UK electricity in 2012
How Great Britain made its electricity in 2012, from 366 days of half-hourly data.
In 2012, coal made 42% of Britain's electricity, ahead of gas (26%). Renewables made 6% (up from 5% in 2011), and the average carbon intensity was 505 g/kWh.
Electricity generated each day in 2012
GWh a day
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the numbers
- Nuclear
- Gas
- Hydro
- Imports
- Pumped storage
- Wind
- Coal
- Other
Share of electricity, by source
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the numbers
Carbon intensity
g CO₂ per kWh, daily average
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2012 in total
| Source | Electricity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Coal | 137.2 TWh | 42.4% |
| Gas | 83.1 TWh | 25.7% |
| Nuclear | 66.0 TWh | 20.4% |
| Wind | 15.5 TWh | 4.8% |
| Imports | 13.7 TWh | 4.2% |
| Hydro | 3,276 GWh | 1.0% |
| Pumped storage | 2,910 GWh | 0.9% |
| Other | 2,095 GWh | 0.6% |
| Renewable (wind, solar, hydro, biomass) | 5.8% | |
| Low carbon (renewable plus nuclear) | 26.2% |
Standout days
- Windiest day127.4 GWh of windSun, 30 December 2012
- Highest wind share15.3%Sun, 30 December 2012
- Sunniest day0.0 GWh of solarSun, 1 January 2012
- Cleanest day374 g/kWh averageSun, 1 January 2012
- Dirtiest day599 g/kWh averageMon, 12 March 2012
- Busiest day1203.9 GWh in totalWed, 8 February 2012
Month by month
| Month | Total | Wind | Gas | Nuclear | Solar | Carbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2012 | 30.5 TWh | 5% | 26% | 19% | 0% | 503 g |
| February 2012 | 30.5 TWh | 5% | 26% | 19% | 0% | 541 g |
| March 2012 | 28.3 TWh | 4% | 25% | 17% | 0% | 563 g |
| April 2012 | 26.2 TWh | 4% | 24% | 22% | 0% | 518 g |
| May 2012 | 25.9 TWh | 3% | 29% | 23% | 0% | 486 g |
| June 2012 | 23.7 TWh | 4% | 31% | 24% | 0% | 460 g |
| July 2012 | 24.2 TWh | 3% | 30% | 22% | 0% | 474 g |
| August 2012 | 24.2 TWh | 4% | 27% | 25% | 0% | 447 g |
| September 2012 | 24.2 TWh | 7% | 20% | 22% | 0% | 471 g |
| October 2012 | 27.3 TWh | 4% | 25% | 19% | 0% | 545 g |
| November 2012 | 28.6 TWh | 6% | 24% | 16% | 0% | 536 g |
| December 2012 | 30.2 TWh | 7% | 22% | 19% | 0% | 513 g |