'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

More on Energy

Future Homes Standard: 'Vast majority' of new build homes to feature rooftop solar panels

Future Homes Standard: 'Vast majority' of new build homes to feature rooftop solar panels

Government confirms an estimated 99 per cent of new build homes in England will require rooftop solar panels, as Lib Dems celebrate 'Sunshine Bill' success

Stuart Stone
clock 06 June 2025 • 6 min read
IEA: Global clean energy investment to hit record $2.2tr in 2025

IEA: Global clean energy investment to hit record $2.2tr in 2025

Global investment in renewables and clean technologies expected to be double that in fossil fuels in 2025, as total global energy investment set to surge to a record $3.3tr, new IEA report predicts

Stuart Stone
clock 05 June 2025 • 6 min read
Why a coordinated UK data centre plan is needed to avert a surge in emissions

Why a coordinated UK data centre plan is needed to avert a surge in emissions

Aurora Energy Research stresses need for coordinated approach between data centres, networks, and generators to manage surge in data centre power demand and avoid a rise in emissions

clock 05 June 2025 • 4 min read