Ørsted, Equinor & SSE: Companies Behind UK Renewables Switch
For the first full year, the UK will use more low-carbon renewable power than fossil fuel power throughout 2024 according to thinktank Ember.
Renewables, including biomass, overtook fossil fuels in the country’s energy mix in 2020, but Ember’s analysis does not categorise this as a low-carbon renewable energy source.
With the phase-out of coal power in October 2024, wind, solar photovoltaic power and hydropower have taken over.
Ember says gas use also experienced its third largest fall in more than 10 years, displaced by electricity imports and clean power.
“The renewables future is here,” says Frankie Mayo, Senior Energy and Climate Analyst at Ember.
“This long-awaited milestone is a testament to how much progress the UK has made.
“It’s time to seize the moment, to cut reliance on expensive gas with new renewables, storage, and grid upgrades.
“With the phase-out of coal power completed this year, reducing gas use is the next big opportunity for the country.”
What renewable sources are powering the UK?
Ember’s report shows that wind makes up 29.3% of UK power in 2024, with solar at 5.3% and hydro reaching 1.9%.
Bioenergy makes up 14.2% of the mix, just beaten by nuclear with 14.7%.
According to Ember’s report, increased renewables, among other factors, helped the country to reduce fossil fuel use in 2024.
It predicts that by 2030, gas power will decline to below 5% of total generation in line with clean power targets.
The UK’s largest wind farm is Ørsted’s Hornsea 2 in the North Sea with a capacity of 1.32GW.
Hornsea 2 contains 165 Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines, with each blade reaching 18m long and each tip more than 200m above sea level.
One turbine rotation generates enough electricity to power a home for 24 hours.
The wind farm entered full operation in 2022 and helps to power more than 1.4 million UK homes.
When the farm began full operation, Duncan Clark, Head of Region UK at Ørsted, said: "The UK is truly a world leader in offshore wind and the completion of Hornsea 2 is a tremendous milestone for the offshore wind industry, not just in the UK but globally.
“Current global events highlight more than ever the importance of landmark renewable energy projects like Hornsea 2, helping the UK increase the security and resilience of its energy supply and drive down costs for consumers by reducing dependence on expensive fossil fuels.”
What renewable projects will take the UK forwards?
While renewable energy has taken over, it doesn’t end here.
Going forwards, coal will no longer make up any of the energy mix after the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power plant in Nottinghamshire.
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm is due to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm off the North East coast of England with development led by SSE Renewables.
Upon completion, Dogger Bank will be operated by Equinor for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
The wind farm will be made up of GE Vernova Haliade-X turbines, the industry’s first 12MW+ offshore wind turbine capable of powering a household for two days with just one rotation.
Halfdan Brustad, Equinor’s VP UK Renewables, says: “Following first power, Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, is a key example of what the offshore wind industry can offer, from security of electricity supply to economic growth and long-term jobs.”
In July 2024, UK Energy Secretary Ed Milliband gave the government’s consent for the construction of three new solar farms in the East of England.
Sunnica on the Suffolk Cambridgeshire border, Low Carbon’s Gate Burton in Linclonshire and Mallard Pass in Lincolnshire and Rutland will further support the UK’s 2050 net zero goal.
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