2025 Marks a Record-Breaking Year for Wind and Solar Power in Great Britain, But Is It Enough?
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By Mark Poynting, Climate Researcher, Becky Dale, Senior Data Journalist, BBC Verify, and Jess Carr, Data Designer
Great Britain just hit a major milestone in its fight against climate change, with renewable energy sources generating an unprecedented amount of electricity in 2025, according to a BBC analysis. This surge in clean power is a beacon of hope, but it also raises critical questions about the pace of progress and the challenges ahead.
Wind power led the charge, solidifying its position as the largest single renewable energy source, as revealed by provisional data from the National Energy System Operator (Neso). But here’s where it gets exciting: solar power saw a staggering nearly 30% increase compared to 2024, fueled by the UK’s sunniest year on record and a nationwide expansion of solar panels. This isn’t just a small victory—it’s a leap forward that highlights the potential of solar energy in a country not traditionally known for its sunshine.
But here’s where it gets controversial: While renewables soared, electricity generation from fossil gas also ticked up slightly. This dual trend underscores the complexity of the energy transition. On one hand, renewables are growing; on the other, the reliance on gas persists, casting doubt on the government’s ambitious goal of achieving "clean power" by 2030. As Pranav Menon, a senior research associate at Aurora Energy Research, pointed out, "We’re not seeing the exponential scale-up needed to meet those very ambitious targets."
The government’s "clean power" target aims to virtually eliminate polluting gas from electricity production by 2030, while also slashing energy bills by up to £300. But is this a realistic promise? And this is the part most people miss: The target only applies to Great Britain, excluding Northern Ireland, which operates its own electricity system. This raises questions about the fairness and feasibility of a fragmented energy strategy.
The growth of renewables has been one of the brightest spots in global efforts to combat climate change, and Great Britain has been no exception. Over the past decade, the country has made significant strides, but the government is now under pressure to accelerate this progress even further. In 2025, wind, solar, hydro, and biomass collectively generated over 127 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, surpassing the previous record of 119 TWh set in 2024. Wind alone accounted for nearly 30% of the country’s electricity, while solar power’s contribution jumped to over 6%, marking a 4 TWh increase from the previous year.
Solar power’s rise is particularly noteworthy. At its peak in July, solar energy supplied more than 40% of the country’s electricity during several half-hour periods—a far cry from 2013, when solar generation barely reached 5%. This growth is driven by the proliferation of solar farms, including the massive Cleve Hill project in Kent, and a record number of rooftop installations, with 250,000 new small-scale systems added in 2025. The UK’s sunniest year on record provided the perfect conditions for solar panels to shine, quite literally.
"Solar’s probably a bigger part of the system than we’d expected, given the cost has come down so much," remarked Michael Grubb, a professor of energy and climate change at University College London. Yet, despite these successes, renewables still face significant hurdles. On about a third of days in 2025, renewables supplied at least half of Britain’s electricity, but the grid remains heavily dependent on fossil gas. Gas generation rose to 77 TWh, or 27% of total electricity, up from 72 TWh in 2024. This increase could be attributed to factors like reduced electricity imports from Europe, lower nuclear output, the closure of the last coal power station in 2024, and higher overall demand.
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Despite the growth of renewables, Britain’s electricity was slightly more polluting in 2025 than in 2024, with each kilowatt-hour generating 126g of CO₂, up from 124g/kWh. This raises a critical question: Are we truly on track to meet the clean power target?
The government’s goal of 95% clean electricity by 2030 seems increasingly ambitious. While clean sources produced nearly three-quarters of electricity in 2024, the lingering reliance on gas and the need for grid upgrades pose significant challenges. As Menon noted, "There are still periods when the sun isn’t shining, the wind isn’t blowing, and demand is high, forcing us to rely on gas." Solutions like battery storage and nuclear power could help bridge this gap, but they come with their own set of challenges and costs.
Another contentious issue is the strain on the electricity grid. At times, the grid struggles to handle the influx of renewable energy, leading to wind farms being paid to reduce their output—a costly inefficiency. Upgrading the grid is essential but expensive, potentially offsetting some of the savings from cheaper renewables. "I still expect bills to come down in the coming years," said Prof. Grubb, "but it depends on gas prices falling from their recent highs."
The political debate is heating up. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband hailed the renewables data as proof that the government is "taking back control of Britain’s energy with clean homegrown power." However, shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho criticized the clean power target, arguing it’s driving up energy bills. "People should know about the extra costs that come with renewables," she said. Is the clean power target a necessary investment in our future, or an unaffordable luxury? We want to hear your thoughts—share your opinions in the comments below.
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