Share of electricity generated by fossil fuels in Great Britain drops to record low

Gas and coal accounted for just 2.4% of power generation for an hour last week, data shows, amid ‘zero -carbon grid’ plans

The share of Great Britain’s electricity generated by burning fossil fuels plummeted to unprecedented lows this month, ahead of plans to begin running a “zero-carbon grid” for short periods from next year.

Electricity generated by burning gas and coal fell to a record low of just 2.4% for an hour at lunchtime on Monday 15 April, according to an analysis of data from National Grid’s electricity system operator (ESO).