UK, Germany electricity cleanest on record in 2024

London: Last year, Britain and Germany hit new highs for clean electricity. In Germany, renewables made up 59% of their energy, while the UK was at 45%.

Germany’s energy scene changed a lot in 2024, being the first year without nuclear power. Wind energy led the charge, producing nearly a third of their electricity. Coal use dropped below 23%, and natural gas saw a slight rise.

Germany’s goal is to have 80% of its energy from renewables by 2030 and to phase out coal by 2035. They produced about 431.7 TWh of electricity in 2024, which was a bit less than the year before.

Over in the UK, fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal made up 29% of electricity, while renewables accounted for 45%. The last coal power station shut down in October, making the UK the first G7 country to ditch coal for good.

The Labour government is also looking to ban new coal mines. Nuclear energy contributed 13% to the UK’s electricity, with 11% coming from imports. Gas power stations still led the way, but wind energy is expected to take the lead soon.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is aiming for an 81% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, pushing towards net-zero by 2050. This shift to low-carbon energy is also a response to rising energy costs, especially after the Ukraine crisis.

As winter kicks in, energy bills in Britain are still high, but the country is committed to cleaner energy solutions.