Environmental (Commonwealth Union)_ 2024 stands out as a landmark year in the UK’s journey toward a sustainable energy future, marking the cleanest year on record for the nation’s electricity generation. Carbon Brief did a full analysis using data from the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The results showed huge progress in lowering emissions and using renewable energy.
Electricity from fossil fuel sources in the UK fell to 91 TWh in 2024, a significant drop of 12.5% from the previous year’s 104 TWh and an astounding 55% decrease over the past decade from 203 TWh in 2014. The closure of the nation’s last coal-powered plant in September 2024 further solidified this shift. Consequently, gas-fired power stations now dominate fossil fuel generation, contributing 88 TWh of electricity last year, accounting for 28% of total electricity production.
Wind power, however, is rapidly gaining ground. UK wind farms produced 84 TWh of electricity in 2024, equating to 26% of the national total. With major offshore wind projects such as Dogger Bank A (1.2GW), Moray West (0.9GW), and Neart na Goithe (0.5GW) set to launch in 2025, wind energy is poised to surpass gas as the single largest source of electricity. Carbon Brief predicts that the return of typical wind conditions in 2025, following an unusually calm 2024, will further support this shift.
The data also highlights the overall growth of clean energy sources. Last year, clean electricity accounted for 58% of the UK’s total generation—or an impressive 64% when excluding exports—setting new records. Solar power added 14 TWh (4% of total generation), nuclear energy contributed 41 TWh (13%), and biomass followed closely with 40 TWh (13%). Additionally, imports supplied 33 TWh, representing 11% of the total.
A remarkable reduction in carbon emissions has accompanied this transition to cleaner energy. Total emissions from the power sector dropped from 150 million tonnes of CO2 (MtCO2) in 2014 to below 40 MtCO2 in 2024, a dramatic 74% decline. Carbon intensity also reached a historic low, with emissions per kilowatt-hour of electricity plummeting to 124g CO2 in 2024, a 23% reduction from the previous year and a 70% drop since 2014. Despite this progress, the current intensity remains higher than the 50g CO2 per kWh target outlined in NESO’s Clean Power 2030 plan.
The declining carbon intensity of electricity has had a transformative impact on other sectors, particularly heating and transport. Carbon Brief’s analysis highlights the significant environmental benefits of heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs). In 2024, a household equipped with a heat pump emitted just 0.4 tonnes of CO2 annually—84% lower than the average gas boiler household. This is a dramatic improvement compared to 2014, when heat pumps were associated with 1.4 tonnes of CO2 annually, still 45% lower than gas boilers at the time.
Similarly, EVs have seen drastic reductions in their carbon footprint. The average EV in the UK emitted 245 kg of CO2 in 2024, down 70.4% from the 830 kg average in 2014. By comparison, a petrol car emits 2.7 tonnes of CO2 annually. Over an EV’s lifetime, when powered by 2024’s low-carbon electricity, emissions are reduced by 70% compared to petrol cars, a significant improvement from the 50% reduction achievable at 2014 electricity carbon intensity levels.
The UK’s journey to decarbonize its electricity system is more than a technical achievement; it is a beacon of what is possible through sustained policy efforts and technological innovation. As the nation prepares to bring more renewable projects online in the coming years, its progress in 2024 signals a promising trajectory toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
