This report “UK low-carbon renewable power set to overtake fossil fuels for first time” by EMBER reviews power generation statistics for the UK across 2024. It is based on 11 months (Jan-Nov 2024) of generation data by technology type including net import flows, plus Ember forecasts for one final month of generation and demand in 2024. In this report, low-carbon renewable energy refers to wind (onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic power and hydropower, and excludes biomass. Forecasts are based on historical demand and generation data.

Key highlights of the report are:

  • Low-carbon renewable sources – wind, solar and hydropower – reached a record high, generating 37% of UK electricity (103 TWh) in 2024, overtaking fossil fuels (97 TWh, 35%) for the first time.
  • Gas power use is set to decrease by 13% (-13 TWh) in 2024 compared to the previous year, displaced by electricity imports and clean power.
  • Wind power is close to overtaking gas. It’s too close to call with only a 1% difference forecast, but depending on December’s conditions, wind could overtake gas as the UK’s largest source of electricity in 2024.
  • UK wind power is currently forecast to generate 29% of UK electricity in 2024, totalling 82 TWh, which is 3 TWh less than fossil gas.

Access the report here