Renewables generate over 50% of UK power for 1st time in Q4 2023

In the fourth quarter of 2023, renewables for the first time provided more than half of UK generation, with their share reaching a record 51.5%, new statistics for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero showed today.

Renewable generation in the quarter was a record 39.9 TWh, up 4.9% year-over-over year. Wind generation rose 1.5% to 26.4 TWh, marking a quarterly high and the first quarter where wind generated more electricity than gas and had the largest share of generation in the UK, says the government’s statistical release.

The share of renewables in total generation also set an annual record at 47.3% for 2023. Renewable generation, totalling 135 TWh, was at a similar level to 2022 as new capacity more than offset less favourable weather conditions. A total of 2.7 GW of new renewable energy capacity was installed in 2023, including 0.8 GW offshore wind, 0.5 GW onshore wind and 1.3 GW solar photovoltaic (PV). The UK thus ended the year with 56.3 GW of renewables capacity.

It was noted that both the quarterly and annual records for renewables’ share were in part due to a decline in overall electricity demand and reduced domestic generation due to higher imports.

RenewableUK highlighted that wind generated a record 28.7% of the UK’s electricity needs in 2023, with offshore wind providing 17.3%, up from 13.8% in 2022, and onshore wind 11.4%, up from 10.8% in 2022.

The organisation’s Executive Director of Policy Ana Musat said that renewables “outstripped fossil fuels yet again and provided more of the UK’s annual electricity needs than ever before, with wind leading the way as our biggest source of clean power” and urged the government “to work with us to increase the number shovel-ready renewable energy projects which the Government could bring forward through this year’s auction for Contracts for Difference auction.”

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