Low-carbon sources run half of all UK electricity

Half of the UK’S electricity came from low-carbon sources such as wind turbines and nuclear power last year, official figures show.

Renewables, including wind, solar, biomass and hydropower, provided a record 29.3 per cent of Britain’s electricity in 2017, up from just under a quarter the previous year, as more wind turbines and solar farms were put up.

Half of the power from renewables came from offshore wind farms, which generated 6.2 per cent of overall power. Onshore turbines provided 8.6 per cent.

There was a shift away from coal and gas towards renewables, with coal’s share of electricity generation falling to just 6.7 per cent.gaspowerdroppedto 40.4 per cent of the mix, the annual Digest of UK Energy Statistics (Dukes) said.