The UK has achieved its greenest year ever in terms of how the nation’s electricity is generated, National Grid figures reveal. The rise of renewable energy helped break 13 clean energy records in 2017. In June, for the first time, wind, nuclear and solar power generated more UK power than gas and coal combined.
Britain has halved carbon emissions in the electricity sector since 2012 to provide the fourth cleanest power system in Europe and seventh worldwide.
In April, the UK had its first 24-hour period without using any coal power since the Industrial Revolution.
The government is committed to phasing out unabated coal by 2025 as part of efforts to cut the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in line with legal obligations.
Separate findings from power research group MyGridGB show that renewable energy sources provided more power than coal for 90% of 2017, figures up to 12 December show.
British wind farms produced more electricity than coal plants on more than 75% of days this year.
This changing landscape saw the cost of offshore wind power fall below the price of nuclear for the first time.
But despite the successes, groups warned the UK must now tackle its reliance on gas if it is to meet its emission targets.
The daily output of gas was outstripped by wind on just two days of the year.