Britain's Electricity Explained: 2024 Review

We’re moving closer to our ambition of periods of zero-carbon operations by 2025 and hit some significant milestones on our journey last year. Take a look back at how electricity was generated and used across 2024, and some of the notable events through the year.

Monumental moment for Great Britain’s energy as coal came off the system for the last ever time.

On 30 September, Ratcliffe power station came off the system for the final time to mark the end of 142 years of coal generating electricity in Great Britain. This was a major milestone on the journey to a net-zero electricity system with coal accounting for just 0.6% of electricity generation in 2024.

To replace the supply coal traditionally provided, solar, biomass and imports have played a greater role in providing electricity to Great Britain. 

A record-breaking year

Over the last year, various factors aligned to deliver new wind and carbon intensity records. These include:

• Lowest carbon intensity year, averaging at 125 CO2/kWh
• Highest yearly zero carbon generation at 51%
• Minimum carbon intensity record of 19g CO2/kWh on 15 April
• Maximum wind record of 22,243MW on 15 December
• Maximum wind record of 22,523MW on 18 December, providing 68.3% of Great Britain’s electricity

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How was electricity generated in 2024?

Wind was the largest source of electricity generation in 2024 for the first year ever, accounting for 30%. Renewables generated more than 50% of our electricity for four consecutive quarters (Q4 2023 – Q3 2024) for the first time, averaging 51% during 2024.

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Managing electricity demand across the year

Electricity demand fluctuates across this year, showing the variation in usage across the year. Demand remained at its lowest during the summer months, as longer, brighter days reduce the need to light and heat our homes.

It hit an annual high of 45,096MW on 15 January 2024 at 5:30pm and the lowest demand was on 22 August at 3:30am at 15,074MW showing the seasonal differences.

EURO 2024 provided our control room with the challenge of managing peaks and troughs in electricity demand caused by the TV Pick Up effect during matches. The Netherlands vs England semi-final caused an increase in demand for electricity by 1GW at half time, which then fell by 740MW during the second half. We also experienced a 1.3GW increase in demand at half-time during the England vs Spain final, which was fulfilled using 700MW of hydro, 400MW of batteries and increasing the other units already running on the system. 

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Want to see our generation mix in real time?

Download our free Carbon Intensity App from the Google Play Store or the App Store to see real time information on how GB’s electricity is being produced.

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