UK Renewable Electricity Hits Historic 50% Milestone in 2024

New statistics published yesterday by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero confirm that renewable energy accounted for over half of the UK’s total electricity generation for the first time last year.

The Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) is the annual energy statistics publication produced by DESNZ. It provides a comprehensive overview of the production and consumption of each energy type within the UK, as well as the energy mix as a whole.

In 2024, the share of UK electricity generation from renewable technologies reached a new record high of 50.4%, up from 46.5% in 2023. Wind generation hit a new record, solar output matched last year’s all-time high, and bioenergy generation rose by 17%.

Total renewable generation in 2024 reached a record 143.7 GWh, representing a 5.1% increase on 2023. This growth was driven by new capacity and a rebound in generation from plant biomass, which had been suppressed in 2022 and 2023 due to reduced output at two major sites.

Renewable capacity grew by 7.3% (4.1 GW) in 2024. Half of this new capacity came from solar PV, while the rest was primarily from onshore and offshore wind projects.

Wind power remained the UK’s largest source of clean electricity, generating 29.2% of total electricity in 2024 (a new record of 83.3 TWh), surpassing the previous high of 28.1% (82.3 TWh) in 2023. Wind accounted for 58% of all renewable electricity generation last year.

At the same time, fossil fuel generation fell to a record low of 31.8%, with coal generation coming to a complete stop in September 2024. Gas remained the UK’s primary source of electricity, contributing 30.4%, narrowly ahead of wind’s 29.2% share.

Total UK energy production declined to a new record low in 2024, down 6% from 2023. Oil and gas production both fell to their lowest levels in the 21st century, reflecting the ongoing decline of the UK’s mature production basin.

Commenting on the 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. This is good news for billpayers, as renewables provide electricity at stable prices. 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.

“We have a golden opportunity to build on this historic milestone by attracting record levels of investment in wind and solar farms in this year’s clean energy auction, which will open next week. Up to £53 billion in private investment could be secured this year to in new offshore wind projects alone.”

Read the full report here