Renewable energy output increased by 27% between July 2011 and July 2012, according to the latest update on the Renewable Energy Roadmap published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on 27 December.
The Roadmap also shows growth of 40% over the same 12-month period in renewable energy capacity. This means that now more than 10% of all electricity generated comes from renewables. In addition, there has been a five-fold increase in solar PV capacity.

According to the DECC, the Roadmap shows that the UK is on track to meet its first interim target ahead of the European goal to source 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020.

In addition, the Roadmap shows that in the last year the costs of many renewable technologies have fallen. For example, the cost of solar PV has fallen by 50%, with the technology now identified as a key technology in the Roadmap update.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey, said: 'Renewable energy is increasingly powering the UK's grid and the economy too. It's a fantastic achievement that more than ten per cent of our power now comes from renewables, given the point from which we started.'

Minister of State for Energy, John Hayes, said: 'I firmly believe that a diverse energy mix is the best way to ensure our energy security. It is extremely encouraging that we have made such positive steps on renewable energy as part of that mix.'