'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

Octopus Energy unveils Nook home battery storage range

Octopus Energy unveils Nook home battery storage range

Product range includes both plug-in batteries for apartments and renters, as well as larger, wall-mounted systems for homeowners

Michael Holder
clock 22 June 2026 • 2 min read
Corporate giants urge governments to power up electrification plans

Corporate giants urge governments to power up electrification plans

More than 100 global businesses have issued a joint statement calling on governments to prioritise electrification in response to global energy and price shocks

clock 22 June 2026 • 3 min read
Why factory decarbonisation is key to food manufacturing resilience

Why factory decarbonisation is key to food manufacturing resilience

Partner Insight: Tetra Pak explains how a whole-factory view can turn lower emissions and better resource efficiency into stronger growth and more durable competitive advantage

Gilles Tisserand, Tetra Pak
clock 22 June 2026 • 5 min read