewables provided 50.4 per cent of the UK’s electricity last year (up from 46.4 per cent in 2023), compared to 31.8 per cent from fossil fuels, mainly gas. Wind remains the UK’s biggest source of clean power, generating a record 29.2 per cent of electricity in 2024 whilst solar provided 5 per cent(14.4TWh) and nuclear 14.25 per cent (40.6TWh).

The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), published by DESNZ, states that the rise is due to increases in offshore wind and solar generation capacity. The annual report also notes that the share of generation from low carbon sources (renewables and nuclear) rose to a record 64.7 per cent in 2024 (184.3TWh), up from 60.3 per cent in 2023.

Commenting on today’s statistics, RenewableUK’s 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. 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.”

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