Wind was the primary contributor to an overall rise in electricity production from renewables of 15%, though biomass and energy from waste also increased 9%, according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (see report below).

This means that electricity from renewable sources rose to 6.8% of the total, compared with 6.7% in 2009 and 5.5% in 2008. The UK needs to produce 30% of its electricity from renewables to meet its 2020 target.

The growth in electricity generation from wind in 2010 is lower than previously. In 2009, offshore wind rose by 61% and onshore by 24%. In 2008, offshore increased by 49% and onshore by 38%.

Meanwhile, electricity produced from nuclear decreased from 18% in 2009 to 16% in 2010. This is a reversion to the long-term decline of nuclear generation in the UK, which hit a low of 13% in 2008.