Wind is overtaking gas as the largest source of electricity in Britain for the first time, figures show

Britain is well on its way to completely ‘clean’ energy, new figures show.

Wind has officially overtaken gas to become Britain’s largest energy source for the first time in 2024.

Figures from the National Energy System Operator show that wind was responsible for 29.4 percent of the UK’s electricity production last year.

In contrast, gas represented just over a quarter (25.9 percent) of the UK’s energy supply.

According to the data, seen by BloombergThe last time gas made up such a small part of the UK’s electricity supply was in 2013.

At the time, coal dominated the system, while wind accounted for only 6.6 percent.

The new record comes as the government plans to ‘clean up’ the UK energy system by decarbonising the electricity grid by 2030.

Britain has thrown several energy sources into the so-called ‘mix’ – from wind to gas, solar, biomass and nuclear.

Our energy mix fluctuates daily depending on demand and the amount of energy generated from each source.

In 2024, 29.4 percent of the UK’s energy came from wind, while 25.9 percent came from gas, 15.7 percent from imports, 13.7 percent from nuclear, 6.7 percent from biomass, 5 percent from solar and 0.6 percent from coal. , 1.3 percent from hydropower and 3.1 percent from other sources.

The energy mix has changed enormously over the years.

For example, in 2014, only 8.2 percent of the UK’s energy came from wind, while 27.7 percent came from gas, 24.4 percent from coal and 21.6 percent from nuclear.

Wind energy is an environmentally friendly, renewable energy source, unlike coal and gas, which are both fossil fuels.

Scattered across Britain, wind turbines harness energy from the wind by using mechanical energy to run a generator and produce electricity.

For example, on a windy day we can generate more wind energy than on a non-windy day. That’s why we can’t rely solely on wind to meet Britain’s energy needs.

Gas, coal and oil are all considered fossil fuels because they are formed from the fossilized, buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.

Wind energy is an environmentally friendly, renewable energy source, unlike coal and gas, which are both fossil fuels

When fossil fuels are burned, large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) are released, which traps heat in our atmosphere and contributes to global warming.

It is unclear exactly when Britain will stop using gas, although the government aims to phase out 80 percent of gas boilers from British homes by 2035.

Dr. Simon Evans, senior policy editor at Carbon Brief, expects wind to overtake gas in the mix as early as this year.

“If we are to meet the government’s clean energy target, gas would be below 5 percent and wind energy well above 50 percent by 2030,” he previously told MailOnline.

‘The UK already gets almost as much electricity from wind energy as from gas – and by the end of the decade wind energy will dominate our supply.

‘While we still need gas-fired capacity when the wind is not blowing, the rise of wind means we will be burning much less of the fuel bought in the volatile international gas markets.’

There are already an estimated 11,000 wind turbines in and around Britain and the United States government is considering thousands more will be built around England as another way to increase the amount of energy from wind.

England and Scotland will also work together to build a ‘superhighway’ that will transport clean, wind-generated energy.

Despite its continued dependence on gas, Britain marked a huge milestone last year when it finally phased out coal.

Britain’s last functioning coal-fired power station, at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, closed for good on September 30.

It ended Britain’s nearly 150-year dependence on coal power, dating back to London’s Holborn Viaduct power station in 1882.