UK electricity in 2011
How Great Britain made its electricity in 2011, from 365 days of half-hourly data.
In 2011, gas made 39% of Britain's electricity, ahead of coal (32%). Renewables made 5% (up from 2% in 2010), and the average carbon intensity was 450 g/kWh.
Electricity generated each day in 2011
GWh a day
tap the chart for values
the numbers
- Nuclear
- Gas
- Hydro
- Imports
- Pumped storage
- Wind
- Coal
Share of electricity, by source
tap the chart for values
the numbers
Carbon intensity
g CO₂ per kWh, daily average
tap the chart for values
the numbers
2011 in total
| Source | Electricity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 127.1 TWh | 39.4% |
| Coal | 103.4 TWh | 32.1% |
| Nuclear | 64.8 TWh | 20.1% |
| Wind | 11.9 TWh | 3.7% |
| Imports | 8,599 GWh | 2.7% |
| Hydro | 3,695 GWh | 1.1% |
| Pumped storage | 2,919 GWh | 0.9% |
| Renewable (wind, solar, hydro, biomass) | 4.8% | |
| Low carbon (renewable plus nuclear) | 24.9% |
Standout days
- Windiest day92.4 GWh of windSat, 3 December 2011
- Highest wind share11.5%Sun, 25 December 2011
- Sunniest day0.0 GWh of solarSat, 1 January 2011
- Cleanest day296 g/kWh averageSun, 24 April 2011
- Dirtiest day586 g/kWh averageWed, 16 November 2011
- Busiest day1136.9 GWh in totalMon, 31 January 2011
Month by month
| Month | Total | Wind | Gas | Nuclear | Solar | Carbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2011 | 32.3 TWh | 2% | 38% | 19% | 0% | 493 g |
| February 2011 | 28.1 TWh | 3% | 36% | 20% | 0% | 485 g |
| March 2011 | 30.0 TWh | 2% | 35% | 21% | 0% | 491 g |
| April 2011 | 24.7 TWh | 3% | 44% | 25% | 0% | 389 g |
| May 2011 | 24.9 TWh | 4% | 44% | 24% | 0% | 389 g |
| June 2011 | 24.1 TWh | 2% | 42% | 24% | 0% | 411 g |
| July 2011 | 24.2 TWh | 2% | 47% | 22% | 0% | 401 g |
| August 2011 | 24.6 TWh | 3% | 45% | 21% | 0% | 413 g |
| September 2011 | 24.6 TWh | 5% | 46% | 18% | 0% | 426 g |
| October 2011 | 26.6 TWh | 6% | 42% | 16% | 0% | 464 g |
| November 2011 | 28.4 TWh | 5% | 33% | 15% | 0% | 530 g |
| December 2011 | 29.9 TWh | 7% | 26% | 17% | 0% | 508 g |