Record Renewable Output Shields UK from £1.7 Billion Gas Import Bill Amid Iran War

The UK has avoided spending £1.7 billion on gas imports since the start of the Iran war, thanks to record-high electricity generation from wind and solar, according to a new analysis by Carbon Brief.

Since late February 2026, when the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, wind and solar farms on Great Britain's main grid have produced a record 21 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity. This surge slashed the need for gas-fired power by nearly a third compared to the same period a year earlier, pushing gas generation to historic lows in March and April 2026.

“The scale of the savings is striking,” said Dr. Simon Evans, senior analyst at Carbon Brief. “Every terawatt hour of renewable generation directly displaces costly gas imports, insulating UK billpayers from the worst of the price spike triggered by the conflict.”

The avoided imports equate to roughly 41 TWh of natural gas – about 34 tankers of liquefied natural gas (LNG). At the elevated global gas prices caused by the war, those tankers would have cost an estimated £1.7 billion.

Background: Conflict and Energy Crisis

The Iran war began on 24 February 2026, when the United States and Israel carried out military strikes on Iranian nuclear and oil facilities. The resulting instability sent fossil fuel prices soaring, reminiscent of the 2022 energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Britain’s electricity system has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past decade. In 2016, fossil fuels generated more than four times as much power as wind and solar. Since February 2026, wind and solar have produced more than twice the electricity of all fossil fuels combined.

The run of renewable dominance is now a record 15 consecutive months, including the first full winter season (2025-26) ever powered more by renewables than by fossil fuels.

Key Figures at a Glance

• 21 TWh – wind and solar generation in Great Britain since the start of the Iran war.
• 41 TWh – avoided gas imports, equivalent to 34 LNG tankers.
• £1.7 billion – cost savings at current high gas prices.
• ~30% – year-on-year drop in gas-fired electricity generation.
• 98.8% – record share of zero-carbon electricity on the transmission grid for half an hour on 22 April 2026.

What This Means

The record renewable output demonstrates that clean energy can rapidly replace fossil fuels even during geopolitical crises, directly reducing exposure to volatile international gas markets. Experts say this buffers households and businesses from price spikes and cuts carbon emissions sharply.

“Every month that wind and solar continue to outpace gas is a win for energy security and the climate,” said Jess Ralston, senior analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. “The UK is proving that a renewables-heavy grid is not just green – it’s cheaper and more resilient.”

Gas now sets the electricity price roughly 25% less often than during the 2022 crisis, meaning lower wholesale costs. April 2026 also saw a string of other records, including the near-total decarbonisation of the transmission grid for a half-hour window on 22 April.

The findings come as the government faces pressure to accelerate planning approvals for onshore wind and solar farms. Critics argue that delays risk squandering the momentum that has already saved billions.

Data sources: National Energy System Operator (NESO); Carbon Brief analysis. Great Britain refers to England, Scotland, and Wales (separate system from Northern Ireland).