Analysis: Wind and solar save UK from gas imports worth £5.9bn during Hormuz crisis
Carbon Brief analysis indicates that record wind and solar power generation in the UK has saved the country £5.9bn in gas imports during the 2026 Hormuz crisis. Increased clean energy output has offset the need for gas-fired electricity despite rising global energy prices.
Why it matters
It highlights the role of renewable energy in enhancing national energy security and mitigating the economic impact of geopolitical conflicts.
Share The UK has avoided the need for gas imports worth £5.9bn since the start of the Hormuz crisis as a result of record electricity generation from wind and solar, reveals Carbon Brief analysis.
While gas prices are surging towards levels not seen since the 2022 energy crisis , the UK has been generating record amounts of power from wind and solar, 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, according to Carbon Brief’s analysis.
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