UK strives for 100% renewable power by 2035

UK prime minister Boris Johnson announced on October 4 that the country would aim to get 100% of its power from renewable sources by 2035.

Johnson announced the policy at the Conservative Party conference on October 4. The UK is already striving to reduce its emissions by 78% by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050. Expanding its offshore wind energy capacity is a cornerstone of that plan.

"We can get to complete clean energy production by 2035," Johnson said. "We can do for our entire energy production by 2035 what we're doing with internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030."

Natural gas is a key part of the current UK energy mix, accounting for 40% of its electricity and providing heating for 23mn homes.