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Electricity in United Kingdom in 2024

2,691 kWh/person Low-Carbon Electricity
-53 #70
4,559 kWh/person Total Electricity
-2,152 #124
237 gCO2eq/kWh Carbon Intensity
-2.1 #63
59 % Low-Carbon Electricity
+2.1 #58

In 2024, more than half of the United Kingdom’s electricity comes from low-carbon sources, showcasing its commitment to cleaner energy. Breaking it down further, wind contributes a significant portion, providing nearly 27% of the total electricity supply. Nuclear energy is responsible for around 13%, while biofuels offer about 12.5%. Solar and hydropower add smaller contributions at nearly 5% and almost 2%, respectively. On the other hand, fossil fuels still play a role, with gas alone providing almost 27%. Net imports fill the gap with slightly over 10%. These figures highlight a promising shift towards lower carbon energy forms, yet emphasize the need for further development to reduce reliance on fossil energy.

Is Electricity Growing in United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom's electricity consumption per person in 2024 stands at 4559 kWh, witnessing a notable decline from the 2005 peak of 6711 kWh. This reduction shows a decrease of more than 2100 kWh per person. Likewise, the amount of low-carbon electricity generated per capita has also slightly decreased from its previous high in 2020 of 2744 kWh to 2691 kWh in 2024, marking a slight decline of 53 kWh. Although efforts have been made toward cleaner electricity, the overall decline in consumption raises concerns, suggesting either a reduction in demand or a struggle to increase low-carbon output to meet potential new consumption due to electrification and technological advances such as AI.

Suggestions

To accelerate the transition to low-carbon electricity, the UK could benefit significantly from expanding its existing nuclear and wind capabilities. Considering that nuclear energy contributes a considerable portion of clean electricity, the UK might learn from France's achievement of generating 68% of its electricity using nuclear power. Additionally, for wind energy, taking a cue from Iowa, where 63% of electricity is from wind, could greatly aid the UK's efforts. There's also a promising potential for solar energy expansion; the UK can draw inspiration from countries like Lebanon with 31% solar electricity generation. By leveraging these successful examples, the UK can enhance its clean energy infrastructure and offset the use of more harmful fossil fuels.

Overall Generation
Renewable & Nuclear

History

The evolution of low-carbon electricity in the UK has been marked by significant milestones and challenges. During the 1980s and early 1990s, nuclear energy saw a steady increase with annual additions, notably in 1984, 1985, 1988, and 1989. However, the early 2000s experienced setbacks, with nuclear output declining markedly in 2000, 2004, 2007, and 2008. A recovery in 2009 brought a short resurgence, but subsequent years have seen fluctuations and recent declines in 2019 and 2023. In contrast, wind energy has seen encouraging growth, particularly from 2013 onward, with consistent increases in production, except for a temporary dip in 2021. This data reflects the UK’s dynamic journey towards cleaner electricity, underlining periods of remarkable progress and underperformance in nuclear output, reinforcing the importance of consistent investment in both nuclear and wind power to achieve sustainable growth.

Electrification

We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources

For the year 1980 the data sources are EIA and IEA (imports/exports) .
For the years 1981 to 1983 the data source is EIA .
For the year 1984 the data source is World Bank .
For the year 1985 the data source is Energy Institute .
For the years 1986 to 1989 the data sources are Energy Institute and IEA (imports/exports) .
For the years 1990 to 2019 the data source is IEA .
For the years 2020 to 2021 the data source is Ember .
For the year 2022 the data sources are Energy Institute and Ember (imports/exports) .
For the years 2023 to 2024 the data source is Ember .
For the months 2024-05 to 2025-02 the data source is IEA .
For the months 2025-03 to 2025-04 the data source is Ember .
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