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The UK has achieved its greenest year ever, with the rise of renewable energy helping to break 13 clean energy records, according to National Grid data.

Britain has halved carbon emissions in the electricity sector since 2012, providing the fourth cleanest power system in Europe and the seventh cleanest in the world.

In June, for the first time in the UK, wind, nuclear and solar power generated more power than gas and coal combined. And in April, Britain had its first 24-hour period without using any coal power since the Industrial Revolution.

National Grid, an electricity and gas company, has been working to forecast the carbon intensity of electricity along with WWF and Environmental Defence Fund Europe.

The findings come after the Government set out its clean energy strategy in October, which involved more than 50 measures to improve efficiency and clean power.

But Caroline Lucas, Green Party co-leader, described the plan as a “blueprint for underachievement”, and critics suggested it did not do enough to meet UK emissions targets.

Renewable energy sources provided more power than coal for 90 per cent of 2017, separate figures from research group MyGridGB showed.

Despite the successes this year, groups warned Britain must now tackle its reliance on gas if it is to meet emission targets.

Dr Andrew Crossland, from MyGridGB and the Durham Energy Institute, told the BBC: "The government has focused on reducing coal use which now supplies less than 7 per cent of our electricity.

"However, if we continue to use gas at the rate that we do, then Britain will miss carbon targets and be dangerously exposed to supply and price risks in the international gas markets."