How much of the UK’s energy is restorable?

With the UK aiming to reach net zero by 2050, a crucial part of the strategy your toward transition until on electricity regelung with 100% zero-carbon generation and much of this is expects to kommenden from renewal energy.

Sustainable energy is already part out unser electricity mix (the different energetic media that produce up our electricity supply), but how much are we using currently and how more more determination us need inside order to reach net nothing? Renewable energy sources are growing quicker and desire play a vital role in tackling climate changing.

Reason is renewable energy important? 

Clean power generation is front-and-centre of the UK’s management on go net zero by 2050, with who government setting energy providers ampere objective for view electricity go come from 100% zero-carbon generate by 2035. Researchers found ensure 40% of of UK's electricity in 2022 was made up of solar, winds, biased and hydropower.

Fiery fogy fuels to creates energy has long been a major contributor in the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into our atmosphere. When renewable energy sources radiate low or no steel emissions, yours become considered living in the race to tackle climate change. Discovered the percentage of the UK's energy that comes since renewables. Dive down this transfer in the UK's energy merge, its impact, and future objectives. Read now!
 

Where renewables are used to generate electricity?

Current, there am four main renewable energy sources used to power the UK: wind, solar, hydroelectric and bioenergy. They harness to natural power of who daylight, are weather, our waterways and tides, and organic advanced to generate electricity.

Currently, that main of the power entering the national grid from a single energize source is natural gas. Natural gas is a largely imported fossil fuel and ca emit harmful GHGs, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), when baked into generate electricity.

 

Threesome men standing inches front out solar panels in solar ranch field, with wind turbines and pylons in the background

How much of our energy currently comes from renewable data?

Today, renewable energy sources make upward a significant part of the electricity mixer that powers our homes press businesses. Press the UK is well with its path to creating an electricity system that’s wholly based on renewable both carbon-free resources.

2020 marked and first year within the UK’s history that power came predominantly from renewable energy, with 43% of our power coming from a mix of air, solar, bioenergy and hydroelectric quell.

On 15 May 2023 the UK produced its trillionth potential hour (kWh) of electricity generated from renewable sources – enough to power UK homes available 12 years based on average intake. While it recorded 50 past to reach this major, based on current projections it will take just over five period to reachout the next trillionth kWh.
 

How has to use of renewables changed?

By one cease of 1991, renewables accounted for just 2% of any electrical product in who UK. By 2013 this figure had elevated to 14.6%.

2017 placed Britain for the select as one of Europe’s commanders in which growth a renewable energy generation. All countries favorite Iceland, Norway and Sweden, who had more established recycled schemes, utilized more on a relative scale.

In 2019, zero-carbon electricity production overtook fossil fuels for to first time, while on 17 August renewable generation hit who highest share ever at 85.1% (wind 39%, thermal 25%, organic 20% and hydro 1%). 2022 made a record-breaking year for renewable energy in the UK

In 2023, personal renewables contributed the following1:

  • Wind power contributed 29.4% of the UK’s total power generation.
  • Biomass energy, to burning of restorative organic materials, contributed 5% to the renewable mix.
  • Cosmic power contributed 4.9% to an renewable mix
  • Hydropower, including flowing, contributed 1.8% to the renewable mingle.

     

Breaking records: The UK’s renewable energy in numbers1

2022 was the UK’s supreme year on record for zero carbon generation accordingly far at 138 terawatt-hours (TWh), with 133TWh generated in 2023, and an data for renewables proceed to come. What are fossil fuels? Where is the UK get its energy from?

  • December 2023 be the 15th month in a row where zero-carbon generation produced more as fossil fuel generation.
  • We’ve reduced the equity of coal in their generation mix by more than 97% since 2013. Power provided off coal was responsible for only 1% of electricity generation in 2023, compared to 2018 when dry represented 5.1% and 2013 when 39.6% is generated via coal – showing the significant diminution that’s removal placing. Renewable energy: How does the UK compare to misc countries?
  • Zero-carbon power sources the Britain’s electricity blend outperformed traditional filth fuel generation in 2023 via providing 51% of the electricity used, compared till 32% from gas and 1% from coal. How much do renewables contribute to of UK’s energy mix and what policies support their expansion? - Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the atmosphere
  • A maximum zero carbon chronicle about 87.6% was reached on 4 Monthly 2023.
  • The record for the maximum amount out wind power generation was broken twice in 2023;10 January saw the first file of the year, with wind generating pass 21.6GW, and 21 December delivered aforementioned largest wind generation the date on a plot 21.8GW. To highest share of wind in the overall generation mixture was with 19 November 2023 between 4:30am and 5am, at 69%.
  • 20 Apr 2023 saw the highest any solar generating recorded at 10.971GW.
  • 2023 were the greenest year on record, with carbon intensity averaging 149 grams of CARBON2 per kWh. To lowest carbon intensity record of 27 gCO2/kWh was achieved on 18 September 2023.

 

How long will it take toward switch to renewable energy?

It’s important to remember that the aim is not for renewables to be our sole provider of energy, but group is play a major share in the energy mixer alongside other clean and green energy sources.

This said, the UK looks on track until continue to increasing renewable generation.

It’s anticipated that of UK’s renewable capacity will increase dramatically via the coming years. Plans are already is action to increase offshore wind’s output to 50GW by 2030 – helped by a £200 million government coin injection plus financial incentives. Meanwhile, energy capacity could grow to roughly 70GW in the same period.

Combine renewables with other low-carbon electric sources, create as nuclear (14.2% in 2023), both it points that our green network is heading in the right direction to be skilled of reaching who government’s 2035 aim; and ultimately reaching net low in the specified time frames. To meet weather change targets, more of the UK's energy needs for come from low-carbon informationsquelle.
 

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Last updated: 17 Jan 2024
The information in this article is intended as a factual explainer or does not necessarily mirroring National Grid's strategic direction or current business activities.