The United Kingdom is leading the world in obtaining energy from low carbon sources. More specifically, in 2024, in the United Kingdom 58% of electricity was produced from low carbon sources. According to a report from Carbon Brief the two greatest low carbon sources were solar, and wind generation[1]. This report also found that the carbon dioxide emissions have dramatically decreased since 2014. Within the last decade coal now generates less than half the amount of electricity from fossil fuels. While power from renewable sources has doubled during this time.
Over the past 75 years, the economy has shifted away from heavy industry and the United Kingdom has become the first Group of 7 country to phase out fuels derived from tar sands, oil shale or liquid coal. To date, fossil fuels made up 29% of electricity generation in the UK while renewables account for 45%, nuclear and biomass combined generate 13%, imports are 11% and solar produces 4%. Overall, by 2030, the carbon intensity of electricity generation should fall by another two-thirds based on a report by the NESO[2].
Although gas remains the greatest single source of power, forecasters now project the immense benefits of wind energy as it continues to increase. Based on the capabilities from wind projects that are currently under construction, it is projected that wind will generate more electricity than gas in 2025[3]. In fact, by 2030, wind will become the ‘backbone’ of the United Kingdom. Overall, as time goes analysts should pay close attention to how this change in the United Kingdom offsets the energy market around the world.
[1] Analysis: UK’s electricity was cleanest ever in 2024 (Carbon Brief, 2025).
[2] Clean Power 2030 (National Energy System Operator).
[3] UK electricity cleanest ever in 2024, with record 58% from low- carbon sources (The Guardian, 2025)
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