- Renewable sources accounted for 45% of the UK’s power, says Confused.com Energy
- However, growth is slowing, despite the UK outstripping the US and EU
- Government must focus on tech innovation to capitalise on renewable growth
The UK had its best year ever for clean energy in 2024, as 45% of electricity generated came from renewable sources, according to Confused.com Energy.
It was also found that carbon emissions have dropped dramatically with emissions per unit falling by two-thirds over the past decade, from 150 million tonnes of CO2 in 2014 to less than 40 million tonnes in 2024.
Analysing renewable energy regional capacity forecasts, the website found:
- Scotland is the leading UK region for renewable energy production, boasting one of the most efficient wind energy systems
- Yorkshire and the Humber is in second place in terms of wind energy systems, followed by the East of England, with outstanding solar input
- The West Midlands had the lowest score of 5.89/10
UK regions for renewable energy generation potential ranked
| Rank | Region | Avg. monthly surface solar radiation (W/m²) | Avg. solar PV capacity factor* | Solar score /10 | Avg. monthly wind speed at 100 meters (m s⁻¹) | Avg. onshore wind capacity factor* | Wind score /10 | Final renewable potential score /10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scotland | 208.56 | 16.0% | 6.54 | 6.64 | 37.3% | 8.66 | 7.60 |
| 2 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 220.67 | 16.7% | 6.83 | 5.83 | 32.3% | 8.32 | 7.58 |
| 3 | East of England | 240.85 | 18.1% | 8.21 | 5.63 | 29.7% | 6.43 | 7.32 |
| 4 | North East | 228.25 | 17.4% | 6.68 | 5.98 | 34.6% | 7.68 | 7.18 |
| 5 | Wales | 222.10 | 16.8% | 7.43 | 5.58 | 27.6% | 6.86 | 7.15 |
| 6 | South East | 244.87 | 18.3% | 8.53 | 5.59 | 28.1% | 5.69 | 7.11 |
| 7 | South West | 229.38 | 17.2% | 8.14 | 5.62 | 27.5% | 5.86 | 7.00 |
| 8 | North West | 220.97 | 16.9% | 6.28 | 5.84 | 31.1% | 7.58 | 6.93 |
| 9 | Northern Ireland | 193.49 | 14.7% | 5.18 | 6.52 | 38.0% | 8.62 | 6.90 |
| 10 | East of England | 219.62 | 16.5% | 7.09 | 5.77 | 30.6% | 6.66 | 6.88 |
| 11 | London | 293.10 | 17.8% | 7.15 | 5.32 | 26.0% | 5.46 | 6.31 |
| 12 | West Midlands | 241.19 | 16.1% | 6.16 | 5.55 | 26.8% | 5.62 | 5.89 |
*The capacity factors above are based on data from June 2024, and reflect the real-world efficiency of solar/wind systems. They measure the actual energy production of these systems compared to their maximum potential output.
The top five seven positions scored quite high in Confused.com Energy’s analysis, reaching a score between 7/10 and 7.60/10.
The South East of England dominates in solar power, scoring 8.53/10 and has an average monthly surface solar radiation of 244.87W/m². This is followed by the East of England, at 240.85W/m².
London is the second-lowest ranking region for renewable energy output, scoring 6.3/10. Confused.com Energy said that its dense urban environment poses challenges for solar and wind energy production, but its focus on utilising large rooftop spaces for commercial solar installations has yielded positive results.
Confused.com Energy explained that the UK saw a fivefold increase in renewable energy production between 2010 and 2022, more than the US and the EU.
However, it warned renewable growth has “recently slowed”, and to meet its ambitious net zero targets by 2050, the UK “must accelerate its renewable energy development”.
It said that the Great British Energy (GB Energy), a proposed government-backed energy company – could unlock sufficient land to generate 30GW of energy.
This would be enough to power 20 million homes by 2030 – marking “a pivotal shift in the country’s energy landscape” Confused.com Energy said.
To capitalise on the opportunities offered by renewable energy the UK needs to implement “practical policies and adopt a collaborative approach” emphasising “sustainability, technological innovation, and community-focused initiatives, to build a resilient and diversified energy future,” the company explained.
Figures from the National Energy System Operator also showed that wind power across Great Britain generated nearly 83 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024, up from nearly 74TWh in 2023.
Electricity generation from major fossil fuel power stations fell to just over a quater of the total last year, as other renewable energy sources rose.
The government wants less than 5% of electricity to come from polluting fossil fuels by 2030.
