A recent government statistical release showed a 19% increase in renewable energy output from Quarter 2, 2023 to Quarter 2 of this year.

According to the GOV.UK statistics document, this was primarily due to favourable weather conditions. However, new government plans/projects and expected growth in industry investment point toward sustained increases in the years ahead.

New Renewables Output Data

Note: Renewable energy output should not be confused with renewable energy capacity. Output means the total energy generated in practice (in this case, over a year), while capacity measures the maximum energy all solar nationally could generate at a given time.

Renewable energy generation in the UK grew to 32.8 terawatt hours by the second quarter of 2024.

The following increases were also found through Q2 of 2023 to Q2 of 2024:

• Onshore Wind Generation – 42% increase, reaching 7.3 terawatt hours
• Offshore Wind Generation – 13% increase, reaching 9.7 terawatt hours
• Hydro Power Generation – 38% increase
• Solar PV Generation – 9.5% decrease*

*Solar has steadily grown in recent years, though lower sunlight levels (as was the case for Q2 2023 to Q2 2024) can result in year-on-year dips, contrasting long-term trajectories. Likewise, wind generation can rise and fall more than expected depending on weather conditions (i.e. short-term vs. long-term trends).

As touched on, wind energy generation performed strongly year-on-year from Q2 2023 to Q2 2024, reaching a little over a quarter of UK renewables output. Solar output stands at about 5.1 terawatt hours.

Though renewable energy generation grew by almost a fifth year-on-year, the same period saw total energy output fall by 7%. The decline was largely due to a reduction in fossil fuel use, however, imports helped to make up the difference.

Future Growth and Plans

Statista data projects that renewable electricity generation from top energy producers will grow by around 65% between 2025 and 2040. By the same measure, total electricity generation will likely increase by around 38%. Government statistics see a similar trajectory.

Though renewable outputs (and especially the output of specific renewables) can vary year-on-year, renewable energy generation will likely grow significantly overall in the next 5 to 10 years.

On the one hand, the new Labour government has a range of goals and projects oriented toward a low-carbon UK. These include the GB Energy Initiative and AR6 Auction.

The government is also targeting 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 while offering more affordable power and increased self-sufficiency (i.e. reducing the currently high level of UK energy imports).

Renewables are also expected to see significant investment growth in the years ahead. Though wind and solar are among the fastest growing renewables in the UK, per Statista data, there are prospects for other options like bio energy and tidal power.