Electricity in Great Britain

Last updated

Electricity sector of Great Britain
Data
Electricity coverage100% (91.8% grid 2017 [1] )
Continuity of supply99.9999%
Installed capacity74.8 GW (2023) [2]
Production292.7 TWh (2023) [2]
Share of fossil energy 36.65% (2023) [2]
Share of renewable energy 46.39% (2023) [2]
GHG emissions from electricity generation (2020)181 t CO2 per GWh [3]
Average electricity use (2023)3,239 kWh/person
Transmission & Distribution losses (2017)7.5%
Institutions
Responsibility for regulation Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
Responsibility for policy-setting Parliament of the United Kingdom
Electricity sector law Electricity Act 1989
Electricity supplied (net) 1948 to 2008 UK historical net electricity supplied.svg
Electricity supplied (net) 1948 to 2008

The National Grid covers most of mainland Great Britain and several of the surrounding islands, and there are interconnectors to Northern Ireland and to other European countries. Power is supplied to consumers at 230 volts AC with a frequency of 50 Hz. As of 2024, wind generates 30% of the yearly electrical energy on the grid, whereas fossil gas generated just over 25% and over two-thirds was low-carbon power. Coal power ceased in 2024. Nuclear is currently the second biggest low carbon source, some of which is imported from France. [5] The government is aiming for greenhouse gas emissions from electricity in Britain to be net zero by 2035. [6]

Contents

The use of electricity declined in the 2010s and early 2020s, attributed largely to a decline in industrial activity and a switch to more energy efficient lighting and appliances. [7] However demand is projected to increase considerably due to electrification, such as heat pumps [8] and electric vehicles. [9]

UK energy policy includes capping some residential energy price rates, [10] and wholesale prices for some new low-carbon power can be stabilized by the government. [11]

Nationalisation plans are currently underway following the proposed introduction of Great British Energy subsequent to the 2024 King's Speech, which also oversaw increased dedication towards net-zero targets by 2050. This is further emphasised via GB Energy through heavy investment in renewable energy sources, such as tidal power and offshore windfarms.

History

British grid electricity in 2024 [12]
  1. Wind (30.0%)
  2. Nuclear (14.0%)
  3. Biomass (6.80%)
  4. Solar (5.00%)
  5. Hydro (2.00%)
  6. Storage (1.20%)
  7. Imports (14.1%)
  8. Coal (0.60%)
  9. Natural gas (26.3%)

Production

The electricity sector supplies power to consumers at 230 volts (-6%, +10%) AC with a frequency of 50 Hz.

Electricity production in the United Kingdom (TWh)
ProductionSuppliedConventional thermal and other CCGT Nuclear Non thermal renewablesPumped storage
2017 [59] 323,157319,29860,681128,15363,88767,3942,862

Modes of production

In 2020, total electricity production stood at 312 TWh (down from a peak of 385 TWh in 2005), generated from the following sources: [60]

A typical offshore oil/gas platform Oil platform.jpeg
A typical offshore oil/gas platform
  • Onshore Wind: 11.1%
  • Offshore Wind: 13%

UK Government energy policy had targeted a total contribution from renewables to achieve 10% by 2010, but it was not until 2012 that this figure was exceeded; renewable energy sources supplied 11.3% (41.3 TWh) of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom in 2012. [50] The Scottish Government had a target of generating 17% to 18% of Scotland's electricity from renewables by 2010, [61] rising to 40% by 2020. [62]

UK electricity production by source 1980-2018 UK electricity production by source.png
UK electricity production by source 1980–2018
External image
Searchtool.svg Current grid status Similar data

The gross production of electricity was 393 TWh in 2004, which gave the UK the 9th position in the world's top producers in that year. [67]

Nationalisation plans are currently underway following the proposed introduction of Great British Energy subsequent to the 2024 King's Speech, which also oversaw increased dedication towards net-zero targets by 2050. This is further emphasised via GB Energy through heavy investment in renewable energy sources, such as tidal power and offshore windfarms. The future body also intends to operate and manage clean power projects at a state level, in contrast with private entities having done so for several years.

Under the most recent estimates, the plan will amount to £8bn. for the government, a figure criticised by the opposition and media alike, although Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has claimed it will have an environmental impact in forwarding sustainability, as well as predicting that it will reduce average electricity thresholds by £1,400 universally. The entity will remain in preliminary stages before implementation of the Great British Energy Bill, whereupon it shall be established after royal assent given in accordance with the law of the United Kingdom.

