At the same time the use of gas-fired power generation also rose, contributing to a 36 per cent decline in the use of coal-fired power in 2014.
The government’s Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2015 showed a strong increase in the amount of energy generated from renewable technologies compared to the previous year, with an increase of 21 per cent to contribute 7 per cent of the UK’s total generation mix.
“In 2014, there was a further switch in the main sources of electricity generation away from the use of fossil fuels to more low carbon generation. Generation from coal fell by 36 per cent, as a number of plants closed or switched to burning biomass; gas rose by 5.1 per cent, nuclear output fell by 9.7 per cent with renewables up by 21 per cent,” the report said.
The 2014 data shows that renewable output doubled between 2004 and 2010, and between 2010 and 2014 increased by around two-thirds again.
However, the UK has an ambitious legally-binding renewables target of 15 per cent of energy use to achieve by 2020. And green groups have voiced concern that the government’s recent cuts to renewable energy support may stifle the progress of the industry in contributing to this goal.
“We can only hope that today’s statistics will help to focus minds and make the Government think again,” said Renewable UK policy director Gordon Edge, urging Government to “come up with a balanced energy policy that includes encouraging investment in renewables rather than driving business away from the UK.”