UK electricity in 2021
How Great Britain made its electricity in 2021, from 365 days of half-hourly data.
In 2021, gas made 38% of Britain's electricity, ahead of wind (22%). Renewables made 34% (down from 37% in 2020), and the average carbon intensity was 183 g/kWh.
90 of 365 days were coal-free.
Electricity generated each day in 2021
GWh a day
tap the chart for values
the numbers
- Nuclear
- Gas
- Hydro
- Imports
- Biomass
- 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
2021 in total
| Source | Electricity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 107.3 TWh | 37.7% |
| Wind | 62.2 TWh | 21.8% |
| Nuclear | 43.4 TWh | 15.2% |
| Imports | 29.3 TWh | 10.3% |
| Biomass | 19.0 TWh | 6.7% |
| Solar | 11.8 TWh | 4.1% |
| Coal | 4,974 GWh | 1.7% |
| Hydro | 3,237 GWh | 1.1% |
| Other | 1,832 GWh | 0.6% |
| Pumped storage | 1,806 GWh | 0.6% |
| Renewable (wind, solar, hydro, biomass) | 33.8% | |
| Low carbon (renewable plus nuclear) | 49.0% |
Standout days
- Windiest day403.0 GWh of windSat, 13 February 2021
- Highest wind share53.4%Sun, 28 March 2021
- Sunniest day82.0 GWh of solarTue, 1 June 2021
- Cleanest day62 g/kWh averageSun, 28 March 2021
- Dirtiest day305 g/kWh averageWed, 3 March 2021
- Busiest day980.9 GWh in totalMon, 29 November 2021
Month by month
| Month | Total | Wind | Gas | Nuclear | Solar | Carbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2021 | 27.3 TWh | 22% | 41% | 16% | 1% | 210 g |
| February 2021 | 24.1 TWh | 30% | 33% | 14% | 2% | 169 g |
| March 2021 | 25.2 TWh | 24% | 37% | 13% | 4% | 174 g |
| April 2021 | 23.4 TWh | 16% | 44% | 15% | 7% | 195 g |
| May 2021 | 23.1 TWh | 19% | 40% | 15% | 6% | 178 g |
| June 2021 | 21.2 TWh | 16% | 36% | 18% | 8% | 170 g |
| July 2021 | 22.0 TWh | 12% | 40% | 15% | 7% | 206 g |
| August 2021 | 21.4 TWh | 19% | 36% | 15% | 6% | 180 g |
| September 2021 | 21.4 TWh | 18% | 41% | 16% | 5% | 202 g |
| October 2021 | 23.4 TWh | 32% | 31% | 14% | 3% | 148 g |
| November 2021 | 25.6 TWh | 27% | 36% | 16% | 2% | 181 g |
| December 2021 | 26.7 TWh | 26% | 37% | 16% | 1% | 186 g |