'Fantastic': UK emissions drop in 2017 as wind and solar power hit record highs

Michael Holder
clock • 4 min read

Provisional government statistics confirm greenhouse gases now as low as they were in 1890, with wind and solar becoming UK's second biggest source of electricity

UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.6 per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year, largely driven by the switch away from coal and gas power towards renewable energy sources, provisional government statistics...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Michael Holder
Author spotlight

Michael Holder

Editor

View profile
More from Michael Holder

Environmental Improvement Plan: Defra pledges £500m for landscape recovery in revised plan

Study: Second hand EVs will still be far cheaper than petrol cars after new 'pay-per-mile' tax

More on Energy

NESO: Decarbonisation set to slash energy costs in coming decades
Energy

NESO: Decarbonisation set to slash energy costs in coming decades

Economic analysis of Future Energy Scenarios suggests meeting emissions targets could cut energy costs from 10 per cent of GDP to just five per cent

James Murray
James Murray
clock 11 December 2025 • 5 min read
Government defends controversial plans to change inflation-linked renewables payments
Energy

Government defends controversial plans to change inflation-linked renewables payments

Government backs proposed reforms to clean energy subsidy schemes, after plans blamed for five per cent drop in renewable energy trusts' market cap

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 11 December 2025 • 4 min read
Ofgem moves to fast-track three 'electricity superhighways'
Energy

Ofgem moves to fast-track three 'electricity superhighways'

Redesigned projects along the UK's east coast expected to save consumers up to £6bn, new analysis claims

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 10 December 2025 • 6 min read