Proactive Investors - Renewable energy has been the primary source of electricity in the UK for two consecutive quarters for the first time, with fossil fuels also recently providing the lowest one-hour contribution to the national grid on record.
Wind-generated electricity totalled 25.3 terawatt hours (TWh) in the first quarter of 2024, according to data from energy think tank Ember, an average of 39.4% to the UK's electricity grid.
Combined with power from solar farms, renewable sources provided 27.1 TWh during the first quarter, the highest quarterly total ever recorded in the UK, capturing a 42.2% share of total electricity generation.
The UK still generated 23.6 TWh from fossil fuels, or 36.2% of the total energy mix.
But for an hour last Monday, April 15, just 2.4% of the UK's electricity was generated from fossil fuels, according to Carbon Tracker, which was a record low.
Furthermore, in 2024, there have already been 75 half-hour periods where coal and gas provided less than 5% of electricity, a stark increase from previous years, though there have still been periods of up to half an hour within the last four months where coal and gas have accounted for 66% of generation when the grid was not able to call upon renewable energy.
Last September, research noted that the UK has installed more wind capacity than any other type of power source, with installed wind capacity of 27.9 gigawatts in June, compared to 27.7 gigawatts of gas generation, according to an analysis from Imperial College London for Drax
A key goal for the National Grid 's (LON:NG) Electricity Systems Operator (ESO) is to operate with 100% zero carbon power – renewables and nuclear – for short periods from next year.
An ESO spokesperson said getting to the 2025 target was a “significant engineering challenge”, but the operator was confident of doing so.