The United Kingdom generated 66% of its electricity from low-carbon sources

8th October 2025

The United Kingdom generated 66% of its electricity from low-carbon sources, significantly higher than the global average of 41%.

In 2024, the United Kingdom generated 66% of its electricity from low-carbon sources, significantly higher than the global average of 41%. The country is the 16th largest by electricity demand.

Wind and solar power contributed 36% of the UK's electricity in 2024, putting the country close behind its neighbour Ireland (40%) and exceeding fossil fuel generation (34%) for the first time.

The expansion of renewable energy in the UK has been driven in parallel with the phase-out of coal power, with the last remaining coal plant closing in October 2024. This marked a major milestone, as coal still supplied 30% of the country's electricity a decade ago. However, the UK remains reliant on gas (30%), and also on biomass (14%) despite concerns over its climate benefits and wider sustainability issues.

Since 2012, power sector emissions have been falling continuously, except in 2021. This trend is largely due to coal’s phase-out, while gas generation has remained above 30% over the last decade. In contrast, wind and solar have risen from 5.8% in 2012 to 36% in 2024.

Britain aims for a clean power system by 2030, with offshore wind supplying the majority of electricity and gas-fired power reduced to below 5%. In Northern Ireland, 80% of electricity consumption is expected to be supplied by renewables by 2030.

Frankie Mayo, analyst at Ember said: "The UK has achieved something massive, shifting its power system from being a huge polluter to one where renewables are thriving, in an astonishingly short period of time."

Source
https://ember-energy.org/countries-and-regions/united-kingdom/