The electricity generated from renewable sources in the UK in 2023 was enough to power every home in the country, according to a new report.
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) used its Power Tracker to track electricity generation from different sources across the year.
It found that renewable sources, including wind, solar and hydro, generated more than 90 terawatt-hours (TWh) across the whole of the UK in 2023.
This is theoretically enough to meet the electricity demands of every home in the country, according to the report.
Gas-powered power stations still generated slightly more across the UK, producing 89TWh of electricity.
For gas power stations to have generated the same amount of electricity as renewables, however, the ECIU says that more than 180TWh of gas would have been required.
This is the amount needed to heat 15.5 million homes for the entire year and is the equivalent of 194 tankers of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Other sources of power, such as nuclear and biomass, accounted for around another 60TWh of power, equivalent to the demand for an estimated 10 million homes.
Fossil fuel generation at its lowest in 66 years
New figures published by Carbon Brief last week also showed that the amount of UK electricity generated from fossil fuels fell by 22% in 2023, dropping to the lowest level recorded since 1957.
The amount generated from all fossil fuels has now fallen by two-thirds since peaking in 2008, though the phasing out of coal-fired power stations accounts for much of this.
The amount of energy generated from renewable sources has seen a corresponding rise, increasing by six-fold since 2008.
Despite the progress in switching to renewables, the ECIU says that the UK remains the most gas-dependent country in Europe.
As well as 40% of electricity, 85% of domestic heating across the country currently relies on gas.
Jess Ralston, head of energy at the ECIU, said that the UK’s reliance on imported gas would only rise as North Sea supplies declined.
Renewables such as offshore wind were helping to decrease reliance on gas, however.
The total demand for electricity has dropped since peaking in the mid-2000s, falling from 396TWh in 2008 to 313TWh in 2023.
Demand is likely to increase again, however, as transport and heating are increasingly electrified using electric vehicles and heat pumps.
Today’s news was brought to you by TD SYNNEX – the UK’s number one solutions distributor.
