History · 2021

GB electricity in 2021

In 2021, Great Britain generated 284.9 TWh of electricity, at an average carbon intensity of 183.3 gCO₂/kWh, with wind supplying 21.8% of generation.

Generation: 284.9 TWh
Avg carbon: 183.3; gCO₂/kWh
Renewable share: 27.1%; wind + solar + hydro
Peak demand: 46.4 GW; 2021-01-07

Share of generation by fuel

Wind: 21.8%
Solar: 4.1%
Nuclear: 15.2%
Biomass: 6.7%
Hydro: 1.1%
Gas: 37.7%
Coal: 1.7%
Imports: 10.3%
Other: 0.6%
Low-carbon total: 49.0%

Yearly averages of NESO's half-hourly historic mix. Wind includes NESO's embedded estimate; "not tracked" means the national data didn't break that fuel out yet - not that none was generated.

Carbon extremes of 2021

Greenest half-hour: 34 gCO₂/kWh; 2021-04-05 12:30 UTC
Dirtiest half-hour: 331 gCO₂/kWh; 2021-03-03 15:30 UTC

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