UK Avoids £1.7bn in Gas Imports Thanks to Record Wind and Solar Output Since Iran Conflict Began

Breaking: UK saves £1.7bn in gas imports since Iran war started

The United Kingdom has avoided the need to import natural gas worth approximately £1.7 billion since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February 2026, according to a new analysis by Carbon Brief. The savings were driven by record-breaking electricity generation from wind and solar power, which surged to an unprecedented 21 terawatt hours (TWh) across Great Britain during the period.

This wind and solar output displaced the equivalent of 41 TWh of gas—roughly 34 tankers of liquefied natural gas (LNG)—at a time when global gas prices were already elevated due to the conflict. The analysis highlights a dramatic shift in the UK's energy mix, with renewables now outpacing fossil fuels in electricity generation for 15 consecutive months.

Background

The Iran war began on February 27, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran. The conflict triggered a sharp rise in global energy prices, reminiscent of the 2022 spike following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In the UK, gas-fired power plants have historically been the primary source of electricity, but their output has plummeted in recent months.

According to Carbon Brief's analysis, electricity generation from gas fell by nearly one-third year-on-year, hitting record lows for both March and April 2026. Meanwhile, wind and solar generated more than twice as much electricity as fossil fuels over the same period. A decade ago, the situation was reversed: fossil fuels produced more than four times the electricity of wind and solar.

What This Means

The record clean energy output has significant implications for UK energy security and consumer prices. By reducing reliance on imported gas, the UK has insulated itself from the worst of the price volatility stemming from the Iran conflict. “This analysis highlights the critical role of renewables in shielding the UK from volatile gas markets,” said Dr. Simon Evans, deputy editor at Carbon Brief. “Without wind and solar, the country would have been forced to spend billions more on LNG imports.”

The shift also means that gas is setting the wholesale electricity price less frequently—roughly 25% less often in March and April 2026 compared to the same months in 2022. This trend could help lower household and business energy bills in the medium term. Additionally, April 2026 saw a record for zero-carbon electricity: for a 30-minute period on April 22, 98.8% of power on Great Britain's transmission grid came from carbon-free sources.

Record-Breaking Statistics

• Wind and solar generation: 21 TWh since Feb 27, 2026
• Gas imports avoided: equivalent to 41 TWh (34 LNG tankers)
• Cost savings: £1.7 billion at current high gas prices
• Gas generation: fell by ~30% year-on-year, record lows in March and April
• Renewables vs fossil fuels: wind and solar generated twice as much electricity as fossil fuels since war began

Expert Analysis and Future Outlook

“The UK's electricity mix has fundamentally changed. Renewables are no longer a niche contributor but the backbone of the grid,” noted Dr. Evans. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) data confirms that wind and solar have now outpaced fossil fuels for 15 consecutive months, including for the first time through an entire winter season (2025-26).

However, experts caution that challenges remain. The UK still relies on gas for heating and some industrial processes, and battery storage capacity must grow to handle intermittent renewable output. “This is a major milestone, but to fully decarbonize, we need to scale up storage and grid flexibility,” said energy analyst Jane Cooper of Imperial College London.

— Reporting by Carbon Brief, with additional data from NESO. This article was updated on May 12, 2026.