Britain reached a historic milestone in 2025, with renewable energy sources supplying more than half of the country’s electricity for the first time. Official figures show that wind, solar and other
low-carbon technologies accounted for 52.5% of total power generation, underlining the nation’s rapid shift toward cleaner energy.
However, the progress came with a complication: fossil fuel use also increased during the same period, highlighting the ongoing challenges of balancing energy security with climate goals.
According to data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, renewable electricity generation climbed to a record 152.5 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2025 — a 5.7% increase compared with 2024. The growth was largely driven by strong performance in offshore wind, alongside continued expansion in solar and bioenergy capacity.
Despite this surge in clean energy, gas-fired power remained the single largest source of electricity in the UK. Gas generation rose by 4.7%, accounting for 31.5% of total supply, as it helped compensate for fluctuations in other parts of the energy mix.
A key factor behind this reliance was a sharp decline in nuclear output. Electricity generation from nuclear plants fell by 12% to 35.9 TWh, reflecting plant retirements and more frequent outages across the UK’s ageing reactor fleet.
Meanwhile, offshore wind continued to strengthen its role in the energy system, with output increasing by 6.6% thanks to newly installed capacity. The UK remains one of the global leaders in offshore wind development, particularly in projects across the North Sea.
In a symbolic shift, 2025 marked the first full year in over 140 years without coal-fired electricity generation in Britain, following the closure of the country’s last coal plant in 2024.
Electricity imports also declined, dropping 11% to 29.7 TWh, while overall electricity demand edged slightly higher by 0.2% to 320.2 TWh.
On the emissions front, the government reported a 2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2025, with emissions from the power sector falling by 1%. While modest, the decrease reflects the growing influence of renewables in reducing carbon intensity.
Additional context: renewable power in the UK
The UK has positioned itself as a global leader in renewable energy, particularly in offshore wind. Massive projects such as Hornsea and Dogger Bank are transforming the country’s energy landscape, with some of the largest wind farms in the world located in British waters.
Looking ahead, the government aims to largely decarbonise the electricity system by 2030. Achieving this will require a major acceleration in renewable deployment, grid upgrades, and energy storage solutions to manage variability from wind and solar.
Solar power is also gaining momentum, especially through rooftop installations and utility-scale solar farms across England. Meanwhile, investment in battery storage and green hydrogen is expected to play a crucial role in stabilising the grid as renewable penetration increases.
Despite strong progress, challenges remain. The UK must address grid constraints, planning delays, and the need for backup generation — often still provided by gas — to ensure a reliable energy supply during periods of low renewable output.
Overall, 2025 marks a pivotal moment in Britain’s energy transition: a clear sign of progress, but also a reminder that the path to a fully clean power system is still underway. Photo by Anne Burgess, Wikimedia commons.
