In 2024, more than half of the United Kingdom’s electricity comes from low-carbon sources, showcasing its commitment to cleaner energy. Breaking it down further, wind contributes a significant portion, providing nearly 27% of the total electricity supply. Nuclear energy is responsible for around 13%, while biofuels offer about 12.5%. Solar and hydropower add smaller contributions at nearly 5% and almost 2%, respectively. On the other hand, fossil fuels still play a role, with gas alone providing almost 27%. Net imports fill the gap with slightly over 10%. These figures highlight a promising shift towards lower carbon energy forms, yet emphasize the need for further development to reduce reliance on fossil energy.
Is Electricity Growing in United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom's electricity consumption per person in 2024 stands at 4559 kWh, witnessing a notable decline from the 2005 peak of 6711 kWh. This reduction shows a decrease of more than 2100 kWh per person. Likewise, the amount of low-carbon electricity generated per capita has also slightly decreased from its previous high in 2020 of 2744 kWh to 2691 kWh in 2024, marking a slight decline of 53 kWh. Although efforts have been made toward cleaner electricity, the overall decline in consumption raises concerns, suggesting either a reduction in demand or a struggle to increase low-carbon output to meet potential new consumption due to electrification and technological advances such as AI.
Suggestions
To accelerate the transition to low-carbon electricity, the UK could benefit significantly from expanding its existing nuclear and wind capabilities. Considering that nuclear energy contributes a considerable portion of clean electricity, the UK might learn from France's achievement of generating 68% of its electricity using nuclear power. Additionally, for wind energy, taking a cue from Iowa, where 63% of electricity is from wind, could greatly aid the UK's efforts. There's also a promising potential for solar energy expansion; the UK can draw inspiration from countries like Lebanon with 31% solar electricity generation. By leveraging these successful examples, the UK can enhance its clean energy infrastructure and offset the use of more harmful fossil fuels.
History
The evolution of low-carbon electricity in the UK has been marked by significant milestones and challenges. During the 1980s and early 1990s, nuclear energy saw a steady increase with annual additions, notably in 1984, 1985, 1988, and 1989. However, the early 2000s experienced setbacks, with nuclear output declining markedly in 2000, 2004, 2007, and 2008. A recovery in 2009 brought a short resurgence, but subsequent years have seen fluctuations and recent declines in 2019 and 2023. In contrast, wind energy has seen encouraging growth, particularly from 2013 onward, with consistent increases in production, except for a temporary dip in 2021. This data reflects the UK’s dynamic journey towards cleaner electricity, underlining periods of remarkable progress and underperformance in nuclear output, reinforcing the importance of consistent investment in both nuclear and wind power to achieve sustainable growth.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.