Gas

Electricity produced with gas was 160 TWh in 2004 and 177 TWh in 2008. In both years the United Kingdom was the fourth highest producer of electricity from gas. In 2005 the UK produced 3.2% of the world total natural gas; ranking fifth after Russia (21.8%), United States (18%), Canada (6.5%) and Algeria (3.2%). In 2009 the UK’s own gas production was less and natural gas was also imported. [67] [68]

Due to reducing demand in the late-2000s recession and high gas prices, in 2011 and 2012 over 2 GW of older, less efficient, gas generation plant was mothballed. [39] [40]

Coal

In November 2015, the UK Government announced that all the remaining fourteen coal-fired power stations would be closed by 2025. [69] In November 2017 the UK Government co-founded the Powering Past Coal Alliance. In June 2021, the government said it would end coal power by October 2024. [70] [71] This date was met as Ratcliffe-on-Soar, the UK's last operational coal power station, ceased running on 30 September 2024.

The United Kingdom had continuously burned coal for the generation of electricity since the opening of Holborn Viaduct power station in 1882. On several occasions in May 2016, Britain burned no coal for electricity for the first time since then. [29] [30] Three coal plants closed in 2016. [72]

On 21 April 2017, for the first time since 1882, the GB mainland grid had a full 24-hour period without any generation from coal power. [73] [74] In May 2019 the GB grid went its first full week without any coal power. [75] And in spring/summer 2020 from 10 April, the UK grid ran for 68 days, without burning any coal. [3] In 2020, coal produced 4.4 TWh of electricity and Britain went 5,202 hours free from coal electricity generation, up from 3,665 hours in 2019 and 1,856 in 2018. [76]

In August and September 2021, the UK had to restart coal plants, amidst a lack of wind, as power imports from Europe were insufficient to satisfy demand. [77] [78]

Coal supplied just over 1% of UK electricity in 2023, [5] down from 30% in 2014. [72] The last remaining power station in the United Kingdom ceased operating on 30 September 2024 with power output dropping to zero at some point between 15:35 and 15:40 BST.

Nuclear power

Nuclear power in the United Kingdom generates around a quarter of the country's electricity as of 2016, projected to rise to a third by 2035. [79] The UK has 15 operational nuclear reactors at seven plants (14 advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGR) and one pressurised water reactor (PWR)), as well as nuclear reprocessing plants at Sellafield and the Tails Management Facility (TMF) operated by Urenco in Capenhurst.

Renewable energy

From the mid-1990s renewable energy began to contribute to the electricity generated in the United Kingdom, adding to a small hydroelectricity generating capacity. Renewable energy sources provided for 11.3% of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom in 2012, [50] reaching 41.3 TWh of electricity generated. As of 2nd quarter 2017, renewables generated 29.8% of the UK's electricity. [80]

Currently, the biggest renewable source of energy in the UK is wind power, and the UK has some of the best wind resources in Europe. The UK has relatively small hydroelectricity deployment and resources, although some pumped storage exists. Solar power is rapidly growing and provides significant power during daylight hours, but total energy provided is still small. Biofuels are also used as a significant sources of power. Geothermal is not highly accessible and is not a significant source. Tidal resources are present and experimental projects are being tested, but are likely to be expensive.

Wind power delivers a growing percentage of the energy of the United Kingdom and by the beginning of February 2018, it consisted of 8,655 wind turbines with a total installed nameplate capacity of over 18.4 gigawatts: 12,083 megawatts of onshore capacity and 6,361 megawatts of offshore capacity. [81] This placed the United Kingdom at this time as the world's sixth largest producer of wind power. [82] Polling of public opinion consistently shows strong support for wind power in the UK, with nearly three quarters of the population agreeing with its use, even for people living near onshore wind turbines. [83] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] Wind power is expected to continue growing in the UK for the foreseeable future, RenewableUK estimates that more than 2 GW of capacity will be deployed per year for the next five years. [89] Within the UK, wind power was the second largest source of renewable energy after biomass in 2013. [50]

In 2014, Imperial College predicted that Britain could have 40% of electricity from solar power in sunny days by 2020 in 10 million homes compared to a half a million homes in start of 2014. If a third of households would generate solar energy it could equal 6% of British total electricity consumption. [90]

Diesel

Britain has a number of Diesel farms for supplying high demand hours of the day, normally in the winter, when other generators such as wind farms or solar farms may happen to have low output. Many of the diesel generators run for fewer than 200 hours a year. [91]

Power stations

External images
Searchtool.svg Map of UK power stations, 2006 Archive
Searchtool.svg Archive of British Grid map 2012 Source
Searchtool.svg British Grid map 2016 Archive

Storage

The UK has some large pumped storage systems, notably Ffestiniog and Dinorwig Power Station in Wales which can provide 1.7 GW for over 5 hours, having a storage capacity of about 9 GWh, [92] and Cruachan and Loch Mhòr in Scotland, also at several gigawatt-hours.

