Electricity production from renewable energy reaches record high in UK

The UK Department of Energy announced on the twenty eighth (local time) that the overall amount of electricity generated from renewable energy in 2023 reached 135 terawatt hours (TWh).

135TWh is a record amount of 47.3%, or almost half of the UK's total electricity production. Particularly, within the last three months of last 12 months, renewable energy production accounted for 51.5% of the UK's electricity, exceeding half for the primary time.

One other notable change is that the share of wind power generation reached an all-time high of 28.7%. The proportion of offshore wind power also increased significantly in comparison with the previous 12 months, accounting for 17.3% of UK electricity production in 2023.

Despite the decrease in sunlight, solar energy generation increased by 4.1%, producing a complete of 13.8 TWh of electricity. That is the results of increased solar energy generation capability.

However, nuclear power generation decreased by 15% to 40.7TWh as a consequence of reduced capability and problems with operating locations. That is the bottom level ever.

Although nuclear power generation has decreased, the share of low-carbon power generation (including renewable energy and nuclear energy) last 12 months reached a record high of 61.5%.

Within the UK, renewable energy has been outperforming fossil fuels over the past three years.

Ena Musat, policy executive director for Renewable UK, said: “Renewable energy can strengthen the UK’s energy security and supply bill payers with the most cost effective recent power source. “We want to maneuver forward,” he said.

Currently, many countries in america, South America, and Europe are replacing 20-30% of their total electricity production with renewable energy and are proposing various policies.

Reporter Taeyong Kim future@aitimes.com