{"id":917523,"date":"2026-10-05T23:38:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T23:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/917523\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T23:38:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T23:38:31","slug":"analysis-wind-and-solar-save-uk-from-gas-imports-worth-5-9bn-during-hormuz-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/917523\/","title":{"rendered":"Analysis: Wind and solar save UK from gas imports worth \u00a35.9bn during Hormuz crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UK has avoided the need for gas imports worth \u00a35.9bn since the start of the Hormuz crisis<\/a> as a result of record generation from wind and solar, reveals Carbon Brief analysis.<\/p>\n

While gas prices are surging to levels not seen since the 2022 energy crisis<\/a>, the UK has been generating record amounts of power from wind and solar, up 14% year-on-year.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

In total, wind and solar have generated a record 41% share of the UK\u2019s electricity needs in 2026 to date, compared with 25% from gas, according to Carbon Brief\u2019s analysis.<\/p>\n

The figure below shows that wind and solar has avoided the need for UK gas imports worth \u00a35.9bn, since the outbreak of war<\/a> between the US and Iran in February 2026.<\/p>\n

These avoided gas imports would have required the UK to secure the equivalent of more than 100 additional tanker deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG).<\/p>\n

\"Record<\/p>\n

The \u00a31.3bn import saving in September 2026 to date is the result of record wind and solar output, at nearly 10 terawatt hours (TWh), combined with surging gas prices.<\/p>\n

The latest analysis updates figures published by Carbon Brief in April<\/a> and May<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wholesale gas prices in the UK have remained elevated ever since Russia cut off supplies<\/a> to Europe in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.<\/p>\n

Gas averaged 90p per therm from 2023 until the start of this year, roughly three times above 2019 prices, before the Covid<\/a> and Ukraine crises.<\/p>\n

Since the outbreak of war in the Middle East in March, gas prices have climbed higher still, averaging 134p per therm or nearly four times the level seen in 2019.<\/p>\n

In September 2026 to date, gas prices have averaged 189p per therm, reaching their highest level since the global energy crisis in 2022, as shown in the figure below.<\/p>\n

\"UK<\/p>\n

UK gas prices are spiking again<\/a> because winter is approaching<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0meaning higher demand for heating\u00a0\u2013 and there is no end in sight for the Hormuz crisis.<\/p>\n

At the same time, European gas stocks are low<\/a>. This means Europe will have to compete<\/a> with Asia to secure the cargoes of LNG needed to keep warm.<\/p>\n

In the UK, high wholesale gas prices are hitting household gas bills under the price cap set by energy regulator Ofgem,\u00a0whereas electricity bills have barely increased.<\/p>\n

From this Thursday, 1 October, typical household gas bills will be 33% higher<\/a> than they were in April, some \u00a3200 per year, according to thinktank Nesta<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In contrast, household electricity bills will only have risen 4%, according to Nesta\u2019s analysis, as a result of growing generation from clean-energy sources.<\/p>\n

Andrew Sissons, director for sustainable future at Nesta, explained in a social media post<\/a> that \u201cthe link<\/a> between electricity and gas prices has already begun to break\u201d.<\/p>\n

The UK and other fossil-fuel importing nations are being hit not only by high gas prices, but also by high prices for oil, diesel and other refined fuels.<\/p>\n

The EU has reportedly<\/a> had to pay an extra \u20ac100bn for fossil-fuel imports since the start of the crisis. Higher import bills have fallen particularly hard on low and middle-income countries, according to separate analysis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the UK, diesel prices have hit record levels<\/a> of around \u00a32 per litre. In contrast, recent Carbon Brief<\/a> analysis shows that electric cars are up to nine times cheaper to drive.<\/p>\n

In her speech<\/a> to the Labour party conference, energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said that energy bills were high because the UK is \u201cexposed to global fossil-fuel markets\u201d.<\/p>\n

In his own conference speech<\/a>, prime minister Andy Burnham said the expansion of clean energy was easing the impact of high gas prices on electricity bills. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are already taking more control of our electricity prices with a massive expansion of home-grown renewables and nuclear. I have asked Miatta to speed up the breaking of the link<\/a> between what we pay for power at home and the international gas market, to get bills down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Analysis: India\u2019s power-sector emissions flat for two years due to clean-energy surge <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Analysis: UK solar power hits record high over summer 2026 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Factcheck: 10 flaws in the Conservative report on \u2018cheap power\u2019 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\" <\/p>\n

Q&A: What is \u2018long-duration energy storage\u2019 \u2013\u00a0and why does the UK need it? <\/p>\n

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