The UK avoided £1 billion in gas import costs in March 2026 through record wind and solar generation, according to Carbon Brief analysis. Wind generation reached a new monthly high, up 38% year-on-year, while solar output nearly matched last year's exceptional spring performance. Together, renewable sources generated 11 terawatt hours of electricity, a 28% increase that set a new monthly record.

This surge in clean energy production eliminated the need for 21TWh of gas imports - equivalent to 18 fully loaded LNG tankers. At current prices driven by the Iran war, this would have cost approximately £1bn. Gas prices stood at 130p per therm, compared to the 120-170p range seen recently. The record renewable output also reduced gas-fired electricity generation by 25% year-on-year to the lowest March level ever recorded.

The shift away from gas had significant market impacts. Gas set electricity prices roughly 25% less frequently in March 2026 compared to March 2022, when fossil fuel prices spiked following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This demonstrates how expanding renewable capacity provides both energy security and price stability during geopolitical tensions.