UK electricity from fossil fuels falls by 22%
5th January 2024
UK: The amount of UK electricity generated from fossil fuels fell 22% year-on-year in 2023 to its lowest level since 1957.
According to the UK website Carbon Brief, the 104TWh generated from fossil fuels in 2023 made up just 33% of UK electricity supplies – still a long way short of the UK government’s ambition for 95% low-carbon electricity by 2030.
Based on UK government and electricity generating figures, Carbon Brief reveals that electricity from fossil fuels has now fallen by two-thirds since peaking in 2008. Of the 199TWh reduction, coal has dropped by 115TWh (97%) and gas by 80TWh (45%).
Gas is now responsible for 31% of UK electricity supplies, coal just over 1% and oil just below 1%.
The reductions are attributed to the rapid expansion of renewable energy – a six-fold increase to 113TWh since 2008 – and by lower electricity demand – down by 21% (83TWh) since 2008.
Low-carbon sources made up 56% of the total, of which renewables were 43% and nuclear 13%. The remainder is from imports (7%) and other sources (3%), such as waste incineration.
