Source - reNews - UK green power 'set to overtake fossil fuels

The UK’s power system is poised for a significant shift in 2024, with renewable energy sources expected to surpass fossil fuel generation over a full year for the first time. This groundbreaking milestone has been highlighted in a new report by global energy think tank Ember, which also points to wind power emerging as the UK’s dominant power source.

Ember’s analysis reveals that a combination of rising renewables, lower energy demand, and affordable power imports has driven fossil fuel use to record lows. For the first time, wind, solar, and hydropower are on track to collectively generate more electricity than all fossil fuels combined.

The report offers a comprehensive review of UK power generation in 2024. Notably, this year also saw the closure of the UK’s last coal power station, marking the end of coal’s role in the country's energy mix.

According to Ember, low-carbon renewable sources will reach a record-breaking 37% of the UK’s electricity output in 2024 (103TWh), overtaking fossil fuels, which are forecasted to generate 35% (97TWh). This marks a dramatic shift from just three years ago in 2021, when fossil fuels accounted for 46% of the UK’s electricity generation compared to 27% from low-carbon renewables.

While renewables, including biomass, first overtook fossil fuels back in 2020, Ember raises important concerns about the classification of biomass as a clean energy source, citing the emissions risks it presents.

The report also predicts a 13% drop in gas power generation in 2024 (a reduction of 13TWh) as clean power sources and electricity imports increasingly take its place.

Wind power, in particular, is on the cusp of becoming the UK’s largest single electricity source. Depending on weather conditions this December, wind could overtake gas as the country’s top power generator in 2024. Currently, wind is forecast to produce 29% of the UK’s electricity this year (82TWh), just shy of gas at 30% (85TWh).

Frankie Mayo, Senior Energy and Climate Analyst at Ember, said:
"The renewables future is here. This long-awaited milestone is a testament to how much progress the UK has made. It’s time to seize the moment, to cut reliance on expensive gas with new renewables, storage, and grid upgrades."

Mayo also highlighted the significance of the UK’s completed coal phase-out in 2024, framing the reduction of gas use as the country’s next major opportunity to accelerate its transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.

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