The Role of Climate Tech in Decarbonising the Public Sector

5 February 2025

Contributing Authors: Pete Nisbet, Alejandro Navarro, Craig Cheney

In their 2020 report, the Climate Change Committee emphasised the importance of local authorities in national decarbonisation efforts and the UK’s journey to net zero. Quoting the capacity to impact roughly one third of UK emissions, the report highlighted the significant remit of local authorities, including local transport, social housing, and waste, as well as their influence over local businesses and communities.

Unlike private entities and businesses – which also contribute significantly to UK emissions yet often exhibit limited willingness to respond* – local authorities have demonstrated a clear commitment to addressing climate change. Out of 394 local authorities, 327 have declared a climate emergency, with 114 setting net-zero targets and 280 developing actionable plans.

This highlights the readiness of local authorities to act; however, translating this enthusiasm into meaningful outcomes requires clearer direction and support from central government. While the new government has shown a willingness to address these challenges, the reality is that news policies and funding mechanisms take time to develop and implement. Bridging this gap between ambition and action will be crucial to unlocking the full potential of local authorities in driving the UK’s net-zero agenda.

One stand-out and wide-reaching solution to this is climate technology. With the ability to process data more effectively, identify problems faster, and test solutions virtually, technology provides an efficient, transformative vessel for decarbonisation and net zero strategies. In a recent survey, 40% of senior executives said they believe that digital technologies are already having a positive impact on their sustainability goals. And, with the ability to initiate significant carbon reductions across energy, materials, and mobility, and save money at the same time, climate tech has the potential to provide the public sector with the resources it needs toward net zero.

*According to our recent analysis of the FTSE 250, 41% of the FTSE 250 do not have a net zero target, and those who do have delayed it by an average of 13 months.

Climate Technology

According to a study by ICG, decarbonisation is accelerated in heavily digital economies, but with no risk or loss to finances. Between 2003 and 2019, the most digitalised economies in the EU reduced their greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 25%, while continuing to grow their economies by 30%. For comparison, the least digital economies reduced their GHGs by only 18%, and grew their economies by the same amount.

Climate technology can be categorised under three main areas:

Decision Making Technologies (such as Digital Twin, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning)

Enabling Technologies (Cloud, 5G, Blockchain, Augmented/Virtual Reality, etc.)

And Sensing & Control Technologies (eg. Internet of Things, Drones & Imaging, and Automation & Robotics)

In this article, we will discuss how each technology can be, and is being, specifically applied to climate strategies, and ultimately how these practices can be leveraged to benefit the Public Sector.

Enabling Technologies

By increasing efficiency, Enabling Technologies have the potential to accelerate decarbonisation with specific applications in the energy sector. For example, in a study by the World Economic Forum which placed the impact of digital technologies at a reduction of 8% on GHGs by 2050, they named 5G as a boost to energy efficiency in highly networked environments.

Similarly, blockchain technologies promote circularity, transparency, and security, all of which can be used to track carbon emissions within an organisation. This is particularly unique for its ability to measure Scope 3 emissions including the supply chain, which are notoriously difficult to monitor as they are indirect emissions, as opposed to Scopes 1 and 2 which are associated directly with an organisation’s operations.

Cloud technology also has numerous applications in climate endeavours, including grid management, smart meters, asset planning tools, solar propensity modelling, and methane tracking.

Sensing Technologies

Cloud technology also has numerous applications in climate endeavours, including grid management, smart meters, asset planning tools, solar propensity modelling, and methane tracking.

Decision-Making Technologies

As useful and beneficial as all of these technologies are for accelerating sustainability strategies, their efficacy is predicated on beginning with a strong foundation. One particularly prevalent technology which can provide this comes in the form of the decision-making technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI).

According to a collaborative study by the World Economic Forum and Accenture, AI alone has the potential the reduce global GHG emissions by 4% by 2030. Even greater, CapGemini places the figure at 16% for AI’s climate potential across multiple sectors.

This is due to the substantial boost in efficiency that AI provides when integrated into a business or organisation. This is universal regardless of sector or industry, however it poses the most significant environmental benefit to energy-intensive systems, allowing them to limit their emissions by reducing the energy required to complete their operations.

