Renewable energy in the UK reached all time high in 2013

The DECC figures revealed that 13.8% of UK electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2013, up 3 percentage points from 2012. According to the latest Ofgem energy bill breakdown, published last week, renewable electricity levies account for £50, or 3.7%, of the typical annual household energy bill of £1,357.

Commenting on the encouraging news, Renewable Energy Association Chief Executive Dr Nina Skorupska says:

“More than one in eight UK homes is now powered from clean renewable sources, at an extra cost to the typical household of less than £1 a week. Renewable power projects, from biomass plants to wind farms, are helping reduce the UK’s contribution to climate change, while also limiting our dependence on imports and creating jobs in the new green economy.

“Additionally, households installing solar panels are already seeing their bills come down thanks to the Feed-in Tariff. With the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive set to launch before Easter, renewable heat technologies, such as wood fuel boilers, will soon be able to play a part as well.”

Although wind power is still the main generator of renewable energy in the UK, solar PV has seen significant growth in the past 12 months, and the market is expected to continue to grow in 2014.