Renewables post record year - but rising coal use forces up emissions

BusinessGreen staff
clock

Green energy accounted for 11.3 percent of UK electricity last year after huge growth in offshore wind, as emissions rise 3.5 per cent

Renewables accounted for a record 11.3 per cent share of UK electricity generation last year, up from 9.4 per cent in 2011, according to government statistics. But a huge rise in coal use has pushed up...

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

Pulse powers up 30MW battery storage project at former scrapyard

Pulse powers up 30MW battery storage project at former scrapyard

Lancashire project capable of powering more than 65,000 homes for an hour, while preventing 2,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year

Stuart Stone
clock 03 February 2026 • 3 min read
'Real momentum': National Grid DSO celebrates record flexible grid services tender

'Real momentum': National Grid DSO celebrates record flexible grid services tender

Total amount of flexible grid capacity secured by grid operator increases 10-fold year-on-year to 196GWh

James Murray
clock 02 February 2026 • 2 min read
'A huge opportunity for Britain': Octopus Energy inks landmark deal to enter Chinese market

'A huge opportunity for Britain': Octopus Energy inks landmark deal to enter Chinese market

UK's largest energy supplier announces major new joint venture during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's visit to China, as BYD, Omoda, and Jaecoo all commit to strengthening presence in UK market

Stuart Stone
clock 30 January 2026 • 8 min read