Wind and solar power drive record UK year for renewable energy generation

In the last three months of 2023, more than half of all UK energy generation came from renewable sources for the first time

Teesside Wind Farm in North Yorkshire, England. PA

Electricity generation from fossil fuel dropped to its lowest share last year as sources of renewable power delivered the highest amount of energy recorded in the UK.

The Energy Department said 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.

The new data shows its share of overall generation increased to a record of 47.3 per cent – up from 41.5 per cent in 2022.

Renewables also set a quarterly record of 51.5 per cent 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”, the department 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”, the department 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 sank to a record in 2023 – the lowest value since the 1950s – with its generation share shrinking to 36.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, the total UK electricity generation fell 11 per cent to 285.6TWh in 2023 – the lowest value since 1983.

As fossil fuel electricity generation fell, wind generation’s share hit a record high of 28.7 per cent in 2023, driving the overall record for renewables’ share.

More specifically, offshore wind saw a jump in its UK electricity generation share to 17.3 per cent last year, compared to 13.8 per cent in 2022.

A quarterly record was also set for offshore wind generation in the last three months of 2023, which was “largely driven by the 0.8 GW in new capacity", the department said.

Despite fewer average daily sun hours across 2023, solar generation increased by 4.1 per cent to 13.8TWh, the figures show.

This total is the highest in the time series and reflects increased solar capacity, the department said.

Green energy sources - in pictures

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is located about 50 kilometres south of Dubai. AP

Masdar, the Abu Dhabi clean energy company, owns a one-fifth stake in London Array, the offshore wind farm in the Thames estuary. Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg News

A hydro plant in Himachal Pradesh, India. Photo: Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA)

The Geothermal Pilot Project drills 4km beneath Masdar City in search of boiling temperatures to generate electricity and fuel the city's cooling system. Nicole Hill /The National

A hydroelectric motor at a tidal farm in the harbour of Brest, in western France. AFP

In contrast, nuclear generation fell by 15 per cent to 40.7said TWh, a record low level due to reduced capacity and “all operational sites experiencing outages throughout 2023”, it added.

But despite this drop, low carbon generation – which includes renewables and nuclear – saw a record high share of 61.5 per cent last year, according to the data.

The figures come as part of a trend which has seen renewables outperform fossil fuels for a third year.

“These official figures show that renewables have outstripped fossil fuels yet again and provided more of the UK’s annual electricity needs than ever before, with wind leading the way as our biggest source of clean power," Ana Musat, RenewableUK’s executive director of policy.

“With renewables, we can strengthen Britain’s energy security with the cheapest sources of new power available for bill payers.

“That’s why we’re urging ministers to work with us to increase the number shovel-ready renewable energy projects which the government could bring forward through this year’s auction for Contracts for Difference auction.

“This will enable us to maximise deployment, strengthen skills and grow new supply chains, as we continue to create jobs all around the country.”

The figures also showed that total UK energy production in 2023 hit a record low of 100.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent.

This was also 66 per cent lower than in 1999 when UK production peaked.