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

A report by Ember analyzing UK power generation in 2024, finding that low-carbon renewables (wind, solar, and hydropower) are set to generate more electricity than fossil fuels for the first full year.

• In 2024, low-carbon renewable energy sources—specifically wind, solar, and hydropower—are projected to generate 37% of UK electricity (103 TWh), surpassing fossil fuels, which are expected to provide 35% (97 TWh). This marks the first full year that low-carbon renewables have overtaken fossil fuels, a significant shift from 2021 when fossil fuels accounted for 46% and low-carbon renewables for 27%.
• Wind power is forecast to generate 29% of UK electricity in 2024 (82 TWh), placing it very close to overtaking fossil gas (30%, 85 TWh) as the UK's largest single source of electricity. Whether wind becomes the top source depends on December's conditions, with a forecast difference of only 1%.
• Fossil gas power use is expected to decrease by 13% (-13 TWh) in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching its lowest level of generation since 1996. This decline is attributed to increased renewable energy, low electricity demand, and a 42% rise in net electricity imports, which displaced £125 million in gas imports.
• The UK completed the phase-out of coal power in 2024, closing its final coal power plant by October 2024. This move places the UK among a third of OECD nations that are now coal-free.
• Onshore wind generation grew by 23% in the first three quarters of 2024, supported by a capacity increase of 590 MW, largely driven by the 443 MW Viking Wind Farm on Shetland completed in September 2024. While no offshore wind farms entered full commercial operation in 2024, sites such as Dogger Bank A&B, Neart na Gaoithe, and Moray West are expected to add 3.8 GW of capacity by 2025 and 2026.

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} }