Britain’s electricity grid came within touching distance of operating without fossil fuels for the first time in April 2026, as new analysis from Drax Electric Insights reveals generation from fossil fuels fell below 1 GW for the first time ever.
The report, produced independently by academics from Imperial College London and commissioned by Drax, highlights the rapid transformation of Britain’s power system, driven by growth in wind, solar and battery storage.
The findings come amid growing geopolitical pressure on global energy markets following disruption to oil and LNG supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
Britain has also quietly become Europe’s most interconnected large power system, with more than 10 GW of interconnector capacity linking it to neighbouring countries.
It is the only large power system in Europe to have reached 10% of its capacity as interconnectors, overtaking Germany. The country can now import up to one third of national electricity demand through cross-border power links.
Xx_CertifiedHonky_xX on
Good. We are going to need all the power we can get, demand will surge over the next 5 years as everyone hurries to air condition their homes.
Glittering_Box4815 on
Good. It’s by far one of the best things about this country right now.
Maz2277 on
I wish headlines like this were more prominent on the news, it’s good to have something uplifting for once.
TwigletX64 on
Thank god, its clearly proven itself. More of this I beg
Lordhartley on
Every new house/building with solar, grants for fitting solar on existing properties and say good bye to fossil fuel
Inevitable_Run_3319 on
Someone who understands how pricing works: Will bills come down when we no longer need to burn gas?
Next_Replacement_566 on
But no way to store it, as the grid is privatised. What happened to those tidal projects? In Swansea and Morecambe??
8 Comments
Britain’s electricity grid came within touching distance of operating without fossil fuels for the first time in April 2026, as new analysis from Drax Electric Insights reveals generation from fossil fuels fell below 1 GW for the first time ever.
The report, produced independently by academics from Imperial College London and commissioned by Drax, highlights the rapid transformation of Britain’s power system, driven by growth in wind, solar and battery storage.
The findings come amid growing geopolitical pressure on global energy markets following disruption to oil and LNG supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
Britain has also quietly become Europe’s most interconnected large power system, with more than 10 GW of interconnector capacity linking it to neighbouring countries.
It is the only large power system in Europe to have reached 10% of its capacity as interconnectors, overtaking Germany. The country can now import up to one third of national electricity demand through cross-border power links.
Good. We are going to need all the power we can get, demand will surge over the next 5 years as everyone hurries to air condition their homes.
Good. It’s by far one of the best things about this country right now.
I wish headlines like this were more prominent on the news, it’s good to have something uplifting for once.
Thank god, its clearly proven itself. More of this I beg
Every new house/building with solar, grants for fitting solar on existing properties and say good bye to fossil fuel
Someone who understands how pricing works: Will bills come down when we no longer need to burn gas?
But no way to store it, as the grid is privatised. What happened to those tidal projects? In Swansea and Morecambe??