The most pressing example of this is the manufacturing industry, which can employ AI in order to propel the efficacy of their process optimisation and model production lines, as well as using Machine Learning (ML) to streamline demand forecasting.

However, the efficacy of AI, ML, and other decision-making technology depends upon robust data. Between identifying and tracing source materials, optimising routes, and enhancing efficiency, access to clear and solid data is crucial for building streamlined solutions and a direct path to net zero.

Though not wholly reliant on AI, one example of this data-intuiting technology is cero.earth, our in-house carbon accounting and management platform which is been funded by InnovateUK as one of their seven flagship ‘net zero living programmes’. Dynamic and intuitive, and designed to work specifically in the public sector, cero.earth gathers holistic data across all three Scopes of emissions in order to provide an organisation with actionable outcomes to propel them toward net zero. This provides the entity with the ability to track their progress and easily report developments to stakeholders, providing complete control over their climate journey. Thus, cero.earth is the optimal starting point for organisations to understand their current position, future opportunities, and roadmap to net zero.

Decarbonising the Public Sector

Through the combined benefits outlined in this article of transparency, efficiency, and clarity, climate technology has the potential to provide the direction toward net zero that the public sector could benefit from. In particular, climate tech has attractive applications across major emission areas including transport, waste, and infrastructure:

Transport: As well as the aforementioned ability of sensing technologies to benefit route optimisation in local rail and road networks, there are already numerous examples of transport technology with sustainable benefits such as electric vehicle charging and energy management.

Buildings: In buildings, it is easy to initiate decarbonisation through better controls such as thermostats, air quality monitoring, and smart parking.

Waste: Forecasting technologies like AI and ML can support public sector bodies to reduce waste by providing an overview of resources and accurately projecting their usage.

Furthermore, technology can improve the energy efficiency of other public sector organisations such as healthcare. In a survey conducted by Bain & Company, healthcare companies were asked which technological application they had trialled in the previous three years (as of 2022). Innovative solutions included the use of big data to improve medical R&D, digital interfaces for electronic records and telecare, and integrating centralised information on healthcare providers, drugs, and treatments. All of these improve efficiency, and ergo reduce emissions.

The Responsibility of the Public Sector

The public sector also has a part to play itself in improving access and innovation to these technologies, in order to increase their availability and applications to its industries and operations. The World Economic Forum highlighted three ways in which the public sector can bolster climate investment, namely the use of incentives to drive activity from technology suppliers and financial investors; create longer-term certainty through regulatory support, providing security for technology companies to develop their solutions; and set better standards to credentialise green products and services.

These objectives are particularly prescient for those technologies which present a double-edged sword to sustainable initiatives. For example, though Enabling Technologies such as data centres, as explained earlier in this article, have the potential to boost efficiency within highly networked areas of the public sector, they also come with their own climate considerations. As of 2022, data centres account for 1% of the world’s electricity consumption, and 0.5% of CO2 emissions, figures which are more concentrated when analysing Europe in isolation, where a 2020 EU Commission Study revealed that data centres use 2.7% of the continent’s electricity demand, expected to reach 3.2% by the end of 2030 if they continue at the current rate.

This is not the end of the story, however, as technological innovations are being accelerated to offset this carbon contribution. Namely, the replacement of liquid cooling with air cooling provides a much more sustainable alternative to maintaining the efficiency of data centres, which relies on them not overheating. Air cooling leverages variable-speed fans which can run at reduced speeds to match a reduced cooling requirement; paired with strategic containment, this can create ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ aisles that produce a tailored thermal profile and ensure efficient cooling.

Though the growth and application of technologies such as these is largely dependent on bigger organisations, the public sector can still play its part by spurring and motivating the momentum of their development.

Financial Benefits to the Public Sector

The public sector itself also has numerous financial benefits to expect from increased sustainable investment, particularly in climate tech. As aforementioned, a study by ICG revealed that digital economies are able to reduce their GHGs by 25%, while increasing their economies by 30%. A report from the Institute of Local Government provided insight into these benefits, highlighting the role of technology as a crucial component:

Energy Efficiency: The Institute listed the replacement of outdated lighting fixtures in streetlights with more energy efficient LED bulbs as a quick way to save money, as well as improving street safety. This is heightened in combination with sensing technologies, such as motion detectors and dimmers. The City of Sacramento, for example, has been able to save an average of $302,800 annually through this change.

