Renewables generated a record 52.5% of the UK’s electricity in 2025, marking the second consecutive year above the 50% threshold, according to the latest Energy Trends report published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

The figure surpasses the previous high of 50.4% recorded in 2024 and comes alongside a new record for clean power generation, which reached 152.5 TWh, up 5.7% year-on-year.

Wind and solar drive record renewable output

The increase in renewable generation was largely driven by strong performance from wind and solar, both of which produced ten times more electricity than in 2015.

Wind remained the dominant source, accounting for a record 30% of total electricity generation (87.1 TWh), up from 29.2% in 2024. Offshore wind contributed 17.9% (52 TWh), while onshore wind delivered 12.1% (35.1 TWh). Overall, wind was responsible for 57.1% of total renewable generation.

Solar also reached a new high, supplying 6.9% of the UK’s electricity (20 TWh), a significant increase from 5.1% in the previous year, supported by expanded capacity and higher average sunlight hours.

Low-carbon share stable as nuclear output declines

Despite the growth in renewables, the overall share of low-carbon electricity — including nuclear — remained broadly stable at 64.8% in 2025 (188.3 TWh), slightly up from 64.6% in 2024.

This was due to a 12% decline in nuclear generation, which fell to 35.9 TWh (12.3%), reflecting plant retirements and outages across the ageing fleet. Output from nuclear is now around half the level seen in 2015.

Electricity generation from fossil fuels increased slightly to 32% (93.1 TWh) in 2025, compared to 31.9% in the previous year. The rise was driven almost entirely by gas, which accounted for 31.5% of total generation (91.5 TWh).

Coal generation, meanwhile, has been fully phased out, with no contribution recorded in 2025 following its exit from the system in 2024.

Renewables seen as backbone of UK power system

According to RenewableUK, the figures confirm the central role of clean energy in the UK’s electricity system.

“These figures show renewables are now the backbone of Britain’s power system, supplying most of our electricity for the second year running, with wind doing the heavy lifting,” said CEO Tara Singh.

She added that expanding renewable capacity will be key to reducing reliance on gas, which continues to set electricity prices and remains exposed to market volatility.

With the next renewable energy auction scheduled for July, the industry is calling for ambitious targets to secure further growth, particularly in offshore wind.