UK Electricity use in 2025

Here at Circular Dorking C.I.C, we present the UK electricity situation at the end of year 2025. This is a bit number intensive, but makes for an interesting read about the amazing transformation that has happened over the last 13 years.

Transformation is happening…

• Fossil fuels (mainly natural gas) made up 28.8% of electricity (down from 68% in 2012)
• Renewables made up 40.3% (up from 7% in 2012)
• Low carbon energy (nuclear & biomass) made up 20.2%
• Interconnectors from overseas made up 10.7% of UK electricity (up from 3% in 2012)
• Interconnector electricity was mainly from France and Norway with some from Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and some to Ireland.

After years of declining electricity demand (36.5GW in 2012 down to 29.6GW in 2023), electricity demand rose by 3% to 30.6 GW on average over the year 2025.  This illustrates a growing electrification of transport and slightly from heating (heat pumps).

• Wind generation has increased from 2.0GW (2012) to 9.8GW (2025). A 389% increase
• Solar PV generation has increased from 0.14GW (2012) to 2.05GW (2025). A 1360% increase.
• Coal generation has decreased from 15.6GW (2012) to zero (2025). Quite a transformation.
• Nuclear generation has decreased from 7.5GW (2012) to 3.9GW (2025). A 48% decrease, although significant new nuclear is currently under construction.

Wholesale electricity prices were on average 7.97p/kWh in 2025. Down from 19p/kWh in 2022 (mainly due to post covid and Ukraine war). But up from 5.7p/kWh in 2018.   Notice how this is significantly less than retail electricity prices we all pay of around 27p/kWh. This is because of the cost of transmission, distribution, operation/maintenance, investment in the electricity grid, green incentives, government taxes, overheads and profit.

Carbon emissions from electricity were 128g/kWh in 2025. This is down from 505g/kWh in 2012. An amazing 74% reduction. Again quite a transformation.  Mainly led by less coal and more wind generation.

This all sounds like an amazing transformation, but unfortunately electricity is only a relatively small part of the UK’s overall energy consumption.

• Electricity is approximately 18-20% of total energy use (from a primary energy perspective).
• Gas (mainly for heating and industrial use) is approximately 29% of total energy use.
• Oil (mainly for transportation) is approximately 45% of total energy use.
• Bioenergy (mainly agriculture, industry and heat) is approximately 6% of total energy use.

In summary:

It seems that electricity in UK is on a positive trajectory for decarbonisation, and has been on this trajectory for the last 2 decades.

However, energy for transportation and space heating have a very long way to go. We are just beginning to see signs of electrification of transportation and heat.  Albeit the offshored/embedded carbon of electric vehicles are significant.

Data sources:

UK Energy in brief 2025 document, by UK Gov Department for Energy Security & Net Zero.
Elexon Insight Solutions, National Energy System Operator Data Portal with help from Kate Morley’s National Grid Live App.

Summary provided
by Paul Street, Circular Dorking C.I.C.