Fuel Type Breakdown

Britain's electricity generation in July 2026 was led by wind, which contributed 23% of the energy mix. While lower than the 31% recorded in June 2026, wind remained a major source of low-carbon electricity and continued to play a central role in Britain's renewable generation mix.

Gas supplied 22% of electricity in July 2026, down from 25% in July 2025. This reduction reflects continued progress in limiting reliance on fossil fuels, despite lower nuclear output and ongoing growth in electricity demand.

Electricity imports accounted for 20% of the generation mix, unchanged from July 2025 and representing one of the highest shares in recent years. This sustained level highlights the continued importance of interconnectors in supporting system flexibility and security of supply.

Solar output reached 14%, up from 11% in July 2025 and marking its highest July contribution on record. Strong summer conditions enabled solar to play an increasingly important role in supporting Britain's electricity mix.

Nuclear power contributed 11%, down from 15% in July 2025 and continuing the trend of reduced nuclear availability compared to historical levels.

Biomass generation remained relatively stable at 7%, compared to 8% in July 2025.

Storage technologies contributed 3%, up from 2% in July 2025 and marking their highest July share on record. This reflects the growing role of battery storage in managing an increasingly renewable-led electricity system.

Hydropower remained at 1%, consistent with recent years and continuing to provide a small but dependable contribution.

Coal once again remained absent from the generation mix, reinforcing Britain's continued transition away from coal-fired electricity generation following its phase-out in 2024.

Zero-Carbon Sources & Carbon Intensity

Zero-carbon sources, including wind, solar, nuclear, and hydro, generated 66% of Britain's electricity in July 2026. This represents a substantial increase from 48% in July 2025 and marks the highest July share on record.

Carbon intensity fell to 121 gCO₂/kWh in July 2026, compared to 129 gCO₂/kWh in July 2025. This improvement reflects stronger contributions from solar generation, lower gas usage, and continued growth in low-carbon generation despite reduced nuclear output.

On a rolling 12-month basis, carbon intensity improved to 126 gCO₂/kWh, down from 131 gCO₂/kWh in the previous period. Meanwhile, the rolling 12-month average for zero-carbon generation increased to 65%, reaching a new record and highlighting continued progress in decarbonising Britain's electricity system.

Peak zero-carbon generation reached 90% during July 2026, up from 84% in July 2025. On a rolling 12-month basis, average peak zero-carbon share increased to a record 92%, demonstrating the electricity system's growing ability to operate at very high levels of zero-carbon generation during favourable renewable conditions.

Concluding Remarks

July 2026 marked another significant milestone in Britain's energy transition. Zero-carbon generation reached a July record 66% of monthly electricity supply, driven by strong solar performance, continued contributions from wind, and growing support from storage technologies.

However, the month also highlighted some of the challenges associated with further decarbonisation. Nuclear generation remained below historical levels, while imports continued to supply one-fifth of Britain's electricity demand. These trends underline the importance of accelerating investment in domestic renewable generation and storage infrastructure to support long-term energy security and emissions reductions.

Encouragingly, both rolling zero-carbon generation and peak zero-carbon share reached record highs, demonstrating that Britain's electricity system continues to move towards a cleaner and more resilient future. Sustaining this momentum will require continued investment in low-carbon technologies to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels and imported electricity over the coming years.

Britain's Electricity Summary Charts

To explore more insights, visit our interactive renewables map here.

Data source: NESO 2026 (https://www.neso.energy/energy-101/great-britains-monthly-energy-stats)