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United Kingdom Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions

The United Kingdom generated 294 TWh of electricity in 2025, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source at 31.3%, followed by wind (29.4%) and bioenergy (13.9%). Demand was 312 TWh and each kWh generated emitted 218 gCO2/kWh. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through September 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.

Key Facts

  • The United Kingdom generated 294 TWh of electricity in 2025.
  • Gas supplied 31.3% of the United Kingdom's electricity in 2025.
  • Wind supplied 29.4% of the United Kingdom's electricity in 2025.
  • Bioenergy supplied 13.9% of the United Kingdom's electricity in 2025.
  • Low carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) supplied 64.2% of the United Kingdom's generation in 2025.
  • The carbon intensity of the United Kingdom's electricity was 218 gCO2/kWh in 2025.
  • The United Kingdom's carbon intensity in 2025 was 69% lower than in 1985, when it was 694 gCO2/kWh.
  • The United Kingdom had the 18th highest electricity demand among the 96 countries with Ember data for 2025.

Key Figures, 2025

MeasureValueAs of / source
Total generation294 TWh2025 · Ember
Electricity demand312 TWh2025 · Ember
Demand per person4.62 MWh2025 · Ember
Net imports17.9 TWh2025 · Ember
Carbon intensity218 gCO2/kWh2025 · Ember
Power sector emissions64.0 MtCO22025 · Ember
Demand rank (countries with 2025 data)18 of 962025 · Ember

Generation Mix, 2025

SourceGenerationShare
Gas 92.0 TWh 31.3%
Wind 86.4 TWh 29.4%
Bioenergy 40.9 TWh 13.9%
Nuclear 36.4 TWh 12.4%
Solar 19.4 TWh 6.6%
Other fossil 12.8 TWh 4.4%
Hydro 5.42 TWh 1.8%
Coal 330 GWh 0.1%
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Year by Year

Ember annual statistics, 1985 to 2025
United Kingdom electricity generation by source, 1985 to 2025 United Kingdom's electricity generation by main source from 1985 to 2025, in TWh. In 2025 the largest sources were gas at 92.0 TWh, wind at 86.4 TWh, bioenergy at 40.9 TWh, nuclear at 36.4 TWh, solar at 19.4 TWh. 0 50 100 150 200 198519901995200020052010201520202025
United Kingdom's electricity generation by main source from 1985 to 2025, in TWh. In 2025 the largest sources were gas at 92.0 TWh, wind at 86.4 TWh, bioenergy at 40.9 TWh, nuclear at 36.4 TWh, solar at 19.4 TWh.
Annual statistics through 2025, TWh
United Kingdom electricity generation by source, 1985 to 2025
YearGasWindBioenergyNuclearSolar
19852.90 TWhn/a0 TWh61.1 TWh0 TWh
19861.74 TWhn/a0 TWh59.1 TWh0 TWh
19874.53 TWhn/a0 TWh55.2 TWh0 TWh
19884.78 TWhn/a0 TWh63.5 TWh0 TWh
19894.95 TWhn/a0 TWh71.7 TWh0 TWh
19905.00 TWh10.0 GWh600 GWh65.8 TWh0 TWh
19915.82 TWh10.0 GWh690 GWh70.5 TWh0 TWh
199212.6 TWh30.0 GWh930 GWh76.8 TWh0 TWh
199334.0 TWh220 GWh1.20 TWh89.4 TWh0 TWh
199453.3 TWh340 GWh1.52 TWh88.3 TWh0 TWh
199563.7 TWh390 GWh1.64 TWh89.0 TWh0 TWh
199684.1 TWh490 GWh1.80 TWh94.7 TWh0 TWh
1997111 TWh670 GWh2.11 TWh98.2 TWh0 TWh
1998118 TWh880 GWh2.65 TWh99.5 TWh0 TWh
1999143 TWh850 GWh3.43 TWh95.1 TWh0 TWh
2000148 TWh940 GWh3.88 TWh85.1 TWh0 TWh
2001142 TWh960 GWh4.53 TWh90.1 TWh0 TWh
2002152 TWh1.25 TWh5.08 TWh87.9 TWh0 TWh
2003149 TWh1.29 TWh6.17 TWh88.7 TWh0 TWh
2004157 TWh1.94 TWh7.36 TWh80.0 TWh0 TWh
2005153 TWh2.90 TWh9.10 TWh81.6 TWh10.0 GWh
2006141 TWh4.22 TWh9.28 TWh75.5 TWh10.0 GWh
2007166 TWh5.27 TWh9.32 TWh63.0 TWh10.0 GWh
2008176 TWh7.13 TWh9.65 TWh52.5 TWh20.0 GWh
2009167 TWh9.28 TWh10.7 TWh69.1 TWh20.0 GWh
2010176 TWh10.3 TWh12.3 TWh62.1 TWh40.0 GWh
2011147 TWh16.0 TWh13.3 TWh69.0 TWh240 GWh
2012100 TWh19.8 TWh14.7 TWh70.4 TWh1.35 TWh
201395.8 TWh28.4 TWh18.1 TWh70.6 TWh2.01 TWh
2014101 TWh32.0 TWh22.6 TWh63.8 TWh4.05 TWh
201599.9 TWh40.3 TWh29.3 TWh70.3 TWh7.53 TWh
2016143 TWh37.2 TWh30.1 TWh71.7 TWh10.4 TWh
2017137 TWh49.7 TWh31.9 TWh70.3 TWh11.5 TWh
2018131 TWh56.9 TWh35.1 TWh65.1 TWh12.7 TWh
2019133 TWh63.8 TWh37.5 TWh56.2 TWh12.4 TWh
2020112 TWh75.6 TWh38.6 TWh50.2 TWh12.6 TWh
2021123 TWh64.9 TWh40.0 TWh46.1 TWh12.1 TWh
2022125 TWh80.2 TWh35.9 TWh47.4 TWh13.3 TWh
2023102 TWh82.2 TWh34.1 TWh40.6 TWh13.9 TWh
202486.3 TWh83.3 TWh40.1 TWh40.6 TWh14.8 TWh
202592.0 TWh86.4 TWh40.9 TWh36.4 TWh19.4 TWh
YearGenerationDemandCarbon intensity
2025 294 TWh 312 TWh 218 gCO2/kWh
2024 284 TWh 306 TWh 216 gCO2/kWh
2023 293 TWh 308 TWh 236 gCO2/kWh
2022 325 TWh 326 TWh 255 gCO2/kWh
2021 308 TWh 326 TWh 267 gCO2/kWh
2020 310 TWh 324 TWh 243 gCO2/kWh
2019 327 TWh 348 TWh 268 gCO2/kWh
2018 334 TWh 353 TWh 286 gCO2/kWh
2017 338 TWh 353 TWh 302 gCO2/kWh
2016 339 TWh 357 TWh 333 gCO2/kWh

