UK electricity in 2018
How Great Britain made its electricity in 2018, from 365 days of half-hourly data.
In 2018, gas made 39% of Britain's electricity, ahead of nuclear (20%). Renewables made 27% (up from 20% in 2017), and the average carbon intensity was 214 g/kWh.
25 of 365 days were coal-free.
Electricity generated each day in 2018
GWh a day
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the numbers
- Nuclear
- Gas
- Hydro
- Imports
- Biomass
- Pumped storage
- Wind
- Solar
- 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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2018 in total
| Source | Electricity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 115.2 TWh | 38.6% |
| Nuclear | 60.7 TWh | 20.3% |
| Wind | 51.2 TWh | 17.2% |
| Imports | 22.0 TWh | 7.4% |
| Biomass | 16.1 TWh | 5.4% |
| Coal | 15.4 TWh | 5.2% |
| Solar | 11.4 TWh | 3.8% |
| Hydro | 3,205 GWh | 1.1% |
| Pumped storage | 2,374 GWh | 0.8% |
| Other | 716 GWh | 0.2% |
| Renewable (wind, solar, hydro, biomass) | 27.5% | |
| Low carbon (renewable plus nuclear) | 47.8% |
Standout days
- Windiest day315.8 GWh of windFri, 7 December 2018
- Highest wind share38.3%Sat, 3 November 2018
- Sunniest day77.8 GWh of solarFri, 22 June 2018
- Cleanest day101 g/kWh averageSat, 28 July 2018
- Dirtiest day383 g/kWh averageTue, 27 February 2018
- Busiest day1074.8 GWh in totalThu, 1 March 2018
Month by month
| Month | Total | Wind | Gas | Nuclear | Solar | Carbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2018 | 28.7 TWh | 21% | 42% | 18% | 1% | 225 g |
| February 2018 | 26.7 TWh | 17% | 39% | 19% | 2% | 262 g |
| March 2018 | 28.6 TWh | 17% | 36% | 19% | 3% | 283 g |
| April 2018 | 24.3 TWh | 17% | 41% | 21% | 4% | 200 g |
| May 2018 | 23.0 TWh | 13% | 39% | 22% | 7% | 186 g |
| June 2018 | 21.9 TWh | 11% | 41% | 24% | 8% | 193 g |
| July 2018 | 22.8 TWh | 9% | 44% | 23% | 7% | 203 g |
| August 2018 | 22.3 TWh | 14% | 37% | 25% | 6% | 182 g |
| September 2018 | 22.3 TWh | 21% | 30% | 23% | 5% | 189 g |
| October 2018 | 24.8 TWh | 21% | 39% | 17% | 3% | 206 g |
| November 2018 | 26.2 TWh | 23% | 36% | 17% | 1% | 232 g |
| December 2018 | 26.8 TWh | 21% | 39% | 18% | 1% | 214 g |