2023 sees the cleanest UK electricity mix in 66 years

According to a new study from Carbon Brief, fossil-fuel-powered electricity in the UK declined by 22% in 2023 to its lowest level since 1957. Interpreting data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ) Energy Trends with Balancing Mechanisms Report, the Carbon Brief discovered that electricity generated by fossil fuels has declined by two-thirds (199TWh) to 104 TWh since peaking in 2008. Within this, coal decreased by 97% (199TWh) and gas by 45% (80TWh).

The continued decline of coal and gas

In total, fossil fuels accounted for 33% of the UK’s electricity generation last year, gas represented 31%, coal 1% and oil just under 1%. Carbon Brief highlighted the considerable decline in fossil fuels within the UK electricity mix compared to 1957 when fossil fuels represented nearly 97% of total electricity generated. This figure remained relatively balanced until the increase of nuclear power began in the late 50s, replacing a segment of the fossil fuel market.

Even with the rise in nuclear capacity, fossil fuels still provided 76% of the UK’s electricity in 2008, with gas making up 45% of the total energy mix and coal 30%. In 2023 however, gas generated 98TWh (a decrease of 80TWh from 2008), and coal produced 4TWh, representing a 115TWh reduction since 2008. Data suggest that coal has nearly disappeared from the UK’s electricity mix, with only one coal power station remaining active in 2023.

What else created the significant decline in electricity generated by fossil fuels last year? Carbon Brief suggested that this decline was down to two factors: the considerable rise of renewables, which has increased by 113TWh from 2008 and a reduction in the electricity demand, which dropped by over 20% since 2008. According to the Carbon Brief, the combination of these two factors had a significant impact on electricity generated by fossil fuels.

The rise in renewables

According to a study by Carbon Brief, renewable electricity output increased from 23TWh in 2008 to 135TWh in 2023, matching the record output in 2022. Electricity generated by renewables last year consisted of: 14TWh solar, 82TWh wind, 5TWh hydro and 35TWh bioenergy

Studies by Rystad Energy indicated that the rate of solar installations in Britain tripled in 2023, with 2.9 GW of domestic and utility-scale solar installed between 2022 and September 2023. The study also highlighted that the solar installation rate in 2023 meant the installed capacity was higher than in the previous six years combined.

The accelerated rate of solar is likely to continue rising, with expectations for solar capacity to exceed 25GW by 2025. Carbon Brief also emphasised the decline in demand reduction as a major influence on low carbon generation in 2023. The organisation highlighted that demand dropped by over 20% and speculated that this was due to the UK moving towards a predominantly service-led economy and the implications of high wholesale gas prices. These factors have contributed to the UK generating the lowest-carbon electricity mix since records began.

Despite a positive decline in the dependence on fossil fuels, Carbon Brief warned that current figures are still some way off the government’s target for 95% low electricity by 2030 and achieving a fully decarbonised grid by 2035.