Two wars, one lesson: The UK's renewable energy wake-up call

The war in Ukraine, and most recently the US-Iran conflict, have demonstrated the UK's over-reliance on external sources of energy. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints, has sent shockwaves through global energy markets.

Oil is now trading at around $111 per barrel, having surged a record 55% in March alone. This crisis exposes something far more fundamental, and that is that our continued dependence on fossil fuels leaves us vulnerable to the decisions and conflicts of other nations. The case for renewable energy has never been stronger.

What have been the consequences of recent global conflicts to the UK.

Rising energy cost The beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022 triggered a shock wave to global oil and gas prices. Fortunately, the UK did not have over reliance on Russian gas pipelines, however The first major impact on domestic customers in in the UK was a 54% increase in the price cap in April 2022 Wholesale prices for gas and electricity reached new record highs in the UK, Europe and elsewhere during this ‘energy crisis’ and have still not returned to their earlier levels.

Furthermore, the war in Iran and the closer of the straight of homuz has not shielded the UK from the sharp rise of oil and gas prices. Average petrol prices have hit 152.8p a litre, 20p higher than at the start of the conflict and Diesel has jumped to 182.8p a litre, up 40p since the beginning of March. Ofgem's price cap for July to September, a dual-fuel household using a typical amount of gas and electricity would pay £1,929 a year, up from the current £1,641.

Environmental impact

Over three years of conflict In Ukraine and war-related activities generated nearly 230 million tonnes of CO₂. Considering that over the last decade we have been trying extremely hard to cut down CO2 emission, such as war thoughts humanities efforts into disrepute. Not only does this mean we are failing to cutting down co2 emissions.

Perhaps most alarming is what researchers describe as a vicious cycle. Climate change creates the conditions for forest fires, conflict triggers them, the fires cause carbon emissions, which in turn accelerates climate change further. Al Jazeera War and climate breakdown are not separate crises — they feed each other. Additionally, Iran war has the potential to cause ecological disaster. With at least 21 billion litters of oil trapped in the Persian Gulf as of 12 March 2026. An oil spill could destroy ecosystems.

The case for renewable energy in the UK has never been stronger

The repeated shocks of Ukraine and now Iran make one thing clear, the UK cannot afford to remain dependent on fossil fuels sourced from politically volatile regions. Every barrel of oil imported, every pipeline that crosses a conflict zone, is a vulnerability. The good news is that the UK's renewable energy sector is growing and is showing what is possible.

In 2024, renewable energy generated a record 50.8% of the UK's electricity, the first year in which renewables exceeded 50%, a substantial increase on the previous high of 46.4% in 2023. In 2025, that progress continued, with renewable energy accounting for 52.5% of electricity generation, as the UK added 3.8 gigawatts of new renewable capacity to the grid, bringing the total to 65.1 GW, up from just 9.3 GW in 2010.

Heating, transport, and industry still rely heavily on fossil fuels, and it is in those areas where the UK remains most exposed to global price shocks. The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have shown us what happens when that gap is exploited. Renewable energy produced domestically from wind, solar, and other clean sources cannot be shut off by a foreign government, blockaded at a chokepoint, or weaponised in a geopolitical dispute. For UK businesses facing rising energy costs, the transition to renewable energy is the most resilient, future-proof decision they can make.

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