Thursday 25 January 2018

Share of UK’s low carbon power hit record high last year

The share of energy generated by low carbon power sources in the UK increased to a record high of 54.4% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2017.

That's according to new government data, which shows this increased from 50.2% the same period the year before, as a result of increased generation from renewables.

Clean energy's share of electricity generation was nearly a third in 2017 Q3, up 4.6% on the same time the previous year.

Total electricity generated fell 2.2% from 76.1TWh to 74.4TWh as gas and coal dropped 4.5% to a record low share of 42%.

Nuclear remained a significant component at 24.4%, down very slightly from last year.

Final consumption of electricity during the third quarter of 2017 was 68.1TWh, 1.9% lower than in the same period the year before.

Renewables are expected to become cheaper than fossil fuels by 2020.