Fossil fuels fall to 35% of Britain’s electricity supply
Electricity system had its greenest year in 2023 as record imports of cheaper, cleaner energy from Europe displaced gas-fired plants
Power demand fell to a record low last year amid the cost of living crisis and high consumer energy prices
GRAHAM HUNT/ALAMY
The electricity system had its greenest year on record in 2023 as polluting gas-fired plants were displaced by record imports of cheaper, cleaner energy from Europe, according to the first analysis of the annual power mix.
Fossil fuel generation fell to an all-time low, accounting for only 35 per cent of Britain’s electricity mix, down from 43 per cent in 2022, the analysis of data from Drax Electric Insights by Iain Staffell, of Imperial College London, shows. The figures are based on data to December 18, combined with estimates for the final days of the year.
Imports surged to account for a record 9 per cent of Britain’s electricity mix, driven by low-carbon nuclear power from France and renewable hydro power from Norway. The trend
