Future of the Environment

UK renewables generate more electricity than fossil fuels for first time

A man kite surfs in front of the Burbo Bank wind farm near New Brighton, Britain, September 3, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC11419D7E10

The winds of change. Image: REUTERS/Phil Noble

Simon Evans
Policy Editor, Carbon Brief
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Quarterly electricity generation in the UK between 2009 and the third quarter of 2019, in terawatt hours, with fossil-fuel output shown with a blue line (coal, oil and gas) and renewables shown in red (wind, biomass, solar and hydro).
BEIS Energy Trends and Carbon Brief analysis of data from BM Reports. Image: Chart by Carbon Brief using Highcharts
Hornsea One offshore wind farm under construction, 2019.
Hornsea One offshore wind farm under construction, 2019. Image: Ørsted
Monthly electricity generation in the UK between 2012 and the third quarter of 2019, in terawatt hours, with fossil-fuel output shown with a blue line (coal, oil and gas) and renewables shown in red (wind, biomass, solar and hydro).
Carbon Brief analysis of data from BEIS Energy Trends and BM Reports. Image: Chart by Carbon Brief using Highcharts
Daily electricity generation in the UK during the first three quarters of 2019, in terawatt hours, with fossil-fuel output shown with a blue line (coal, oil and gas) and renewables shown in red (wind, biomass, solar and hydro).
Carbon Brief analysis of data from BEIS Energy Trends and BM Reports. Image: Chart by Carbon Brief using Highcharts.
Cumulative count of days each year when electricity generation from renewables was higher than that from fossil fuels. Prior to 2015 there were no days when renewables outpaced fossil fuels.
Carbon Brief analysis of data from BEIS Energy Trends and BM Reports. Image: Chart by Carbon Brief using Highcharts.
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Future of the EnvironmentEnergy TransitionClimate Change
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