Renewable energy consumption in the United Kingdom amounted to 1.43 exajoules in 2023, remaining constant when compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, between 1998 and 2022, renewables consumption in the UK increased by 1.3 exajoules, peaking at 1.43 exajoules in 2022.

Levels of support for renewable energy for electricity, heat and fuel in the United Kingdom have remained relatively unchanged since 2012. In 2012, 79 percent of respondents reported being supportive of the use of renewable energy, while five percent were opposed. This figure rose to 84 percent as of March 2023. The share of respondents who support renewables, however, has presented a growing trend.

The UK's energy use from renewable and waste sources, by source (for example, hydroelectric power, wind, wave, solar, and so on) and industry (SIC 2007 section - 21 categories), 1990 to 2022.

Offshore wind farms are the greatest contributor to renewable electricity generation in the United Kingdom. In 2023, offshore wind power production reached almost 50 terawatt hours. This followed the ever-increasing fleet of offshore wind parks. Onshore wind power production came to 32.6 terawatt hours in 2023. Offshore and onshore wind combined accounted for some 60 percent of the UK's renewable electricity generation that year.

The UK's renewable energy sector, including green power and sustainable energy, is set to grow significantly due to supportive government policies and a shift away from fossil fuels. Despite potential setbacks from policy changes like increased VAT on clean energy technologies and cessation of solar subsidies, the ambitious 2030 alternative energy targets offer vast opportunities for eco-friendly energy companies. The natural energy market is segmented into wind, solar, hydro, bioenergy, and others, with wind energy predicted to dominate. The low-carbon energy sector features key players like Vestas Wind Systems AS and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA.

Wind is the largest renewable energy source by installed capacity in the United Kingdom, including onshore and offshore wind. As of 2023, operational onshore wind farms had a combined capacity of 15.4 gigawatts. Offshore wind had a capacity of 14.7 gigawatts.

Greater awareness about the effects of climate change has driven an aggressive decarbonising strategy spearheaded by renewables. Government targets and incentives encourage major investment in renewable assets among UK energy giants. Technology developments have boosted potential generating capacity, particularly in offshore wind, which has grown the fastest of all renewable energy sources. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the share of electricity generated by major power producers from renewables surged from 34.5% in 2019-20 to 42.4% in 2023-24. Renewable generators' revenue is slated to climb at a compound annual rate of 8.7% over the five years through 2024-25 to reach £14.5 billion. Growth has been underpinned by the UK’s rapid expansion of renewable generating capacity. Offshore wind has recorded the most significant expansion in generation volumes as investors look to take advantage of technological advancements to tap into the UK's abundant natural resources. Soaring wholesale prices have added to revenue growth since H2 2021-22; however, operators of renewable generation assets that operate under a Contract for Difference (CfD) have been required to pay back the difference between wholesale prices and CfD strike prices, limiting the impact of a surge in wholesale prices on operating profit. Inflation-linked increases to fixed price mechanisms have also boosted growth. Revenue is forecast to jump by 11.4% in 2024-25. Revenue is forecast to swell at a compound annual rate of 11.1% over the five years through 2029-30 to reach £24.6 billion. The UK already has a strong pipeline of renewable assets set for delivery in the coming years, with ongoing government support likely to fuel further investment. In the short term, increased capacity is set against a backdrop of falling strike prices, though the extent of capacity expansion should support further growth. Hikes in strike prices secured in the most recent CfD allocation round will also boost growth in the longer term. Rising battery storage capacity should help support growth in renewables' share of the UK energy mix by reducing barriers associated with intermittent supplies of renewable power.

This release includes annual estimates of low carbon and renewable energy economy activity in the UK and constituent countries: turnover, employment, exports, imports, acquisitions, disposals and number of businesses.

Demand of renewables and waste as primary energy are forecasted to increase over the years, peaking at 29 million metric tons of oil equivalent as of 2025. By 2040, figures are expected to decrease and reach 26 million metric tons of oil equivalent. However, fossil fuels, such as natural gas and oil are forecasted to be the major primary energy sources in the United Kingdom.

Electricity generation from renewable sources in the United Kingdom has increased considerably in the period of consideration, peaking at some 135 terawatt hours in 2022. In 2021, renewable electricity generation registered a small decline. In that year, renewable electricity production amounted to around 122 terawatt hours.

This statistic shows the proportion of energy derived from renewable sources in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2015, as a percentage of gross final consumption. During this period the share of energy from renewable sources climbed from 1.5 percent to 8.2 percent.

The UK's direct use of energy from fossil fuels and other sources (nuclear, net imports, renewables, biofuels and waste and reallocated use of energy by industry (SIC 2007 section - 21 categories), 1990 to 2022.

Renewable sources were the greatest contributor to the United Kingdom's power mix in 2023, representing some 46 percent of the total electricity generated in the country. Natural gas came second, with a combined share of 34.7 percent. Wind and solar registered the largest contribution among renewables. Meanwhile, hydropower accounted for around two percent of the UK's electricity generation that year.

The UK's electricity grid operator warns of market strains as cold weather leads to low wind output and high demand, highlighting renewable energy reliance and grid challenges.

Offshore wind was the most energy efficient source out of all renewable energies used in the United Kingdom in 2023. In that year, it had a load factor of 43.6 percent. By comparison, the load factor of landfill gas amounted to 32.2 percent in 2023. Generally, solar photovoltaic had the lowest utilization rate.