UK electricity capacity 2050| ��ƽ��

Electricity generation capacity of major power producers in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2023 with a forecast until 2050, by source (in gigawatts)

Characteristic	Renewables	Natural gas	Nuclear	Coal	Interconnectors	Storage	Oil	Other thermal
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Release date

December 2024

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2023

Special properties

*Forecast

Supplementary notes

Projected data is taken from the reference scenario, which is based on central estimates of economic growth and fossil fuel prices and contains all agreed policies where decisions on policy design are sufficiently advanced to allow robust estimates of impact (i.e. including 'planned' policies).

The government published its Net Zero Strategy on 19 October 2021. Main changes in the Net Zero Strategy Baseline, when compared to previous reference scenarios, can be found on the

This statistic is using original data from the Government Digital Service and includes copyright material from © Crown, licensed under the

Citation formats

As the United Kingdom gradually moves away from fossil fuel reliance, electricity generation from renewables is expected to increase. Projections indicate that, by 2050, more than **** of major power producers' electricity generation capacity will be from renewable sources, amounting to *** gigawatts. Although coal-generated electricity is expected to cease completely by 2025, natural gas is expected to play an increasing role in the UK's power mix.

Renewable sources in the UK

A lot can be owed to the wind power sector for the increase in renewable electricity generation and capacity. The capacity of onshore and offshore wind energy in the UK has increased annually since 2010, with onshore capacity consistently higher. Along with solar, hydro, and other sources, renewables accounted for over ** percent of the UK's electricity supply in 2023.

UK's nuclear power uncertainty

In 2023, nuclear power provided approximately *** percent of the UK's electricity generation capacity. Projections show a drop in 2025 and 2030, as several UK’s nuclear power plants are near the end of their life cycle, but a new increase by 2035. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UK government announced the expansion of nuclear energy, as part of the strategy to achieve energy independence. As of June 2023, ***nuclear reactors were under construction in the UK.