Power generated by thousands of turbines both on and offshore has led to wind being the UK's biggest source of electricity for the first time ever.
Analysis from Drax Electric Insights by Iain Staffell, of Imperial College London, showed wind power generation rose to a 30% share in 2024, up from 29% in 2023.
The change, based on data to December 18, combined with estimates for the final days of the year, was enough to knock gas-fired power plants off the number 1 spot.
Wind farm capacity grew by approximately 3% in 2024, with the majority of that coming from offshore turbines.
The Times reports clean energy output was also lifted by a rise in electrical imports, up to a record 16%, seeing it overtake nuclear energy as the third largest source of electricity.
“We import if it’s more profitable to do that than to generate it here,” Staffell said. “French nuclear power is reasonably cheap. We’ve got access to Norwegian hydropower as well, so we can bring that in quite cheaply.”