Clean Energy Saves UK £5.9bn in Gas Imports During Hormuz Crisis

The UK has managed to avoid £5.9bn worth of gas imports since the outbreak of war in the Middle East due to record electricity generation from wind and solar power, according to an analysis by Carbon Brief.

While gas prices are surging towards levels not seen since 2022, the UK has been generating a record amount of power from clean energy sources, up 14% year-on-year. This unprecedented clean-power generation is directly cutting the need for gas-fired electricity, which is down by nearly 10% year-on-year in 2026 to date.

In total, wind and solar have generated a record 41% share of the UK's electricity needs in 2026 to date, compared with 25% from gas. The avoided gas imports would have required the UK to secure the equivalent of more than 100 additional tanker deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG).