How Wind and Solar Power Saved the UK £1.7 Billion During the Iran Conflict
The United Kingdom has dodged a massive energy bill thanks to record-breaking output from wind and solar farms since the outbreak of the Iran war. According to a new analysis by Carbon Brief, the nation avoided spending approximately £1.7 billion on gas imports—a sum equivalent to the cost of 34 tankers of liquefied natural gas (LNG). This financial cushion came as renewable energy sources surged to unprecedented production levels, slashing the need for fossil-fuel-fired electricity and reshaping the country’s power landscape.
Record Renewable Generation Cuts Gas Dependence
Since the US and Israel initiated strikes against Iran at the end of February 2026, wind and solar installations on the island of Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) have generated a staggering 21 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity—a new high for any comparable period. This clean energy boom directly replaced what would have otherwise been gas-fired generation, sparing the UK from needing to import roughly 41 TWh of gas. At current conflict-driven prices, that volume of gas imports would have set the country back nearly £1.7 billion.
Savings from Avoided LNG Imports
- 34 LNG tankers not needed: The avoided gas volume equates to the cargo of about 34 large LNG carriers.
- Cost avoidance: Using the elevated gas prices triggered by the war, the £1.7 billion figure represents what the UK would have paid for those imports.
Gas-Fired Generation Hits New Lows
As renewables filled the gap, electricity generation from gas dropped by nearly a third compared to the same period in 2025. Both March and April 2026 saw the lowest monthly gas-fired output ever recorded in Great Britain—a sign of how rapidly the grid is shifting away from fossil fuels.
Wind and Solar Outpace Fossil Fuels
Perhaps the most striking metric: since the Iran war began, wind and solar have produced more than twice as much electricity as all fossil fuels combined. This marks a dramatic reversal of the energy mix from just a decade earlier, when fossil fuels generated more than four times the power of wind and solar.
Consecutive Months of Clean Energy Dominance
The trend is not a one-off spike. Great Britain has now run for a record 15 consecutive months with wind and solar output exceeding fossil fuel generation. This streak includes the entire winter season of 2025-26—the first time the country has ever achieved that feat. The winter months typically see higher electricity demand and lower solar production, making this milestone particularly noteworthy.
Implications for Electricity Pricing
With gas playing a smaller role in generation, its influence on wholesale electricity prices has also waned. In both March and April 2026, gas set the price of electricity about 25% less often than during the same months in 2022, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine sent fossil fuel costs soaring. This shift helps stabilise bills and insulate consumers from volatile international gas markets.
Records Continue to Fall
April 2026 brought additional milestones. On 22 April, for half an hour between 15:30 and 16:00, a stunning 98.8% of the electricity flowing into Great Britain’s main transmission grid came from zero-carbon sources. This near-total reliance on clean energy underscores the speed of the transition and the growing reliability of renewables even during peak demand periods.
The data from Carbon Brief, sourced from the National Energy System Operator (NESO), paints a clear picture: wind and solar are not just environmental assets—they are economic lifelines in times of conflict. By reducing the need for expensive gas imports and pushing fossil fuels to the margins of the power system, the UK has saved billions and strengthened its energy security. As the Iran war continues to roil global energy markets, the value of domestic renewable generation has never been more evident.