The United Kingdom’s electricity use has been declining since peaking at *** terawatt-hours in 2005. In 2024, the UK's electricity increased on the previous year, amounting to *** terawatt-hours. Electricity consumption in the UK typically follows a seasonal trend, peaking in the winter months. How electricity-intensive is the UK? Despite the continual decline in electricity consumption, the UK remains one of the largest electricity consumers in the world. In terms of per capita electricity consumption, however, the UK ranks low in comparison to other European countries such as Norway, Germany, and France. In 2023, it registered an average of ***** kilowatt-hours per person. The race towards a clean power mix In 2010, gas and coal accounted for roughly ** percent of the UK's power mix. Since then, alongside the EU Renewables Directive, the UK agreed and created its own National Renewable Energy Plan, to increase the use of renewable sources and decrease its fossil fuel dependence. In the past decade, the share of energy consumption in the UK attributable to renewable energy increased slightly, although it was still a small percentage out of the total in 2023.

The United Kingdom’s demand for electricity has been declining since 2005, standing at 318.65 terawatt-hours in 2024. Factors for this decrease include declining population growth in the country, energy efficiency regulations, energy-efficient lighting, and changing consumer habits. Domestic electricity consumption in the UK Households are the largest electricity end-users in the UK. In fact, domestic consumption is the only sector that registered year-over-year growth over the past few years, reaching 93 terawatt-hours in 2023. Nevertheless, the average domestic electricity consumption varied from region to region. Consumption was highest in the East, South East, and South West of England, each registering an average of more than 3,600 kilowatt-hours per household. Declining electricity generation in the UK Keeping up with the decline in demand, electricity generation in the UK has also been decreasing. In 2023, approximately 293 terawatt-hours were produced, the lowest output in at least three decades. Although electricity generation has been declining, renewable generation has increased significantly. As of 2023, renewables accounted for the largest electricity generation capacity in the UK, and that capacity is forecast to more than double by 2050. By 2025, the use of coal is expected to have been completely phased out.

The UK's direct use of energy from fossil fuels and other sources (nuclear, net imports, renewables, biofuels and waste and reallocated use of energy by industry (SIC 2007 section - 21 categories), 1990 to 2023.

The consumption of electricity in the United Kingdom has fluctuated on an annual and seasonal basis throughout the period depicted, and indicated a general downward trend. Demand was consistently higher in the winter months, peaking each year in January or December. In April 2024, electricity consumption in the UK amounted to **** terawatt-hours. Domestic users consume the most electricity Although the industrial sector's electricity demand was higher between 1990 and 2005, domestic consumers have since reclaimed their spot as the largest electricity end users in the UK. East and South East England were the regions with the highest domestic electricity consumption in Great Britain, with more than *** megawatt-hours consumed per household in 2022. Declining electricity demand in the UK Electricity consumption in the UK has seen a mostly continual decrease since the turn of the century. After peaking at ***** terawatt hours in 2005, consumption has fallen below *** terawatt hours in 2020. This is despite the UK's population growing by approximately seven million during this period. Projections on electricity consumption in the UK show that the decreasing trend will last until at least 2025.

Primary energy consumption in the United Kingdom amounted to roughly ***** exajoules in 2023. Overall, oil and natural gas were by far the most consumed fuels in the country. By comparison, consumption of primary energy from renewables stood at **** exajoules that year, up from **** the year prior.

In the third quarter of 2024, final energy consumption in the United Kingdom amounted to around 32 million metric tons of oil equivalent. Figures peaked in the third quarter of 2017, with final energy consumption reaching 36.7 million metric tons of oil equivalent.

United Kingdom UK: Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption: % of Total data was reported at 80.712 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 82.634 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 91.593 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.465 % in 1960 and a record low of 80.712 % in 2015. United Kingdom UK: Fossil Fuel Energy Consumption: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Energy Production and Consumption. Fossil fuel comprises coal, oil, petroleum, and natural gas products.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

The United Kingdom: Electricity consumption percent of world total: The latest value from 2023 is 0.973 percent, a decline from 1.09 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 0.529 percent, based on data from 189 countries. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from 1980 to 2023 is 2.467 percent. The minimum value, 0.973 percent, was reached in 2023 while the maximum of 4.362 percent was recorded in 1980.

Renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption) in United Kingdom was reported at 12.2 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Kingdom - Renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

The UK's energy use by industry (SIC 2007 group - around 130 categories), source (for example, industrial and domestic combustion, aircraft, road transport and so on - around 80 categories) and fuel (for example, anthracite, peat, natural gas and so on - around 20 categories), 1990 to 2023.

This report analyses the total consumption of electricity across the United Kingdom, spanning the agricultural, industrial, services, transport and domestic sectors, both public and private. The data is sourced from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and is measured in kilotonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe). Data values are stated over financial years. Estimates are by IBISWorld, using BEIS projections for domestic energy use and emissions as reference.

United Kingdom UK: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data was reported at 29.752 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.958 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 2.300 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.308 % in 2010 and a record low of 0.000 % in 1966. United Kingdom UK: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Gas refers to natural gas but excludes natural gas liquids.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.