Renewable energy supplied 52.1% of the UK's electricity in 2025, marking the second consecutive year that clean sources generated more than half of the country's power and outperformed fossil fuels, according to the latest Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

The report shows that renewables generated a record 153 TWh of electricity during the year, surpassing the previous high of 144.5 TWh recorded in 2024. By comparison, fossil fuels accounted for 32.3% of the UK's electricity mix, producing 94.9 TWh, with natural gas representing almost all of that generation following the phase-out of coal in 2024.

According to DESNZ, the increase in renewable generation was driven by additional wind and solar capacity, above-average wind speeds and record levels of sunshine.

Wind remains the UK’s biggest source of clean power, generating a record 29.5% of our electricity in 2025 (a record 86.4TWh), up from 29.2% in 2024 (83.6TWh). Wind provided 56.5% of all renewable electricity last year.

A record 17.7% of the UK’s electricity was produced by offshore wind in 2025 (a record 52TWh), up from 17.1% (48.8TWh) in 2024. The report notes that this represents a large increase in recent years, as it is roughly triple the volume seen ten years ago.

The data also shows that offshore wind continues to be the leading renewable technology, providing 60% of all wind generation and 34% of all renewable generation, as coastal wind speeds are stronger and more consistent, and new turbines are more powerful. Onshore wind provided 11.7% (34.4TWh), compared to 12.2% (34.8TWh) in the previous year.

Solar provided a record 6.9% (a record 20.1TWh) of the UK’s electricity last year, a significant increase from 5.2% (15TWh) in the previous year, as capacity grew and average daily sun hours were substantially higher.

Nuclear generation fell by 12% from 40.6TWh in 2024 (14.2% of UK electricity) to 35.9TWh in 2025 (12.2%) last year. This was half the level of generation seen in 2015, due to older plants being decommissioned and increased outages across the ageing nuclear fleet. Despite this, due to increases in renewables, low carbon sources (renewables and nuclear) generated 64.3% of UK electricity in 2025.

Commenting on the figures, RenewableUK Chief Executive Tara Singh said the results demonstrate the growing role of clean energy in the country's electricity system. She added that increased renewable generation has also helped lower wholesale electricity prices by reducing the need for gas-fired power plants, while supporting the UK's energy security and decarbonisation goals.

"It’s good news for billpayers struggling with the cost of living too, as every wind farm we build pushes the most expensive gas generators off the system. In 2025, wind reduced wholesale electricity prices by 31% by cutting the need for gas-fired power plants. Renewables also enable us to move faster on the electrification of heat and transport to cut bills by reducing the use of costly fossil fuels," she said.

Singh also pointed to the latest clean energy auction as an opportunity to attract further investment in new wind and solar projects, following the record offshore wind procurement secured in the previous allocation round.