Renewables’ share of the UK electricity generation mix hit one-third in 2018 according to figures published by UK energy department BEIS.
Green power accounted for 33.3% of total generation, up 3.9% on 2017, statistics in the BEIS Energy Trends report showed.
Wind provided a record 17.1% of the UK’s electricity last year, 9.1% from onshore wind and 8% from offshore, both new annual records.
“These record breaking figures demonstrate the unstoppable momentum for renewables, with spectacular global cost reductions in onshore and offshore wind,” said RenewableUK deputy chief executive Emma Pinchbeck.
Renewables developer Orsted noted the UK’s carbon emissions continued to fall in 2018 but the pace of reduction is slowing down.
“Continuing to deploy renewable energy at scale is essential, and the recent publication of a sector deal for offshore wind is exactly the type of action we need,” said Orsted UK director Matthew Wright.
Renewables generation in Scotland reached a record level of 26,708 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2018.
The output, a 6.1% increase on the previous record in 2017, is the equivalent of powering all households in Scotland for more than two-and-a-half years.
Last year saw a big increase in electricity generated via offshore wind in Scottish waters with capacity and generation both more than doubling compared to 2017.
Generation increased from 616GWh in 2017 to 1369GWh in 2018 as capacity increased from 246MW to 623MW.
Scottish net electricity exports also reached record levels, almost doubling from 12,868GWh in 2017 to 24,379GWh in 2018.
“These figures show Scotland’s renewable energy sector continues to go from strength to strength,” said Scotland’s Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse.
“Last year, we were able to meet the equivalent of 74.6% of our electricity demand from renewable sources.”
The Holyrood minister said the Scottish government would continue to support renewables despite “damaging policy changes” to onshore wind from its UK counterparts.
“We will ensure the correct strategic decisions are taken to further support this highly valued sector, despite the difficulties created by unhelpful decisions at Westminster,” he added.