UK wind and solar save £1bn in gas imports
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- Wind generation in March 2026 reached a new record, up 38% year-on-year.
- Solar generation nearly matched the output of last year’s exceptionally sunny spring.
- Combined wind and solar produced 11TWh of electricity in March 2026, a 28% increase YoY and a monthly record.
- This output avoided the need to import 21TWh of gas (≈18 LNG tankers), which would have cost about £1bn at current high prices.
- Gas-fired electricity generation fell 25% YoY to its lowest March level ever recorded.
- Gas-price influence on electricity fell 25% less often than in March 2022 when fossil-fuel prices spiked after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Why it matters: The UK’s power sector saved £1bn by avoiding 21TWh of gas imports (about 18 LNG tankers) through record wind and solar output, while gas-fired generation fell 25% YoY and gas-driven electricity pricing dropped 25%, cutting exposure to volatile gas costs.
