Sum of visible domestic generation sources.
The UK generation mix shows how electricity is being produced right now, including wind, solar, gas, nuclear, hydro, biomass and other sources.
What the Generation Mix Shows
The generation mix is basically a snapshot of where the UK’s electricity is coming from right now.
It shows how much power is being produced by different sources—like wind, solar, gas, nuclear, biomass and hydro—all at the same time. You’ll often see imports alongside it too, because electricity flowing in from other countries helps meet demand, even though it’s not generated in the UK.
If demand tells you how much electricity is being used, the generation mix tells you how that demand is being met.
Live generation context: the mix explains why demand and carbon intensity move the way they do. The most important source is often the one changing fastest, not just the one producing the most.
Read the mix as roles, not just fuels
VariableWind & solar
Weather-driven sources can reshape the grid quickly.
SteadyNuclear
Provides a stable low-carbon base through most of the day.
FlexibleGas
Usually responds when demand rises or renewables fall.
SupportImports
Interconnectors help balance the system when useful.
Different sources, different behaviour
- Nuclear tends to run steadily, providing a consistent low-carbon base
- Wind can swing from very high output to very low depending on weather
- Solar follows daylight—strong in the middle of the day, zero at night
- Gas is flexible and can ramp up or down to fill the gaps
- Hydro and storage can respond quickly, but on a smaller scale
- Biomass is controllable, but treated differently in carbon terms
Each one plays a different role in keeping the system balanced.
Follow the biggest moving source
On many days, wind is the quickest way to understand the shape of the UK generation mix. Solar adds a clear daytime peak, while gas often shows where the grid is being balanced.
Read the mix by role
Some fuels provide steady output, some move with the weather, and some flex to balance the grid. The live chart helps show which role is dominating right now.
Fuel role guide
Variable
Steady
Flexible
Major UK generation sources — last 24 hours
Wind, solar, gas, nuclear and other tracked sources in GW.
This chart shows how major UK electricity generation sources have contributed over the last 24 hours, including wind, solar, gas and nuclear.
Low-carbon share
A cleaner mix usually means wind, solar, nuclear, hydro and biomass are covering more of the tracked generation.
Balancing share
Gas, imports and storage help keep the system balanced when weather-led generation changes.
What a “clean” mix looks like
A cleaner generation mix is one where more electricity is coming from low-carbon sources.
In the UK, that usually means strong wind output, steady nuclear, and some solar during the day. When that happens, the system doesn’t need as much gas, and carbon intensity tends to drop.
But when wind is low—especially during high demand—the mix shifts. Gas and imports often step in, and emissions go up.
That’s why the same demand level can look very different depending on the mix behind it.
Why the mix matters
The generation mix explains a lot of what’s happening on the grid.
It helps you understand:
- emissions (what’s driving carbon intensity)
- system pressure (which sources are being relied on)
- flexibility (how the grid is responding to changes)
For example, high renewable output can reduce fossil fuel use—but it can also create balancing challenges if demand is low and there’s nowhere for excess power to go.
Wind, solar and reality
Wind is a huge part of the UK system now.
During windy periods, it can supply a large share of demand and push carbon intensity right down. But it’s also variable—so the rest of the system has to be ready to step in when the wind drops.
Solar is more predictable day-to-day, but it’s limited to daylight hours and varies a lot by season. It can make a noticeable difference during sunny days, but it doesn’t help much during winter evenings when demand peaks.
The role of gas
Gas still plays a key role—not because it’s clean, but because it’s flexible.
It can respond quickly when demand rises or when renewable output falls, which makes it essential for keeping the system stable. As the grid moves toward lower emissions, reducing reliance on gas while keeping that flexibility is one of the big challenges.
On this page
The chart here shows how each major generation source has changed over the last 24 hours.
To really understand what’s going on, it helps to view the mix alongside demand and carbon intensity. Together, they show not just how much electricity is being used—but how it’s being generated, and what that means for emissions.
Return to the live UK electricity dashboard
Page freshness signal: Live — Updated within the live window. Latest row Thu, 21 May 2026 19:15 BST.
FAQ
Quick answers about this page and the live data.
What counts as clean generation here?
The page groups wind, solar, nuclear, hydro and biomass as clean or lower-carbon tracked sources for dashboard purposes.
Why does the mix change during the day?
Demand, weather, daylight, generator availability, market conditions and interconnector flows all affect which sources are producing.
Why is gas still used when renewables are available?
Gas is flexible and can cover demand when renewable output is not enough or when system balancing requires it.
Are imports part of UK generation?
No. Imports are electricity flowing into Great Britain from other markets, so they are shown separately on the interconnector page and homepage.