Will the UK's clean power mission lead the G7?

If the UK delivers on its clean power mission by 2030, it will become the leading low-carbon nation in the G7.

Analysis by academics from Imperial College London, commissioned by SSE from Imperial Consultants, suggests that the UK can overtake current leaders Canada and France to have the highest share of low-carbon electricity by the end of this decade.

The team of researchers developed a ‘Clean Electricity Scorecard’ that looks at metrics such as emissions intensity and the share of low-carbon generation.

It found that the UK currently generates around 60% of its power from low-carbon sources compared to 85% for Canada and more than 90% for France.

But when the impact of the new UK Government’s clean power 2030 mission, with its accelerated build out of clean and low-carbon technologies, is factored in the UK surpasses its nearest competitors.

“The UK has shown clear leadership in cleaning up its electricity generation, moving from the most polluting mix of any G7 nation in 2010 to 3rd best in just 5 years.

“This has improved our health through lower air pollution, reduce our impact on climate change, and insulates us from the instability of fossil fuel supplies.?

“The UK’s Clean Power Mission to accelerate this energy transition to 2030 can help it take pole position in clean electricity in the G7 by 2030 and support the broader decarbonisation of heating, transport and industry through electrification." Dr Iain Staffell , lead author and Reader in sustainable energy at Imperial College London

“Delivering a clean, homegrown energy system will not only reduce our exposure to imported fossil fuels but it can deliver accelerated climate ambition.??

“This analysis shows that the UK can lead the world on clean electricity and use it to drive increased climate ambition ahead of COP30 next year.?

“A new Clean Power Alliance could kickstart a clean energy race and chart a course to support clean electricity globally.” Alistair McGirr , Group Head of Policy and Advocacy, SSE

The clean electricity scorecard

The ‘Clean Electricity Scorecard’ analysis shows that the UK outperformed its counterparts over the 2010s, jumping from last place in the G7 on share of low carbon electricity in 2010 to 3rd by 2015 overtaking Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.

The analysis shows that the previous clean power target for 2025 would have moved the UK up to 2nd place in the clean electricity rankings by 2030, ahead of Canada.

But delivery of the new UK government’s 2030 clean power target would put the UK above the current frontrunner, nuclear-dominated France, due to the UK’s higher ambitions on power carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen power generation.

Download the Clean Electricity Scorecard for the G7

Delivering the UK’s 2030 climate targets

This accelerated clean electricity ambition will play a greater role in delivering the UK’s climate ambition for 2030, given this was not accounted for when the UK’s Climate Change Committee advised on the UK’s 6th Carbon Budget (2028–32) back in 2020.

The academics from Imperial found that if other sectors can deliver their forecast emissions reductions the UK’s clean power ambition could allow it to exceed its 2030 National Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement by 2 percentage points – achieving a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 on 1990 levels.

Beyond this domestic impact, the UK’s increased clean electricity ambition would also lead to increased exports of low-carbon electricity, which would also help reduce emissions in neighbouring markets and vice-versa from any accelerated clean electricity ambition in the EU.

Download the Accelerated clean electricity: Impact on UK carbon targets report