Full year by year history for United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025

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

Month by Month

Ember monthly statistics through September 2026
United Kingdom monthly electricity demand and generation, October 2024 to September 2026 United Kingdom's electricity demand in September 2026 was 24.1 TWh, and generation from the sources Ember reports was 23.2 TWh. Carbon intensity that month was 185 gCO2/kWh. 0 10 20 30 40 2024-102025-042025-102026-04
United Kingdom's electricity demand in September 2026 was 24.1 TWh, and generation from the sources Ember reports was 23.2 TWh. Carbon intensity that month was 185 gCO2/kWh.
Monthly statistics through September 2026, TWh
United Kingdom monthly electricity demand and generation, October 2024 to September 2026
MonthDemandGeneration
2024-1025.4 TWh23.2 TWh
2024-1127.0 TWh25.1 TWh
2024-1228.1 TWh26.3 TWh
2025-0130.3 TWh28.2 TWh
2025-0227.0 TWh25.6 TWh
2025-0325.6 TWh23.5 TWh
2025-0422.7 TWh20.7 TWh
2025-0522.2 TWh20.7 TWh
2025-0622.2 TWh21.0 TWh
2025-0722.3 TWh20.5 TWh
2025-0821.5 TWh20.0 TWh
2025-0922.4 TWh21.2 TWh
2025-1025.1 TWh23.6 TWh
2025-1127.2 TWh26.4 TWh
2025-1227.6 TWh25.9 TWh
2026-0130.1 TWh28.9 TWh
2026-0225.6 TWh25.4 TWh
2026-0326.2 TWh24.4 TWh
2026-0423.5 TWh22.3 TWh
2026-0523.2 TWh21.1 TWh
2026-0622.7 TWh21.3 TWh
2026-0723.3 TWh21.0 TWh
2026-0823.3 TWh21.4 TWh
2026-0924.1 TWh23.2 TWh

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of September 2026.

Seasonal Patterns in the United Kingdom

Ember monthly statistics, complete years only, through September 2026

Electricity demand by month

Look for the brightest columns. Averaged over 2016 to 2025, demand is highest in January and lowest in August, and the busiest month uses 30% more electricity per day than the quietest.

