UK records ‘highest ever share of electricity generation by renewables

electricity generation

UK records ‘highest ever share of electricity generation by renewables

The UK recorded the highest ever share of electricity generation by renewables last year, Government figures show.

In energy trend data released on Thursday, the Energy Department (DESNZ) said this came as fossil fuel electricity generation saw its lowest ever share.

Renewable generation hit 135 Terawatt hours (TWh) in 2023, although this was broadly in line with 2022 levels as new capacity was offset by difficult weather conditions, DESNZ said.

But its share of overall generation increased to a record of 47.3% – up from 41.5% in 2022.

Renewables also set a quarterly record of 51.5% of UK electricity generation in the last three months of 2023.

This marks the first time more than half of all UK generation came from renewable sources.

Both records were “partially due to a fall in overall electricity demand and reduced domestic generation due to higher imports of electricity”, DESNZ said.

Energy prices hit record highs in late 2022 and did not start to fall until July 2023, forcing households and businesses to cut back on electricity use.

Meanwhile, UK imports “increased significantly in 2022”, DESNZ said, amid a rebound in French nuclear power output.

Less gas, which is the UK’s principal form of generation, was then needed to meet the remaining electricity demand in the UK.

So fossil fuel generation to a record low in 2023 – the lowest value since the 1950s – with its generation share shrinking to 36.3%.

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