A Third of the electricity generated in the UK last year was from renewable sources, a report shows.

Wind farms were the biggest contributor with 17 per cent of the total, while solar generated 4 per cent and burning biomass a further 11 per cent.

With nuclear power supplying just under a fifth of the total, low carbon sources accounted for a record 53 per cent of UK electricity generation in 2018.

Wind farms were the biggest contributor with 17 per cent of the total, while solar generated 4 per cent and burning biomass a further 11 per cent. Stock pic

The amount coming from coal, the most polluting fossil fuel, fell to a record low of 5 per cent – despite fears of a resurgence in the face of high wholesale gas prices. Gas itself accounted for almost 40 per cent.

However, the overall amount generated fell to the lowest level since 1994, the analysis of Government and industry data by climate and energy website Carbon Brief reveals.

It comes as Britain’s dependence on imports grows, with 22 per cent of electricity forecast to be imported by 2025, compared with 6 per cent now.

The amount of electricity generated per person also fell – to the lowest level since 1984 –partly due to lower consumption because of more energy-efficient homes and industry.