The United Kingdom's electricity demand for each month, in TWh, 2016 to 2025. Colour shows demand per day, so short months are not shaded as quiet.
Year JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 30.3 27.0 25.6 22.7 22.2 22.2 22.3 21.5 22.4 25.1 27.2 27.6
2024 29.7 25.7 25.5 23.9 22.1 21.0 21.9 22.2 22.8 25.4 27.0 28.1
2023 28.5 24.9 27.0 24.6 21.7 21.3 22.8 22.2 22.6 24.6 26.4 27.5
2022 30.3 26.6 28.1 25.4 24.5 23.6 24.6 23.8 23.9 24.8 27.0 28.8
2021 29.8 26.1 27.5 25.2 24.9 23.0 23.8 23.0 23.2 25.6 28.2 29.5
2020 30.1 28.0 27.9 21.9 21.8 22.0 23.8 23.4 23.8 26.4 26.6 29.3
2019 31.9 27.5 28.9 26.2 25.7 24.2 25.2 24.4 24.2 27.4 29.3 29.9
2018 31.3 29.0 31.2 26.8 25.4 23.9 25.1 24.7 24.4 27.2 28.3 29.2
2017 32.5 28.4 29.5 25.9 26.3 24.2 25.2 25.0 24.8 26.7 29.3 30.8
2016 31.0 29.1 30.1 27.1 25.5 24.6 24.6 24.4 25.0 27.2 29.7 30.5
  • Lower demand per day
  • Higher demand per day
  • No data
  • Each cell shows the month's total demand in TWh, and colour compares demand per day so short months are not shaded as quiet. Lowest cell 21.0 TWh, highest 32.5 TWh. Colours are relative to the United Kingdom alone.

Low carbon share of generation by month

Look for the brightest columns. Averaged over 2016 to 2025, the low carbon share is highest in August (59%) and lowest in January (53%), a gap of 6.3 points.

Share of the United Kingdom's electricity generation from nuclear and renewable sources for each month, in percent, 2016 to 2025.
Year JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 55% 62% 60% 65% 72% 75% 66% 68% 71% 63% 67% 68%
2024 58% 67% 67% 77% 66% 72% 67% 77% 68% 65% 56% 66%
2023 67% 61% 60% 61% 58% 56% 66% 59% 60% 67% 61% 68%
2022 57% 73% 58% 58% 56% 57% 53% 49% 53% 61% 60% 58%
2021 51% 61% 58% 51% 55% 58% 51% 56% 51% 65% 58% 57%
2020 61% 66% 60% 64% 67% 59% 59% 53% 54% 60% 59% 57%
2019 45% 54% 58% 53% 52% 52% 51% 62% 61% 55% 51% 60%
2018 49% 48% 48% 53% 55% 53% 50% 57% 61% 54% 53% 53%
2017 40% 48% 51% 52% 54% 56% 55% 57% 52% 53% 46% 46%
2016 45% 44% 42% 45% 50% 45% 50% 51% 50% 42% 41% 44%
  • Lower low carbon share
  • Higher low carbon share
  • No data
  • Each cell shows the low carbon share. Lowest cell 40%, highest 77%. Colours are relative to the United Kingdom alone.

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of September 2026. Complete calendar years only.

Countries With a Similar Electricity Mix

Ember annual, 2025

The United Kingdom's closest match is the Netherlands, 75.0% the same.

  1. Netherlands 75.0% the same The Netherlands generates 14.5 points more solar than the United Kingdom
  2. Ireland 73.4% the same Ireland generates 16.1 points more gas than the United Kingdom
  3. Lithuania 68.9% the same Lithuania generates 15.5 points more wind than the United Kingdom
  4. Spain 68.6% the same Spain generates 15.3 points more solar than the United Kingdom
  5. Belgium 68.2% the same Belgium generates 21.1 points more nuclear than the United Kingdom

How close: the share of generation that would have to change fuel for one mix to match the other (half the sum of the fuel share differences); 100% minus that is "the same". Grids under 1 TWh are skipped. Grid twins: the 25 closest pairs and every country's nearest match

Notable Grid Failures Affecting United Kingdom

History, not live data
The 9 August 2019 Great Britain Power Cut 9 August 2019. Great Britain.

United Kingdom Electricity FAQ

What is the main source of electricity in the United Kingdom?

Gas was the largest source of electricity in the United Kingdom in 2025, supplying 31.3% of generation, followed by wind (29.4%) and bioenergy (13.9%). Figures are Ember annual statistics.

How much electricity does the United Kingdom use?

The United Kingdom used 312 TWh of electricity in 2025, about 4.62 MWh per person.

How clean is the United Kingdom's electricity?

Generating a kilowatt hour of electricity in the United Kingdom emitted 218 gCO2/kWh in 2025, and low carbon sources supplied 64.2% of generation. That is 53% below the world average of 460 gCO2/kWh.

Does the United Kingdom import electricity?

Yes. The United Kingdom imported 17.9 TWh more electricity than it exported in 2025.

When does the United Kingdom use the most electricity?

Averaged over 2016 to 2025, the United Kingdom's electricity demand is highest in January and lowest in August. The busiest month uses 30% more electricity per day than the quietest (Ember monthly data).

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2026). United Kingdom Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions. https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/united-kingdom/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. United Kingdom Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions. Data as of 2026-09. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/united-kingdom/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_countries_united_kingdom_2026,
  title = {{United Kingdom Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Data as of 2026-09. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/united-kingdom/}
}

Permalink: https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/united-kingdom/

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