Wednesday 3 January 2024

UK fossil fuel electricity hits lowest since 1957

The UK experienced a notable reduction in electricity generated from fossil fuels in 2023, marking the lowest level since 1957.

That's according to Carbon Brief analysis, which suggests the 22% year-on-year decline brought the total to 104TWh, reflecting a broader trend of a two-thirds drop since the peak in 2008.

This shift is attributed to the increased use of renewable energy and decreased electricity demand.

According to the report, fossil fuels comprised 33% of the UK's electricity supplies in 2023, with gas at 31%, coal just over 1%, and oil just below 1%.

Low carbon sources accounted for 56%, with renewables contributing 43% and nuclear 13%.

According to the Power Tracker analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), renewable generation experienced a significant increase of over 10% in 2023 compared to 2019, while gas generation saw a decline of approximately 25%.

The ECIU analysis found that in 2023, renewable electricity generation in the UK achieved a notable milestone, surpassing 90TWh from wind, hydro, and solar sources.

This amount exceeds the energy required to power all of the UK's 28 million homes.