UK electricity in May 2016
Day by day: how Great Britain made its electricity in May 2016.
In May 2016, gas made 42% of Britain's electricity, then nuclear (22%). Renewables made 17%, against 17% a year earlier; average carbon intensity 233 g/kWh.
Electricity generated each day, May 2016
GWh a day
tap the chart for values
the numbers
- Nuclear
- Gas
- Hydro
- Imports
- Pumped storage
- Wind
- Solar
- Coal
- Other
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
May 2016 in total
| Source | Electricity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 9,721 GWh | 41.6% |
| Nuclear | 5,204 GWh | 22.2% |
| Wind | 2,275 GWh | 9.7% |
| Imports | 2,076 GWh | 8.9% |
| Other | 1,424 GWh | 6.1% |
| Solar | 1,408 GWh | 6.0% |
| Coal | 893 GWh | 3.8% |
| Pumped storage | 212 GWh | 0.9% |
| Hydro | 183 GWh | 0.8% |
| Renewable (wind, solar, hydro, biomass) | 16.5% | |
| Low carbon (renewable plus nuclear) | 38.8% |
Standout days
- Windiest day151.2 GWh of windMon, 2 May 2016
- Highest wind share20.8%Mon, 2 May 2016
- Sunniest day67.1 GWh of solarWed, 4 May 2016
- Cleanest day194 g/kWh averageSat, 21 May 2016
- Dirtiest day280 g/kWh averageFri, 6 May 2016
Every day
| Day | Total | Wind | Gas | Nuclear | Solar | Carbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 1 May | 724 GWh | 14% | 35% | 21% | 6% | 244 g |
| Mon 2 May | 727 GWh | 21% | 29% | 23% | 4% | 201 g |
| Tue 3 May | 829 GWh | 13% | 38% | 20% | 7% | 232 g |
| Wed 4 May | 827 GWh | 12% | 39% | 20% | 8% | 236 g |
| Thu 5 May | 818 GWh | 11% | 40% | 20% | 8% | 240 g |
| Fri 6 May | 803 GWh | 3% | 48% | 20% | 7% | 280 g |
| Sat 7 May | 701 GWh | 11% | 38% | 22% | 6% | 226 g |
| Sun 8 May | 674 GWh | 11% | 36% | 23% | 9% | 201 g |
| Mon 9 May | 773 GWh | 14% | 41% | 21% | 6% | 214 g |
| Tue 10 May | 792 GWh | 12% | 46% | 20% | 3% | 252 g |
| Wed 11 May | 811 GWh | 11% | 48% | 20% | 3% | 248 g |
| Thu 12 May | 785 GWh | 13% | 43% | 20% | 7% | 204 g |
| Fri 13 May | 764 GWh | 15% | 42% | 21% | 6% | 200 g |
| Sat 14 May | 698 GWh | 9% | 42% | 23% | 8% | 203 g |
| Sun 15 May | 686 GWh | 4% | 44% | 24% | 8% | 227 g |
| Mon 16 May | 790 GWh | 4% | 46% | 20% | 7% | 278 g |
| Tue 17 May | 786 GWh | 6% | 46% | 20% | 6% | 266 g |
| Wed 18 May | 794 GWh | 7% | 48% | 20% | 4% | 267 g |
| Thu 19 May | 787 GWh | 9% | 44% | 20% | 5% | 254 g |
| Fri 20 May | 764 GWh | 13% | 39% | 22% | 6% | 220 g |
| Sat 21 May | 684 GWh | 16% | 35% | 25% | 4% | 194 g |
| Sun 22 May | 685 GWh | 4% | 42% | 26% | 7% | 224 g |
| Mon 23 May | 785 GWh | 5% | 45% | 23% | 7% | 250 g |
| Tue 24 May | 781 GWh | 8% | 41% | 23% | 8% | 228 g |
| Wed 25 May | 795 GWh | 8% | 46% | 23% | 3% | 254 g |
| Thu 26 May | 805 GWh | 5% | 47% | 22% | 5% | 260 g |
| Fri 27 May | 786 GWh | 4% | 46% | 23% | 6% | 267 g |
| Sat 28 May | 689 GWh | 5% | 42% | 27% | 8% | 233 g |
| Sun 29 May | 646 GWh | 8% | 35% | 29% | 8% | 208 g |
| Mon 30 May | 666 GWh | 13% | 35% | 28% | 6% | 202 g |
| Tue 31 May | 745 GWh | 16% | 36% | 25% | 4% | 212 g |