It also has significant grid battery storage which can supply several gigawatts for a few hours. In June 2024 the capacity was 4.6 GW of power and 5.9 GWh of energy. [58] Historically, these numbers were 2.4 GW / 2.6 GWh at the end of 2022, [93] and 1.3 GW in May 2021. [57] The batteries provide grid support when large grid elements suddenly fail. [94]

In December 2019, the Minety Battery Energy Storage Project started construction, located near Minety, Wiltshire and developed by Penso Power. [95] Chinese investment provided the finance and the China Huaneng Group is responsible for construction and operation. The designed capacity is 100 MWh and uses LiFePo4 battery technology. [95] It started operation in July 2021. [96] In 2020 Penso Power decided to expand the project by 50 MWh, which is expected to start operation later in 2021. [95] [97] It was the biggest storage battery facility in Europe. [96] Several other batteries were built, and many larger ones are under construction. [98] [99]

Largest UK grid storage

Name Commissioning
date
Energy capacity
(MWh)
Power
(MW)
Duration
(hours)
TypeAreaRefs.
Dinorwig 1984910017005 Pumped-storage hydroelectricity Wales
Cruachan 1965700044015Pumped-storage hydroelectricityScotland [100]
Foyers 1975630030021Pumped-storage hydroelectricityScotland [100]
Ffestiniog 196314003604Pumped-storage hydroelectricityWales
Blackhillock 20254002002BatteryScotland [101]
Bramley20253301003BatteryEngland [102]
Drax 20242001002BatteryEngland [103]

Consumption

Left: a typical moulded BS 1363 plug, showing the fuse access from the underside of the plug. Right: a typical rewireable plug; the large central screw releases the cover, allowing access to the terminals and also the fuse. Moulded and rewireable BS 1363 plugs (horizontal).jpg
Left: a typical moulded BS 1363 plug, showing the fuse access from the underside of the plug. Right: a typical rewireable plug; the large central screw releases the cover, allowing access to the terminals and also the fuse.

Lighting

The European Commission banned low efficiency general-purpose, non-directional incandescent lightbulbs from 2012, and similarly shaped higher-efficiency halogen bulbs were banned in 2018. A few specialised bulb types such as for use in ovens are exempt from the ban. [104]

In 2022-2023, the mean domestic electricity usage was 3,239 kWh and the median usage was 2,475 kWh. [105]

Export and import

There are over 10 GW of undersea interconnections between the GB grid and neighbour grids: [106]

The longest links are the North Sea cables with Norway and Denmark, at 720 kilometres. [107]

The export of electricity was 1–3% of consumption between 2004 and 2009. According to the IEA, by that time the UK was the sixth highest electricity importer, importing 11 TWh, after Brazil (42 TWh), Italy (40 TWh), United States (33 TWh), Netherlands (16 TWh) and Finland (14 TWh). [68]

The 1.4 GW NeuConnect with Germany is under construction. There are also future plans to lay cables to link the GB grid with Iceland (Icelink). A 1.4 GW Scotland–Norway interconnector project was abandoned in 2023 after it lost the support of the Norwegian government. [108]

Pricing

The electricity market is deregulated in the UK, and the cost per MWh for much of the generated electricity is paid at the locational marginal price, which is occasionally negative during low consumption and high winds, starting in 2019. [109] Domestic customers on pass-through wholesale tariffs such as Octopus Agile can access these negative prices. [110] Negative pricing incidents have been increasing: 2022 had 29 hours with negative price, 2023 had 107, and 2024 had at least 149. [111] The price is traded on a spot market (APX Power UK owned by the APX Group).[ citation needed ]

Electricity billing

In the UK, an electricity supplier is a retailer of electricity. For each supply point the supplier has to pay the various costs of transmission, distribution, meter operation, data collection, tax etc. The supplier then adds in energy costs and the supplier's own charge.

Pollution

The UK historically had a coal-driven grid that generated large amounts of CO2 and other pollutants including SO2 and nitrogen oxides, leading to some acid rain found in Norway and Sweden. Coal plants had to be fitted with scrubbers which added to costs. [112]

In 2024 the UK recorded its cleanest electricity to date, with average carbon intensity falling to 124 g CO₂/kWh – 70 % lower than the 2014 figure of 419 g CO₂/kWh – following the closure of coal-fired generation and the rapid growth of renewables. Renewables, led by wind, solar and biomass, supplied 45 % of generation, while fossil fuels provided 29 % and nuclear 13 %, cutting annual power-sector emissions from 150 MtCO₂ in 2014 to below 40 MtCO₂ in 2024. [113]

See also

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