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.

National Grid ESO is the electricity system operator for Great Britain. They have gathered information of the electricity demand in Great Britain from 2009. The is updated twice an hour, which means 48 entries per day. This makes this dataset ideal for time series forecasting.

File information

The dataset consists of three type of files: - Historic_demand_year_20xx.csv: electricity demand in that year - Historic_demand_year_2009_2024.csv: all the yearly datasets merged in one - Historic_demand_year_2009_2024_noNaN.csv: same as above, but NaN values have been removed and the date includes the hour as opposed to only the day

Columns

The columns in the dataset are: * SETTLEMET_DATA: date in format dd/mm/yyyy * SETTLEMENT_PERIOD: half hourly period for the historic outtunr occurred * ND (National Demand). National Demand is the sum of metered generation, but excludes generation required to meet station load, pump storage pumping and interconnector exports. National Demand is calculated as a sum of generation based on National Grid ESO operational generation metering. Measured in MW. * TSD (Transmission System Demand). Transmission System Demand is equal to the ND plus the additional generation required to meet station load, pump storage pumping and interconnector exports. Measured in MW. * ENGLAND_WALES_DEMAND. England and Wales Demand, as ND above but on an England and Wales basis. Measured in MW. * EMBEDDED_WIND_GENERATION. This is an estimate of the GB wind generation from wind farms which do not have Transmission System metering installed. These wind farms are embedded in the distribution network and invisible to National Grid ESO. Their effect is to suppress the electricity demand during periods of high wind. The true output of these generators is not known so an estimate is provided based on National Grid ESO’s best model. Measured in MW. * EMBEDDED_WIND_CAPACITY. This is National Grid ESO’s best view of the installed embedded wind capacity in GB. This is based on publicly available information compiled from a variety of sources and is not the definitive view. It is consistent with the generation estimate provided above. Measured in MW * EMBEDDED_SOLAR_GENERATION. This is an estimate of the GB solar generation from PV panels. These are embedded in the distribution network and invisible to National Grid ESO. Their effect is to suppress the electricity demand during periods of high radiation. The true output of these generators is not known so an estimate is provided based on National Grid ESO’s best model. Measured in MW. * EMBEDDED_SOLAR_CAPACITY. As embedded wind capacity above, but for solar generation. Measured in MW. * NON_BM_STOR (Non-Balancing Mechanism SHort-Term Operating Reserve). For units that are not included in the ND generator definition. This can be in the form of generation or demand reduction. Measured in MW. * PUMP_STORAGE_PUMPING. The demand due to pumping at hydro pump storage units; the -ve signifies pumping load. * IFA_FLOW (IFA Interconnector Flow). The flow on on the respective interconnector. -ve signifies export power out from GB; +ve signifies import power into GB. Measured in MW. * IFA2_FLOW (IFA Interconnector Flow). The flow on the respective interconnector. -ve signifies export power out from GB; +ve signifies import power into GB. Measured in MW. * MOYLE_FLOW (Moyle Interconnector FLow). The flow on the respective interconnector. -ve signifies export power out from GB; +ve signifies import power into GB. Measured in MW. * EAST_WEST_FLOW (East West Innterconnector FLow). The flow on the respective interconnector. -ve signifies export power out from GB; +ve signifies import power into GB. Measured in MW. * NEMO_FLOW (Nemo Interconnector FLow). The flow on the respective interconnector. -ve signifies export power out from GB; +ve signifies import power into GB. Measured in MW. * NSL_FLOW (North Sea Link Interconnector Flow). The flow on the respective interconnector. -ve signifies export power out from GB; +ve signifies import power into GB. Measured in MW. * ELCLINK_FLOW. Blank

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.

The East of England accounted for the highest average household electricity consumption in Great Britain in 2022. That year, it added up to 3,720 kilowatt-hours per household. In comparison, households in the North East of England had the lowest average consumption, at 2,906 kilowatt-hours per household. End user consumption of electricity in the UK Despite continual annual declines in consumption since 2005, households have remained the largest electricity end-users in the UK since 2005. In 2020, amidst lockdown measures following the coronavirus outbreak, the gap between domestic and industrial consumption grew even wider. In 2022, domestic electricity consumption in the UK amounted to 96 terawatt-hours, while industrial consumption recorded the lowest figure of the century, at some 85 terawatt-hours. Declining electricity consumption in the UK Electricity consumption in the UK has seen a dramatic decrease in the past two decades, at least partially related to increased efficiency in equipment and distribution. In 2022, consumption from all electricity suppliers in the UK stood at 275 terawatt-hours. Projections indicate that the UK's electricity consumption will resume a growing trend after 2025, to surpass 32 million tons of oil equivalent in 2040.

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 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.

Household electricity consumption in the UK has been annually declining for most of the century. Households in the United Kingdom used to consume over 100 terawatt-hours of electricity every year. However, in 2022, domestic electricity consumption dropped below 100 terawatt-hours and it amounted to approximately 92 terawatt-hours in 2023.

United Kingdom UK: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data was reported at 5,129.528 kWh in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5,409.630 kWh for 2013. United Kingdom UK: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita data is updated yearly, averaging 5,082.440 kWh from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2014, with 55 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6,270.984 kWh in 2005 and a record low of 2,412.137 kWh in 1960. United Kingdom UK: Electric Power Consumption: per Capita 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. Electric power consumption measures the production of power plants and combined heat and power plants less transmission, distribution, and transformation losses and own use by heat and power plants.; ; 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 UK's reallocated energy use and energy intensity - the level of usage per unit of economic output, by industry (SIC 2007 group - around 130 categories), 1990 to 2023.

Natural gas consumption for energy use in the United Kingdom amounted to 58.6 million metric tons of oil equivalent in 2024, the lowest figure since the beginning of the century. Consumption of natural gas for energy use increased significantly from 1970 to 2000, rising from 11.3 million metric tons of oil equivalent to 95.9 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.

In the past decade, electricity consumption in the United Kingdom has been on the decline. Households have consistently ranked as the largest electricity final users in the country. In 2023, households in the UK consumed 93 terawatt-hours of electricity, or roughly 35 percent of the total consumption. Meanwhile, the industrial sector's consumption of electricity has fallen from 117 terawatt-hours in 2005 to 86 terawatt-hours in 2023.

Primary energy supply in the United Kingdom amounted to *****exajoules in 2024, up from *****exajoules in the previous year. Nonetheless, between 2010 and 2024, UK primary energy consumption decreased by roughly ****exajoules, peaking at *** exajoules in 2010.