UK: plant load factor of all power stations 2023| ��ƽ��

Plant load factor (PLF) of all power stations in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2023

Characteristic	Plant load factor
2023	39.2%
2022	43.1%
2021	41.3%
2020	41.4%
2019	42.2%
2018	42.6%
2017	39.4%
2016	41.1%
2015	39.7%
2014	39.9%
2013	41.8%
2012	41.6%
2011	42.6%
2010	46%

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Release date

July 2024

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Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2010 to 2023

Supplementary notes

Plant Load Factor (PLF) is the ratio between the actual energy generated by the plant to the maximum possible energy that can be generated with the plant working at its rated power and for a duration of an entire year. This includes combined cycle gas turbine stations, nuclear stations, pumped storage hydroelectricity stations as well as conventional thermal power stations such as coal-fired stations, steam plants, gas turbines and oil engines, and plants producing electricity from thermal renewable sources. It also includes wind (from 2008), solar (from 2015) and natural flow hydro, using capacity that has not been de-rated for intermittency.

All load factors are calculated using the supply and capacity of Major Power Producers.
According to the source, the data cover the 12 months ending in March of the following year, e.g. 2020 data are for the year ending in March 2021.

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

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The United Kingdom's power generation landscape is evolving, with the plant load factor (PLF) of all power stations reaching a new low of 39.2 percent in 2023. This figure represents a significant decrease from the decade's peak of 46 percent in 2010, in part due to a decrease in electricity demand and a shift to the use of renewable energy sources.

Shift in energy sources

The declining PLF coincides with a major transformation in the UK's electricity supply mix. Coal, once a dominant fuel source, has been steadily phased out over the past decade. In 2010, coal power generated 107.6 terawatt-hours of electricity, but by 2020, this figure had plummeted to less than 10 terawatt-hours annually. Renewable sources have taken the lead, producing 135.8 terawatt-hours in 2023, followed by gas at 101.7 terawatt-hours.

Diversification of power generation

The UK's power generation landscape is increasingly diverse, with solar and wind plants accounting for over 80 percent of all operating power stations in 2022. This includes 640 solar PV stations, 428 onshore wind turbines, and 48 offshore wind stations. The proliferation of renewable energy sources, combined with the presence of five operating nuclear power stations, reflects the country's commitment to a varied and sustainable energy mix. As of April 2025, gas remained a significant contributor, accounting for 33 percent of the UK's monthly power generation.