Record for renewables as electricity generator

UK renewables set new records in 2025, but electricity generation from gas still rose as coal plants went offline, nuclear power declined and demand grew, analysis shows.

- EMILY BEAMENT

The assessment from climate and energy publication Carbon Brief shows electricity demand rose 1% - following years of declining demand - as more electric vehicles, heat pumps and data centres increased the need for power.

Carbon Brief said the increase hinted at a shift towards steadily rising electricity demand as the UK moves towards cleaner, electric technologies such as EVs and heat pumps for heating homes.

Renewables supplied more of the UK's electricity than any other source of power, making up 47% of the total, outstripping gas at 28%, nuclear at 11% and net imports at 10%.

Wind, solar and biomass all set new records for electricity generation, and so did renewables overall - generating 152 terawatt hours (TWh) of power in 2025, up 6% from the previous year.