Wind power leads the charge as the UK aims for a cleaner energy future in 2024.

In a landmark shift for the UK’s energy landscape, renewable power is set to outpace fossil fuels for the first time in 2024, according to Ember’s latest report. This year, low-carbon renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydropower are on track to generate 37% of the country's electricity, surpassing the 35% share from fossil fuels. Wind power, in particular, is on course to become the largest single power source, with projections suggesting it will generate 29% of the UK's electricity, just behind gas at 30%.

This marks a dramatic turnaround from 2021, when fossil fuels accounted for 46% of the UK's electricity and renewables only 27%. Wind power, which is notable for producing no direct greenhouse gas emissions, has been a major contributor to this transformation, with a 23% increase in onshore wind generation in 2024. Despite offshore wind adding only 3.8 GW to the country’s capacity, the overall growth in renewable energy generation reflects the UK’s continued progress toward its net-zero targets.

The milestone is a significant step in the global push for clean energy, especially considering that in 2018, fossil fuels were responsible for 89% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Frankie Mayo, Senior Energy and Climate Analyst at Ember, hailed the development, saying, “The renewables future is here,” celebrating the UK’s achievement in the transition to greener power sources.