A record 46% of the UK’s electricity was generated by clean energy sources in 2015. Official figures (from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) show low-carbon sources (including nuclear) accounted for almost half of national electricity supply last year. Renewable sources accounted for around a quarter of the UK’s electricity generation in 2015, outstripping coal power (22%) for the first time (government data).  Nuclear power’s contribution was 21%.

Coal supplied just over a fifth (22%) of power in 2015, down from 30% in 2014, while gas continued to provide around 30% of the UK’s electricity.

The amount of onshore and offshore wind turbines and solar panels increased, while more rainfall boosted hydropower.

Overall, renewable sources – which include onshore and offshore wind, solar farms, hydroelectric dams and biomass (used by some power station units) – accounted for 25% of the UK’s electricity generation last year.

Sources:  Winchester Action on Climate Change newsletter (2 November 2016) and The Guardian (Environment, 28 July 2016)