Britain has been powered without coal for 1010 hours this year, surpassing last year’s total by more than 60 per cent.
Figures released by My Grid GB show the steady decline of energy produced by coal, with 210 hours powered without coal in 2016 and 624 in 2017.
My Grid GB describes the figures as showing a “fundamental shift” in how electricity is produced in Britain.
Renewable energy generated more electricity than ever before in the first quarter of this year, according to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
A total of 27.9 TWh of renewable electricity was generated, a 10.2 per cent increase compared to the same time last year.
Wind generation showed the largest increase and was up one third by 12.7 TWh to 50.0 TWh.
A BEIS spokesperson said: “The UK leads the world in tackling climate change and this shows the time of unabated coal fired electricity is being ended by a cleaner, greener future increasingly powered by renewable energy.
“By phasing out coal power, we are not only tackling climate change, but protecting the air we breathe by reducing harmful pollution.”