UK, Germany Achieve Cleanest Electricity in 2024

In 2024, both Britain and Germany reached new records for clean electricity production, with renewable energy sources like wind and solar making up a significant portion of their energy mix, according to data released on Thursday.

In Germany, renewable energy accounted for 59% of total electricity production, rising from 56% the year before. Wind power remained the primary source, contributing 31.9% of the country’s electricity. Meanwhile, coal’s share dropped to below 23%, down from 26% in 2023, while natural gas usage increased to 13.2%, up from 8.6% the previous year.

Germany’s total electricity production in 2024 was 431.7 TWh, a 4.2% decrease compared to the previous year. Imports rose to 13.8%, while exports fell to 10%. The country aims for renewables to represent 80% of its energy mix by 2030 and plans to phase out coal by 2035.

In Britain, 45% of electricity came from renewables, while fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) made up 29% in 2024, according to Carbon Brief. In October, the UK closed its last coal-fired power station, becoming the first G7 nation to eliminate coal for electricity production. The government also announced plans to ban new coal mines in November.

Nuclear energy provided 13% of Britain’s electricity, and 11% of the country’s power was imported. Gas-fired power stations remained the largest source of electricity, although forecasts predict wind power will likely surpass gas generation in 2025.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990 levels by 2035, as part of the UK’s strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The push for low-carbon energy comes as the country seeks to address the high cost of electricity, which spiked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, leading to an energy crisis.

While both nations have made impressive progress, energy bills in Britain remain high, with the country experiencing frigid temperatures at the start of 2025. These achievements from Germany and the UK signal a global shift toward cleaner, more sustainable energy sources, while addressing the ongoing challenges of energy security.