Provisional statistics published by DESNZ show UK emissions were 371m tonnes carbon equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2024, down from 385 MtCO2e in 2023 and 54 per cent lower than they were in 1990.

The figures are included in the latest Energy Trends report, which also shows that a record amount of clean power was produced last year, reaching a new high of 144.7TWh, up 6.5 per cent from 135.8TWh in 2023.

Meanwhile generation from fossil fuels dropped to levels last seen in the 1950s, down 16 per cent and a share of 31.5 per cent due to 15 per cent fall in gas generation and the cessation of coal generation in the latter part of the year, and the UK's last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, closed at the end of September.

Domestic transport was the biggest emitter in 2024 making up 30 per cent of total emissions, but even here, emissions were down 1.5 per cent on the previous year.

RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive Jane Cooper said: “These new figures show the pace at which our energy system is changing, benefitting billpayers and the climate. The UK is moving away rapidly from fossil fuels to low-cost renewables which bring down consumer bills, with wind providing the bulk of our clean power.”

However. RenewableUK are less impressed by the idea of zonal pricing, with Coooper saying: “One of the biggest worries in the industry right now is that the Government is considering a huge transformation of the energy market by potentially introducing a system called zonal pricing. Not only would this mean higher electricity prices for households and businesses in England and Wales, but introducing such a radical reform to the market without the full details of what it will look like would also be incredibly disruptive to investment in new wind and solar projects, so we’re urging Ministers to rule this scheme out as soon as possible”.

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