UK low-carbon renewable power set to overtake fossil fuels for first time

In 2024, UK low-carbon renewables (wind, solar, and hydropower) are forecast to generate 37% of electricity (103 TWh), overtaking fossil fuels, which are set to provide 35% (97 TWh). Wind power is close to becoming the largest single source of UK power, forecast at 29% (82 TWh), just behind fossil gas at 30% (85 TWh). The year also marked the closure of the UK's last coal power plant, with gas power use set to decrease by 13% compared to 2023, reaching its lowest level since 1996. This decline in fossil fuel reliance is attributed to rising renewable generation, low electricity demand, and a 42% increase in net electricity imports.

• For the first full year, low-carbon renewable sources—specifically wind, solar, and hydropower—are forecast to generate more electricity than all fossil fuels combined in the UK, reaching a record high of 37% (103 TWh) compared to 35% (97 TWh) for fossil fuels.
• Wind power is nearly the largest single source of UK electricity in 2024, forecast at 29% (82 TWh), trailing fossil gas (30%, 85 TWh) by only 1%. Whether wind overtakes gas depends on December's conditions.
• The UK closed its final coal power plant in 2024, with coal generation dropping to zero by October 2024. Fossil gas power use is set to decrease by 13% (-13 TWh) in 2024 compared to 2023, the lowest level since 1996.
• Onshore wind generation grew by 23% in the first three quarters of 2024, supported by the completion of the 443 MW Viking Wind Farm on Shetland in September 2024 and the lifting of the de facto onshore wind ban in July 2024.

APA

Mayo, F. (2024). UK low-carbon renewable power set to overtake fossil fuels for first time. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/Report-UK-low-carbon-renewable-power-set-to-overtake-fossil-fuels-for-first-time.pdf

Chicago

Mayo, Frankie. UK low-carbon renewable power set to overtake fossil fuels for first time. Ember, 2024. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/Report-UK-low-carbon-renewable-power-set-to-overtake-fossil-fuels-for-first-time.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mayo |first1=Frankie |title=UK low-carbon renewable power set to overtake fossil fuels for first time |publisher=Ember |date=10 December 2024 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/Report-UK-low-carbon-renewable-power-set-to-overtake-fossil-fuels-for-first-time.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mayo2024lowcarbon, author = {Mayo, Frankie}, title = {{UK low-carbon renewable power set to overtake fossil fuels for first time}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/Report-UK-low-carbon-renewable-power-set-to-overtake-fossil-fuels-for-first-time.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }