Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Electricity generation in the UK - statistics & facts
In 2023, renewables accounted for almost 50 percent of the United Kingdom's electricity production, making it the greenest year on record. The future of the country's power sector lies in the construction of new nuclear power plants and the joint deployment of renewables and natural gas as the basis of the transformation of the energy sector, shifting the country towards a greener and more sustainable power supply.
Shift towards renewable energy
The UK's electricity supply mix has seen a dramatic transformation over the past decade. Coal, once a major contributor, has been steadily phased out. In 2010, coal power generated 107.6 terawatt-hours, but by 2023, renewable sources had taken the lead, producing 135.8 terawatt-hours of electricity. Gas remained the second-highest fuel type that year, generating 101.7 terawatt-hours. This shift is reflected in the number of power stations, with solar and wind plants accounting for over 80 percent of all operating power stations in the UK in 2022. The past decade saw a boom in renewable deployment in the UK, and the new age of renewables is just beginning. The UK’s renewable capacity is expected to more than double by 2050, making up the vast majority of power production at over 110 gigawatts.Efficiency and production trends
While the transition to renewables continues, the efficiency of power stations remains a concern. In 2023, the plant load factor of all power stations in the UK reached a new low of 39.2 percent, down from a maximum of 46 percent in 2010. Despite this, electricity production from auto producers has shown an upward trend, increasing from 54.8 terawatt-hours in 2023 to 55.7 terawatt-hours in 2024. Major power producers still dominate the market, accounting for almost 80 percent of indigenous electricity production in 2024, with 225 terawatt-hours produced.
