UK electricity grid records
Britain's biggest days for wind and solar, its cleanest hours and the end of coal, from 1 January 2009 to 18 October 2026.
All-time records
- Highest wind share of a day63.9%4 October 2025
- Most wind energy in a day520.6 GWh22 December 2024
- Most solar energy in a day130.6 GWh12 July 2026
- Highest solar share of a day19.7%24 May 2026
- Lowest average carbon intensity (day)41 g/kWh28 December 2023
- Lowest carbon intensity (half-hour)19 g/kWh15 April 2024
- Highest import share of a day31.4%23 August 2026
- Most electricity generated in a day (incl. imports)1217.9 GWh7 January 2010
- Least electricity generated in a day (incl. imports)579.2 GWh9 May 2020
- First coal-free day0.0 GWh21 April 2017
- Last day with coal generation4.5 GWh30 September 2024
- Longest coal-free run748 days and counting1 October 2024 to today
Monthly records
- Cleanest month85 g/kWh averageAugust 2024
- Highest renewable share in a month53.9%September 2026
- Windiest month10.64 TWh of windJanuary 2026
- Highest wind share in a month40.3%February 2022
- Sunniest month3.32 TWh of solarJuly 2026
Common questions
When did Britain stop using coal for electricity?
Britain's last coal power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, shut down on 30 September 2024. The first full day without any coal power came earlier, on 21 April 2017.
What is the record for wind power in the UK?
The records table shows the most wind energy generated in a single day and the highest share of the day's electricity that came from wind, from half-hourly data going back to 2009.
Where do these records come from?
From NESO's historic generation mix, half-hour by half-hour since January 2009, plus Elexon's metered data for the most recent days. Records are recalculated every day, so a new one appears here the morning after it happens.