Spain vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Spain generated 288 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 295 TWh, according to Ember. Spain's largest source was solar (21.9%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.2%). Each kWh generated emitted 153 gCO2/kWh in Spain and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Why this comparison: similar electricity demand on the same continent.

Key Facts

Solar supplied 21.9% of Spain's electricity in 2025, against 6.6% in the United Kingdom.
Electricity demand rose 5% in Spain between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 4% in the United Kingdom.
Low carbon sources supplied 74.7% of Spain's electricity in 2025 and 63.8% of the United Kingdom's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 275 TWh in Spain and 313 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Spain	United Kingdom
Total generation	288 TWh	295 TWh
Electricity demand	275 TWh	313 TWh
Demand per person	5.75 MWh	4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity	153 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	44.2 MtCO2	65.5 MtCO2
Low carbon share	74.7%	63.8%
Largest source	Solar 21.9%	Gas 31.2%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Spain	United Kingdom
Gas	21.5%	31.2%
Wind	20.4%	29.2%
Solar	21.9%	6.6%
Nuclear	18.8%	12.3%
Bioenergy	2.2%	13.9%
Hydro	11.4%	1.8%
Other fossil	3.5%	4.3%
Coal	0.3%	0.6%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Spain and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 153 gCO2/kWh in Spain and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Spain and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Spain	United Kingdom
1985	n/a	694 gCO2/kWh
1986	n/a	721 gCO2/kWh
1987	n/a	737 gCO2/kWh
1988	n/a	710 gCO2/kWh
1989	n/a	689 gCO2/kWh
1990	437 gCO2/kWh	705 gCO2/kWh
1991	427 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
1992	473 gCO2/kWh	665 gCO2/kWh
1993	444 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
1994	434 gCO2/kWh	589 gCO2/kWh
1995	466 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1996	386 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
1997	431 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
1998	424 gCO2/kWh	510 gCO2/kWh
1999	483 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2000	471 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2001	422 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2002	482 gCO2/kWh	521 gCO2/kWh
2003	429 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2004	449 gCO2/kWh	536 gCO2/kWh
2005	475 gCO2/kWh	535 gCO2/kWh
2006	433 gCO2/kWh	559 gCO2/kWh
2007	439 gCO2/kWh	556 gCO2/kWh
2008	390 gCO2/kWh	554 gCO2/kWh
2009	355 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2010	288 gCO2/kWh	517 gCO2/kWh
2011	337 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2012	351 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2013	287 gCO2/kWh	507 gCO2/kWh
2014	289 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2015	328 gCO2/kWh	398 gCO2/kWh
2016	283 gCO2/kWh	333 gCO2/kWh
2017	329 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
2018	291 gCO2/kWh	286 gCO2/kWh
2019	247 gCO2/kWh	268 gCO2/kWh
2020	199 gCO2/kWh	243 gCO2/kWh
2021	194 gCO2/kWh	267 gCO2/kWh
2022	217 gCO2/kWh	255 gCO2/kWh
2023	170 gCO2/kWh	236 gCO2/kWh
2024	146 gCO2/kWh	216 gCO2/kWh
2025	153 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Spain and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 5.75 MWh in Spain and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Spain and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Spain	United Kingdom
1985	n/a	n/a
1986	n/a	n/a
1987	n/a	n/a
1988	n/a	n/a
1989	n/a	n/a
1990	n/a	n/a
1991	n/a	n/a
1992	n/a	n/a
1993	n/a	n/a
1994	n/a	n/a
1995	n/a	n/a
1996	n/a	n/a
1997	n/a	n/a
1998	n/a	n/a
1999	n/a	n/a
2000	5.49 MWh	6.63 MWh
2001	5.73 MWh	6.67 MWh
2002	5.87 MWh	6.65 MWh
2003	6.08 MWh	6.69 MWh
2004	6.33 MWh	6.67 MWh
2005	6.55 MWh	6.71 MWh
2006	6.54 MWh	6.63 MWh
2007	6.51 MWh	6.53 MWh
2008	6.46 MWh	6.45 MWh
2009	6.06 MWh	6.07 MWh
2010	6.18 MWh	6.11 MWh
2011	6.07 MWh	5.89 MWh
2012	6.01 MWh	5.87 MWh
2013	5.86 MWh	5.79 MWh
2014	5.80 MWh	5.53 MWh
2015	5.93 MWh	5.51 MWh
2016	5.96 MWh	5.42 MWh
2017	6.01 MWh	5.32 MWh
2018	6.00 MWh	5.29 MWh
2019	5.85 MWh	5.19 MWh
2020	5.51 MWh	4.88 MWh
2021	5.69 MWh	4.92 MWh
2022	5.59 MWh	4.70 MWh
2023	5.53 MWh	4.60 MWh
2024	5.65 MWh	4.59 MWh
2025	5.75 MWh	4.62 MWh

Spain history · United Kingdom history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Spain vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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