Transportation: Encouraging and facilitating the use of sustainable transport options comes with the economic benefits of conserving fuel and cutting fuel costs, reducing the health impacts of air and water pollution – and ergo saving on healthcare costs – and reducing traffic congestion, making streets safer for pedestrians and transit users alike.

Overall, increasing efficiency and sustainability through climate tech means that less funding has to be allocated to considerations such as the cost of water, energy, and infrastructure development and maintenance. These savings can then be reinvested into more targeted initiatives which in themselves can spur economic and environmental development, as well as increasing financial stability.

An increased priority and emphasis on sustainability also has the economic benefit of producing green jobs. Defined as any job which ‘contribute[s] to preserving or restoring the environment and our planet’, green jobs go hand-in-hand with the introduction of climate tech, including environmental technicians, wind turbine or solar panel technicians, green construction managers, and nuclear engineers, to name a few.

The Role of Cities

In particular, cities are public sector bodies equipped with the potential to create an immense environmental impact. In a TedTalk from Marvin Rees, on the Board of Directors for our sister-company, Cambridge Management Consulting, he explains that, despite occupying less than 3% of the earth’s land surface, cities are home to around 55% of the world’s population, are responsible for around 75% of CO2 emissions, as well as being prodigious emitters of nitrogen dioxide and methane, and consume 80% of the world’s energy.

However, Marvin explains, due to their reach, size, density, close proximity to leadership, adaptability, and capacity for reinvention, they have a vast capacity to manage those statistics. Attributing much of this potential directly to technological innovation, Marvin lists several of the technologies outlined in this article as being particularly accessible to cities: their population density makes public transport more accessible and cost effective, renewable investment is more financially attractive in large-scale markets, and the heightened presence of a circular economy brings greater benefits to waste management and recycling, in which goods are reused, and unavoidable waste such as food waste can be processed, for example as fertiliser.

Providing inspiration from a global perspective, Marvin names technological examples from around the world:

Malmö: Malmö has developed a heat network that is fed by heat generated by processed waste; they intend to be 100% powered by renewable or recycled heat by 2030.

Oslo: Oslo is subsidising electric vehicles and charging points, as well as introducing a circular waste management system and the purchase of a biogas plant.

Bogota: Bogota has introduced a bus rapid transit system and have one of the largest fleets of electric buses in Latin America.

Innovations such as these are especially concentrated in Smart Cities, defined as cities which leverage information and communication technology to improve operational efficiency with the twin aims of improving economic growth and quality of life. As such, one of their most prescient objectives is environmental and sustainable development.

Conclusion

As this article has outlined, the only thing decelerating the public sector on its journey to net zero is a lack of direction, clarity, and security – technology has the potential to bridge this gap by providing transparency and efficiency. Through the differing and wide-reaching applications of foundational, decision making, enabling, and sensing and control technologies, the public sector can decarbonise across numerous emission-contributing factors. While it is worth noting that the technologies listed throughout this article do not in themselves offer a one-size-fits-all approach, their numerous benefits and uses at least contribute greatly to developing the framework for a coordinated approach.

Furthermore, they also possess incredibly financial and economic benefits to public sector entities, increasing employment through the availability of green jobs, as well as saving money through efficiency which can be reallocated to other initiatives.

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Britain's Electricity Generation - March 2026

