Great Britain achieves major milestones in electricity generation

National Grid has revealed that in 2023 Great Britain achieved several notable milestones and records in electricity generation and usage.

• Wind generation exceeded 21GW for the first time
• A maximum zero-carbon generation record of 87.6% was achieved on 4th January
• The highest-ever solar power generation reached 10.971GW on 20th April
• Carbon intensity reached a minimum of 27 gCO2/kWh

Gas remained the largest fuel source for electricity generation in 2023, but its usage was the lowest since 2015. Zero-carbon generation consistently surpassed fossil fuel generation for the 15th consecutive month in December. Coal’s contribution to the generation mix declined by over 97% since 2013, representing only 1% of electricity production in 2023.

Wind power accounted for 29.4% of electricity generation, with new wind records set throughout the year. Zero-carbon electricity sources contributed over 50% of the electricity in January, July, and October. Meanwhile, fossil fuel usage continued to decline, with a new low fossil record of 1503MW generated on December 28th.

Electricity demand fluctuated throughout the year, with the lowest demand occurring during the summer months due to longer and brighter days reducing the need for lighting and heating.

View National Grid’s Carbon Intensity Dashboard dashboard here and historic records of the energy mix here.