Britain's electricity production from renewable energy sources last year was up by 33 percent compared with 2010 and accounted for 9.4 percent of all electricity generated in the country in 2011, according to the annual Digest of U.K. Energy Statistics.

The increase is attributed to jumps in electricity generated from both onshore and offshore wind, at 45 percent (10,372 gigawatt-hours) and 68 percent (5,126 GWh), respectively. Capacity was up 37 percent for offshore, while onshore was up 15 percent.

The feed-in tariffs also played a role in the increase, introducing 855 megawatts of renewable energy capacity in 2011.

Renewable energy industry group RenewableUK said the figures highlight the increasingly crucial role that wind and other forms of renewables are playing in Britain's energy mix.

"This trend is set to continue and will help the U.K. to reduce its over-reliance on expensive and unpredictable supplies of imported fossil fuels," said Maria McCaffery, RenewableUK chief executive.

However, the report shows that Britain's reliance on imported fossil fuels increased 36 percent as the country's total energy production was down a record 13.2 in 2011 compared with the previous year - the fastest decline in over 40 years. Maintenance issues were the reason for the decrease, the report said.

"With the economy in a fragile state we need to do everything we can to boost investor confidence and ensure that the U.K. develops an energy mix that will not only protect consumers from fluctuating fossil fuel prices in the short term but will also deliver long term security and growth," Ms. McCaffery said. – EcoSeed Staff