by Doug Mccauley • 27 April 2026

Fuel Type Breakdown Britain’s electricity generation in March 2026 was led by wind, which contributed 35% of the energy mix. This represents a strong rebound from the 26% recorded in March 2025 and marks wind’s highest March share on record. Wind once again overtook gas to become the dominant source of electricity, underlining its growing central role as Britain transitions into spring with continued strong renewable output. Gas supplied 22% of electricity in March 2026, a significant decrease from 31% in March 2025. This 9 percentage point reduction reflects both stronger renewable generation and continued progress in limiting reliance on fossil fuels, particularly outside peak winter demand. Electricity imports accounted for 16% of the generation mix in March 2026. While slightly lower than the 18% recorded in March 2025, imports remain an important contributor, highlighting the ongoing role of interconnectors in maintaining system resilience and flexibility. Nuclear power contributed 11%, unchanged from March 2025 and continuing a period of relatively subdued nuclear availability compared to historical norms. Biomass generation increased modestly to 6%, up from 5% in March 2025, continuing to provide a stable source of low‑carbon, dispatchable generation. Solar output reached 6%, slightly below the 7% recorded in March 2025 but broadly in line with seasonal expectations as daylight hours increase into spring. Storage technologies contributed 2% of total generation, doubling from 1% in March 2025 and marking the highest March contribution on record. This increase reflects the continued expansion and importance of battery & storage assets in balancing a more renewables‑led system. Hydropower remained stable at 2%, consistent with recent years. Coal once again remained absent from the generation mix, reinforcing Britain’s continued exit from coal‑fired electricity generation following its phase‑out in 2024. Zero-Carbon Sources & Carbon Intensity Zero‑carbon sources, including wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, and biomass, generated 66% of Britain’s electricity in March 2026. This represents the highest March share on record and a substantial increase of 21 percentage points compared to March 2025. Carbon intensity fell sharply to 117 gCO₂/kWh in March 2026, making it 20% cleaner than the 146 gCO₂/kWh recorded in March 2025. This marks the lowest March carbon intensity on record and reflects the combined impact of strong wind generation, reduced gas usage, and rising contributions from storage and other low‑carbon sources. On a rolling 12‑month basis, carbon intensity declined slightly to 125 gCO₂/kWh, down from 127 gCO₂/kWh in the previous period. Meanwhile, the rolling 12‑month average for zero‑carbon generation increased to 60%, highlighting sustained progress in decarbonising Britain’s electricity system over the past year. Concluding Remarks March 2026 marked a major step forward for Britain’s power sector. Wind reclaimed its position as the dominant generation source, zero‑carbon generation exceeded two‑thirds of total output, and carbon intensity fell to record‑low levels for the month. While gas continues to play a role in system balancing, its share declined materially year‑on‑year. Imports and nuclear generation remained important supporting contributors, while the growing role of storage is increasingly evident. Looking ahead to the summer months, maintaining high renewable output, alongside continued investment in flexibility, storage, and firm low‑carbon capacity, will be critical in sustaining emissions reductions and strengthening Britain’s long‑term energy resilience. Britain's Electricity Summary Charts

Gloucestershire County Council selects edenseven to accelerate its pathway to Net-Zero using cero.earth

by Doug Mccauley • 14 April 2026

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Gloucestershire County Council has selected edenseven’s cutting-edge sustainability management platform, cero.earth, to strengthen emissions reporting, improve collaboration with its suppliers, inform investment decisions and support delivery of its climate commitments.Corporate Accountability Exposed as Climate Commitments Fail to Deliver.

