The UK sourced two thirds of its electricity from fossil fuels last year, official statistics show. Renewables still languish far behind, supplying about 12 per cent of the country’s power. But wind power is growing rapidly – increasing its market share by 38 per cent in just twelve months.
Coal accounted for 40.7 per cent of electricity supplied in the UK in 2013, according to provisional figures from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Gas generated about a quarter (26.7 per cent) of the country’s electricity last year, and nuclear 21.1 per cent.
Wind power shows the most significant change, accounting for 7.7 per cent of the country’s electricity supply. In 2012, the figure was 5.5. per cent, so that’s a big jump in relative terms.
Gas and coal still dominate
Overall, fossil fuels still dominate the electricity mix, however. The chart below, created using DECC’s numbers, illustrates the mix. Fossil fuels are coloured grey, nuclear power orange and renewables green: