United Kingdom Coal Power: Generation, Share and Trend
The United Kingdom generated 1.90 TWh of electricity from coal in 2025, 0.6% of its total, according to Ember. That made it the 53rd largest coal power producer in 2025 of the 85 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year. Coal supplied 33.1% of the world's electricity in 2025. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through July 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- The United Kingdom generated 1.90 TWh of electricity from coal in 2025.
- Coal supplied 0.6% of the United Kingdom's electricity in 2025.
- The United Kingdom was the 53rd largest coal power producer in 2025 among the 85 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year.
- The United Kingdom's coal generation in 2025 was 67% lower than in 2020, when it was 5.70 TWh.
- The United Kingdom's coal generation in 2025 was 97% lower than in 2015, when it was 75.9 TWh.
- The United Kingdom's coal generation peaked at 211 TWh in 1991.
- The United Kingdom's coal share in 2025 was below the world share of 33.1%.
- Coal power in the United Kingdom emitted 1.83 MtCO2 in 2025, 3% of the power sector's emissions.
Key Figures, 2025
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Coal generation | 1.90 TWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Share of the United Kingdom's electricity | 0.6% | 2025 · Ember |
| World share of coal | 33.1% | 2025 · Ember |
| Rank by coal generation (each country's latest year) | 53 of 85 | 2025 · Ember |
| Coal capacity | 0 GW | 2025 · Ember |
| Coal power emissions | 1.83 MtCO2 | 2025 · Ember |
Coal Generation Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 1985 to 2025Annual statistics through 2025, TWh
| Year | Coal |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 177 TWh |
| 1986 | 201 TWh |
| 1987 | 210 TWh |
| 1988 | 203 TWh |
| 1989 | 200 TWh |
| 1990 | 206 TWh |
| 1991 | 211 TWh |
| 1992 | 194 TWh |
| 1993 | 171 TWh |
| 1994 | 161 TWh |
| 1995 | 155 TWh |
| 1996 | 147 TWh |
| 1997 | 122 TWh |
| 1998 | 123 TWh |
| 1999 | 106 TWh |
| 2000 | 120 TWh |
| 2001 | 131 TWh |
| 2002 | 124 TWh |
| 2003 | 138 TWh |
| 2004 | 132 TWh |
| 2005 | 135 TWh |
| 2006 | 149 TWh |
| 2007 | 136 TWh |
| 2008 | 124 TWh |
| 2009 | 103 TWh |
| 2010 | 108 TWh |
| 2011 | 108 TWh |
| 2012 | 143 TWh |
| 2013 | 130 TWh |
| 2014 | 100 TWh |
| 2015 | 75.9 TWh |
| 2016 | 30.7 TWh |
| 2017 | 22.5 TWh |
| 2018 | 16.8 TWh |
| 2019 | 6.92 TWh |
| 2020 | 5.70 TWh |
| 2021 | 6.79 TWh |
| 2022 | 5.94 TWh |
| 2023 | 3.78 TWh |
| 2024 | 1.90 TWh |
| 2025 | 1.90 TWh |
Annual statistics through 2025, % of generation
| Year | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 59.4% | n/a |
| 1986 | 66.9% | n/a |
| 1987 | 69.5% | n/a |
| 1988 | 65.9% | n/a |
| 1989 | 63.6% | n/a |
| 1990 | 64.6% | n/a |
| 1991 | 65.5% | n/a |
| 1992 | 60.3% | n/a |
| 1993 | 53.0% | n/a |
| 1994 | 49.4% | n/a |
| 1995 | 46.0% | n/a |
| 1996 | 42.0% | n/a |
| 1997 | 34.8% | n/a |
| 1998 | 33.9% | n/a |
| 1999 | 28.8% | n/a |
| 2000 | 31.8% | 38.0% |
| 2001 | 34.2% | 38.0% |
| 2002 | 32.1% | 38.3% |
| 2003 | 34.8% | 39.5% |
| 2004 | 33.5% | 39.0% |
| 2005 | 33.8% | 39.5% |
| 2006 | 37.5% | 40.2% |
| 2007 | 34.3% | 40.8% |
| 2008 | 32.0% | 40.2% |
| 2009 | 27.4% | 39.9% |
| 2010 | 28.2% | 39.8% |
| 2011 | 29.5% | 40.6% |
| 2012 | 39.2% | 39.9% |
| 2013 | 36.4% | 40.8% |
| 2014 | 29.7% | 40.5% |
| 2015 | 22.4% | 38.7% |
| 2016 | 9.0% | 37.8% |
| 2017 | 6.7% | 38.0% |
| 2018 | 5.0% | 38.0% |
| 2019 | 2.1% | 36.7% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | 35.4% |
| 2021 | 2.2% | 36.0% |
| 2022 | 1.8% | 35.6% |
| 2023 | 1.3% | 35.2% |
| 2024 | 0.7% | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 0.6% | 33.1% |
| Year | Generation | Share | World share | Capacity | Emissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.90 TWh | 0.6% | 33.1% | 0 GW | 1.83 MtCO2 |
| 2024 | 1.90 TWh | 0.7% | 34.2% | 0 GW | 1.83 MtCO2 |
| 2023 | 3.78 TWh | 1.3% | 35.2% | 2.17 GW | 3.64 MtCO2 |
| 2022 | 5.94 TWh | 1.8% | 35.6% | 5.23 GW | 5.73 MtCO2 |
| 2021 | 6.79 TWh | 2.2% | 36.0% | 6.33 GW | 6.55 MtCO2 |
| 2020 | 5.70 TWh | 1.8% | 35.4% | 6.33 GW | 5.49 MtCO2 |
| 2019 | 6.92 TWh | 2.1% | 36.7% | 9.65 GW | 6.66 MtCO2 |
| 2018 | 16.8 TWh | 5.0% | 38.0% | 12.4 GW | 16.2 MtCO2 |
| 2017 | 22.5 TWh | 6.7% | 38.0% | 15.2 GW | 21.7 MtCO2 |
| 2016 | 30.7 TWh | 9.0% | 37.8% | 15.4 GW | 29.5 MtCO2 |
Full year by year history for United Kingdom
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. World shares are Ember's World totals; ranks compare each country's latest year, which can differ between countries.
Coal Generation Month by Month
Ember monthly statistics through July 2026Monthly statistics through July 2026, TWh
| Month | Coal |
|---|---|
| 2024-08 | 50.0 GWh |
| 2024-09 | 70.0 GWh |
| 2024-10 | 0 TWh |
| 2024-11 | 0 TWh |
| 2024-12 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-01 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-02 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-03 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-04 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-05 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-06 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-07 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-08 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-09 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-10 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-11 | 0 TWh |
| 2025-12 | 0 TWh |
| 2026-01 | 0 TWh |
| 2026-02 | 0 TWh |
| 2026-03 | 0 TWh |
| 2026-04 | 0 TWh |
| 2026-05 | 0 TWh |
| 2026-06 | 0 TWh |
| 2026-07 | 0 TWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of July 2026. Monthly figures for the United Kingdom can differ slightly from the annual totals.