Energy, Risk and Competitiveness: The Real Sustainability Conversation

by Doug Mccauley • 23 March 2026

Why the transition to a lower carbon economy is fundamentally about operational resilience. For the past decade, sustainability has steadily moved up the corporate agenda. Boardrooms have become familiar with terms such as net zero, ESG reporting, and climate disclosures. Businesses have been asked to publish targets, measure emissions, and demonstrate progress against a growing range of frameworks. But somewhere along the way, the conversation became overly complicated. For many business leaders, sustainability began to feel less like a commercial strategy and more like a reporting exercise. ESG ratings, disclosure requirements, and long-term commitments increasingly dominated the discussion. In some organisations, this created frustration and fatigue. Leaders struggled to connect sustainability narratives with the practical realities of running a business. Yet the truth is far simpler than the debate suggests. Sustainability is not only about reputation or reporting. Financial returns and resilience are becoming priorities for businesses. Recent global events are reminding us of that reality. The Return of Energy Security For most companies, energy has returned to the centre of strategic decision-making. Recent geopolitical developments have once again exposed how fragile global energy systems can be. Escalating tensions in the Middle East and the resulting conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have already triggered renewed volatility in oil markets. These developments are not isolated shocks; they are part of a broader shift in how global energy markets operate. For a long time now, energy commodity prices have not simply been influenced by supply and demand. They have been shaped by geopolitics, national security concerns, and global power dynamics. For business, this matters enormously. Energy volatility rarely remains confined to commodity markets. It quickly feeds into manufacturing costs, logistics, procurement decisions, and the price of goods and services. Supply chains tighten, inflation rises, and margins come under pressure. This is why energy security has rapidly returned to the board agenda. Leadership teams are now asking themselves the question: How exposed is our business to energy market shocks? Organisations that cannot answer that question clearly are increasingly recognising a deeper vulnerability within their operations. The Sustainability Narrative Lost Its Way At the same time that energy volatility has returned, the sustainability conversation itself has been undergoing a correction. Over the past few years, many businesses experienced what has often been described as ‘ESG fatigue’. Sustainability became associated with reporting frameworks, compliance obligations, and external scrutiny. The narrative grew increasingly complex, while the operational relevance sometimes became less clear. In some cases, sustainability programmes became disconnected from the core drivers of business performance. That disconnect has been exposed by the current global environment. When energy prices surge or supply chains become unstable, businesses quickly rediscover what sustainability was always meant to address: resource security and operational efficiency. The companies navigating this environment most successfully are not necessarily those with the most ambitious climate targets. They are the organisations that have invested in improving how their operations use energy, materials, and resources. They understand that sustainability is not an abstract environmental concept. It is a practical operational strategy. Businesses that use less energy, generate more of their own power, and reduce dependency on volatile commodity markets are fundamentally more resilient. They are also structurally more competitive. Sustainability Is Really About Risk and Competitiveness Seen through the right lens, sustainability is simply another form of risk management. Businesses today operate within a landscape of increasing regulatory scrutiny, rising energy costs, and growing expectations from investors and supply chains. At the same time, climate-related disruptions and geopolitical tensions are introducing new uncertainties into global markets. For many organisations, sustainability risks now intersect directly with core business risks. Energy price exposure can reshape operating margins. Supply chain disruptions can affect product availability and customer relationships. Investor expectations around climate risk can influence access to capital. Even insurance markets are beginning to factor climate resilience into underwriting decisions. Ignoring these realities does not remove the risk. It simply increases exposure. Yet the most interesting aspect of the sustainability transition is that the same actions that reduce risk often strengthen competitiveness. Businesses that improve energy efficiency lower their operating costs. Companies that electrify operations reduce dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets. Organisations that invest in on-site renewable energy gain greater control over their energy supply. In volatile markets, the businesses with the lowest and most stable energy costs will inevitably outperform those that remain exposed to global commodity shocks. This is why investors are increasingly shifting their focus. Rather than simply assessing climate commitments, they are looking at something far more fundamental: transition readiness and operational resilience. The Companies That Win Will Have Structurally Lower Costs The transition to a lower-carbon economy will not unfold evenly across industries. Some sectors will move faster than others, and the pace of policy change will continue to vary between regions. But one outcome is already becoming clear. The companies that succeed in this transition will have structurally lower energy, material and carbon costs than their competitors. They will operate with more efficient processes, smarter infrastructure, and more resilient supply chains. They will generate a greater share of their own energy and rely less on volatile global commodity markets. In other words, they will have fundamentally stronger business models. This is where the sustainability conversation needs to return. For too long, sustainability has been framed primarily as a reputational issue or a long-term climate commitment. While those elements remain important, they are not the primary reason why businesses are engaging with sustainability today. The real driver is economics. Energy, materials, and resources underpin every industry. Businesses that can secure them more efficiently and manage them more intelligently will always have a competitive advantage. In that sense, sustainability is not separate from business strategy. It is becoming the strategy. As global markets continue to evolve, leadership teams face a defining question. Will sustainability remain a reporting exercise within their organisation, driven by compliance and external expectations? Or will it become a strategic tool used to strengthen resilience, reduce costs and secure long-term competitiveness? The companies that answer that question early are already positioning themselves differently. In a volatile world, operational resilience may prove to be the most valuable asset a business can build. Supporting Organisations Through The Transition At edenseven, we work with organisations that want to approach sustainability as a strategic opportunity rather than simply a reporting requirement. Our focus is on helping leadership teams understand how sustainability connects directly to operational resilience, energy strategy and long-term cost competitiveness. This means looking beyond frameworks and targets to focus on the practical decisions that shape business performance: energy infrastructure, resource efficiency, supply chain resilience, and credible transition planning. The organisations that will lead the transition are not necessarily those making the loudest commitments. They are the ones building structurally stronger and more resilient operations. If you would like to explore how sustainability can strengthen your organisation’s operational resilience and competitive positioning, we would welcome the opportunity to start that conversation. Speak to a member of the edenseven team today!

