This is the first time more than half of all UK energy generation has come from renewable sources
The UK saw the highest ever share of electricity generation by renewables last year, according to Government figures.
The Energy Department (DESNZ) revealed on Thursday that this happened as fossil fuel electricity generation hit its lowest ever share. In 2023, renewable generation reached 135 Terawatt hours (TWh), which was similar to 2022 levels due to challenging weather conditions.
However, its share of overall generation rose to a record of 47.3%, up from 41.5% in 2022. Renewables also set a quarterly record of 51.5% of UK electricity generation in the last three months of 2023. This is the first time more than half of all UK generation came from renewable sources.
DESNZ said these records were “partially due to a fall in overall electricity demand and reduced domestic generation due to higher imports of electricity”. Energy prices reached record highs in late 2022 and didn’t start to drop until July 2023, causing households and businesses to reduce their electricity use.
At the same time, UK imports “increased significantly in 2022”, DESNZ said, due to a boost in French nuclear power output. As a result, less gas, which is the UK’s main form of generation, was needed to meet the remaining electricity demand in the UK.
Fossil fuel generation is set to hit a record low in 2023, the lowest since the 1950s, with its share of power production dropping to 36.3%. At the same time, total UK electricity generation fell by 11.0% to 285.6 TWh in 2023, the lowest level since 1983.
As fossil fuel power production decreased, wind power’s share reached a record high of 28.7% in 2023, contributing to an overall record for renewable energy’s share. In particular, offshore wind saw its share of UK electricity production jump to 17.3% last year, up from 13.8% in 2022.
The last three months of 2023 also set a quarterly record for offshore wind power, “largely driven by the 0.8 GW in new capacity,” according to DESNZ. Despite fewer average daily sunshine hours in 2023, solar power production increased by 4.1% to 13.8 TWh, the highest ever, reflecting increased solar capacity, DESNZ said.
On the other hand, nuclear power production fell by 15% to 40.7 TWh, a record low due to reduced capacity and “all operational sites experiencing outages throughout 2023”, it added. However, despite this decrease, low carbon power which includes renewables and nuclear reached a record high share of 61.5% last year, the data shows.
These figures are part of a trend that has seen renewable energy outperform fossil fuels for the third year running. “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.”
“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 since the published series began in 1948. This was also 66% lower than in 1999 when UK production peaked.
