It's official: Renewables provided 40 per cent of Britain's electricity in 2021

Cecilia Keating
clock • 3 min read
Energy demand from transport fell in 2021 | Credit: iStock
Image:

Energy demand from transport fell in 2021 | Credit: iStock

Government's annual energy statistics 'bible' shows continued march of renewable power on Britain's grid, although the country still remains heavily reliant on expensive fossil gas

Almost 40 per cent of Britain's electricity was provided by renewable sources in 2021, making it the second highest year on record for clean power generation, the government has confirmed in its official...

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

'This must be the final chapter for North Sea drilling': Jackdaw approval sparks calls for strengthened plan to end fossil fuel reliance

'This must be the final chapter for North Sea drilling': Jackdaw approval sparks calls for strengthened plan to end fossil fuel reliance

Government announces new £2bn Energy Wealth Fund alongside green light for controversial gas field, but campaigners argue bolder decarbonisation efforts are urgently needed

James Murray
clock 21 October 2026 • 7 min read
Government to approve controversial Jackdaw gas field project

Government to approve controversial Jackdaw gas field project

Decision set to spark fierce criticism from climate campaigners who have warned new fossil fuel projects risk breaching the UK's legally-binding emissions targets

Michael Holder
clock 21 October 2026 • 7 min read
MPs urge government to move all energy policy costs onto gas bills

MPs urge government to move all energy policy costs onto gas bills

Parliament's Energy Security and Net Zero Committee argues Ministers should reduce electricity bill relative to gas in order to accelerate adoption of heat pumps and other clean technologies

Michael Holder
clock 21 October 2026 • 6 min read