Renewable energy has surpassed fossil fuels in the UK power mix for the entirety of 2024, according to new analysis from global energy think tank Ember. This marks both a first and a major milestone for the country.
Wind, solar, and hydropower collectively out-ranked fossil fuels in electricity production by 2 percentage points at 37%, with fossil fuels falling behind at 35%. The shift reflects a broader trend: in 2021 fossil fuels accounted for nearly half (46%) of total generation.
Major clean energy milestones in 2024 include an historic 30GW of wind generation capacity in August 2024, and the closure of Ratcliffe on Soar, the UK’s last coal-fired power station in October 2024.
While these achievements are significant, there is still much to be done. The government’s new Clean Power Action Plan 2030, launched on 13 December, outlines key reforms to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030. These measures include streamlining grid connections, accelerating planning for renewable projects, and investing in carbon capture technology for gas plants. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the plan as “the most ambitious reform of the energy system in a generation.”
The Clean Power Action Plan sets out immediate next steps, including introducing a Planning and Infrastructure Bill and prioritising viable renewable energy projects in the grid connection queue.
Of the Ember report, UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association’s (UKSIF) CEO James Alexander said, “That we are seeing renewables overtake fossil fuels as a share of our energy mix is historic. It is clear we have now crossed the Rubicon; renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels.”
