Clean power, record year: how the UK made 2024 its greenest yet
2024 was a record-breaking year, with low-carbon electricity becoming Britain’s primary energy source after decades of remarkable growth. From building our first wind farm back in 1991, through to shaping a greener, cleaner future for our customers today, we’re continuing to play a big part in the UK’s energy revolution.
Picture this: it’s 1991, and on a windy hill on the Anglesey coast, we’re putting up our very first wind turbines. Compared to today’s offshore mega-turbines these weren’t that much to look at, but it was a big deal to start the renewables revolution.
Fast forward to today, and 2024 was the cleanest year ever for UK electricity. Low-carbon sources provided a record-breaking 58% of the grid’s energy, with wind power officially overtaking gas as the nation’s top energy source.
At E.ON, we’ve been working towards this moment for decades. And while we’ve swapped owning wind farms for focusing on helping people and businesses to go greener, our mission remains the same: to drive a more sustainable future.
How it started
We’ve got a proud history of firsts. Our first wind farm, on Anglesey, came online in 1992. We built the UK’s first ever offshore wind farm – at Blyth off the Northumberland coast – and we’ve driven some of Britain's most pioneering, commercial-scale offshore wind projects, with developments off the east coast of England, the Thames Estuary, the south coast and the Solway Firth. By 2013, we were part of the team behind London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm at the time. Over the years, we invested more than £3.3 billion in UK renewables and powered homes and businesses with onshore and offshore wind, solar, and biomass.
How it’s going
Delivering the clean energy system we need over the coming years will take a monumental effort. Think of it this way: all the renewable development achieved over the last 25 years will need to be doubled, tripled, and quadrupled in just the next four or five years. If successful, by 2030, roughly 80% of the UK’s energy will come from renewable sources.
But what about the consumer side? That’s where we are focusing our efforts in leading the charge in clean, green energy innovation people, business and whole communities. Here’s just a taste of what we’re up to:
Battery storage at Uskmouth
Think of it as a giant power bank for the grid. Our new battery storage facilities in South Wales will store enough energy to power 35 million smartphones. They’ll balance supply and demand, ensuring the lights stay on in the most economical way.
Partnering with Amber
Through Amber, an Australian energy platform, we’re giving our solar, battery, and EV customers real-time access to dynamic energy prices. This lets households charge when energy is cheaper and sell back when prices are higher — unlocking the full value of their home generation and battery storage systems.
Pay-monthly pilots
Taking inspiration from other consumer markets such as mobile phones and broadband, we have a pioneering scheme offering both technology and service in a pay-monthly contract, allowing homeowners to make their homes more sustainable with no upfront cost.
Transforming Coventry
Our 15-year strategic energy partnership with Coventry City Council is driving real change, from boosting energy efficiency and renewable generation to supporting cleaner transport and skills development. A standout milestone is our first fully funded battery installation, in the city, helping vulnerable households to lower bills and manage energy more effectively. But it’s not just about technology – it also provides debt relief to ease financial pressures, free energy efficiency upgrades to cut consumption, and access to time-of-use tariffs for ongoing savings.
Greening the Port of Liverpool
As part of a 25-year partnership with Peel Ports Group, we’re installing the UK’s largest roof-mounted solar energy system, with 63,000 solar panels generating up to 31MW — enough to power the equivalent of 10,000 homes each year. Future plans include repowering wind turbines on the River Mersey, further supporting Peel Ports’ net zero ambitions.
Driving the EV revolution
In 2024 alone we installed more than 8,000 EV chargers for homes and 2,000 for businesses, enabling a jaw-dropping 50 million miles of emission-free driving. (That’s like circling the planet… 2,000 times!)
As we transform the energy grid, the role of the consumer is more critical than ever. Personal action towards greener living is essential. By switching to low-carbon energy sources like heat pumps, installing solar panels, or embracing EVs, people can contribute to the clean energy transition. Every step taken — whether it’s swapping gas boilers for heat pumps or choosing electric vehicles — helps to reduce emissions and brings us closer to a more sustainable future.
The cleanest year for UK electricity isn’t just a milestone — it’s proof that change is possible. And at E.ON, we’re more determined than ever to lead the way.
The best part? This story’s only just getting started.