In the period from July 2024 to June 2025, the United Kingdom's electricity consumption has been extensively dominated by low-carbon sources, which account for nearly 59% of the total generation. This clean energy is primarily driven by wind, making up about 26% of the total electricity, and nuclear power, constituting over 13%. Biofuels, contributing roughly 12%, and other smaller contributors like solar and hydropower, with around 5% and 2%, respectively, further bolster the UK's clean energy portfolio. Fossil fuels remain a significant part of the UK's energy landscape but only account for just under a third of the total consumption, with gas alone covering almost 29%. Net imports add close to 10% to the mix, supporting the nation's overall electricity needs.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, IEA and World Bank. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in United Kingdom?
The recent data reveals a concerning trend in the UK's electricity consumption, with the latest average being 4462 kWh/person, a substantial decline from the previous peak of 6711 kWh/person recorded in 2005. This represents a dramatic decrease of 2250 kWh/person in total electricity consumption. More specifically, the low-carbon electricity generation has also experienced a slight downturn, with the current figure at 2620 kWh/person, down by 116 kWh/person since its peak in 2020. These numbers highlight a worrying stagnation in electricity growth, particularly for low-carbon sources, which requires immediate attention and action from policymakers to meet the increasing future energy demands.
Suggestions
To address this concern and increase low-carbon electricity generation, the UK should focus on expanding its existing nuclear and wind capabilities, given their substantial contributions to the current energy mix. The UK can look towards countries like France, Slovakia, and Ukraine, where nuclear energy dominates up to 68% of the electricity mix, offering a template for scaling up nuclear energy. Similarly, studying regions like Iowa and South Dakota, where wind power generates 60% and 56% of electricity, respectively, can guide the UK's wind energy expansion strategies. Meanwhile, embracing solar power, as seen in Nevada and Lebanon with more than 30% solar generation, could provide a complementary boost to the UK's low-carbon energy sector.
History
In examining the historical trends of low-carbon electricity in the UK, nuclear energy experienced various shifts throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The 1980s saw a marked increase in nuclear output, with significant annual growth, peaking at 15.5 TWh in 1988. However, the subsequent years featured troubling declines, noticeable during the late 1990s and 2000s, with reductions such as 10.1 TWh in 2000 and 12.4 TWh in 2007. Wind energy, conversely, has shown a more consistent upward trend since the 2010s, with particularly remarkable increases in 2013, 2017, and 2022. This historical context underscores the need for sustained and strategic investments in both wind and nuclear to reinforce the UK’s commitment to a cleaner, more efficient electrical grid.