Britain's Electricity Generation - February 2026

by Doug Mccauley • 17 March 2026

Fuel Type Breakdown Britain’s electricity generation in February 2026 was led by wind, which contributed 36% of the energy mix. While slightly below the 40% recorded in February 2022, this represents strong performance and a 4 percentage point increase compared to February 2025. February 2026 also marked the seventh consecutive month that wind has been Britain’s dominant source of electricity, outpacing gas, reinforcing its position at the centre of the country’s power system. Gas supplied 29% of electricity in February 2026, down from 33% in February 2025, but still a significant contributor to the overall mix. This reduction reflects continued progress in limiting fossil fuel reliance. Electricity imports accounted for 12% of the generation mix, unchanged from February 2025 and broadly consistent with recent years. This sustained level highlights the ongoing role of interconnectors in supporting system stability. Nuclear power contributed 11%, slightly down from 12% in February 2025 and continuing the trend of reduced nuclear availability compared to earlier in the decade. Biomass generation remained steady at 7%, providing a reliable source of low-carbon, dispatchable power. Solar output contributed 2%, in line with seasonal expectations and unchanged from the previous year. Storage technologies increased their contribution to 2%, up from 1% in February 2025 and marking the highest February share on record. This reflects continued growth and the increasing importance of battery & storage assets in managing system flexibility. Hydropower fell to 1%, down from 2% in February 2025, representing one of the lowest February contributions in recent years. Coal remained absent from the generation mix, following its removal from Britain's electricity generation in 2024. Zero-Carbon Sources & Carbon Intensity Zero-carbon sources, including wind, solar, nuclear, and hydro, generated 63% of Britain’s electricity in February 2026. This marks the highest February share in the past six years and a 15 percentage point increase compared to February 2025. Carbon intensity declined to 136 gCO₂/kWh, 7% cleaner than the 147 gCO₂/kWh in February 2025 and continuing the broader downward trend compared to historical levels. This reduction reflects stronger renewable generation, particularly from wind, alongside lower gas usage. On a rolling 12-month basis, carbon intensity stood at 128 gCO₂/kWh, slightly higher (2%) than the previous period but still significantly below levels seen earlier in the decade. Meanwhile, the rolling 12-month average for zero-carbon generation rose to 59%, indicating continued progress in decarbonising Britain’s electricity system. Concluding Remarks February 2026 continued the positive momentum seen at the start of the year. Wind remained the dominant generation source for a seventh consecutive month, and notably, February 2026 also marked the seventh consecutive month of renewable-dominated electricity generation in Britain. Zero-carbon output exceeded 60%, while carbon intensity declined year-on-year. Despite this progress, gas continues to play a key role in balancing the system during winter months, while nuclear output remains below historic levels and imports continue to support supply. Looking ahead, maintaining strong renewable performance, alongside further investment in storage and firm low-carbon capacity, will be essential to sustaining emissions reductions and strengthening Britain’s long-term energy resilience. Britain's Electricity Summary Charts

UK Renewable Energy Approvals: Q4 2025

by Doug Mccauley • 3 March 2026

edenseven are following trends in the renewable energy sector closely, as decarbonising the energy sector is vital for ensuring a sustainable future and achieving Net Zero. Considering the recent DESNZ quarterly update of the renewable energy planning database, we have produced a consolidated summary of projects in the United Kingdom that have received planning permission. We will continue to release updates each quarter. Key Insights: In the 12 months to the end of Q4 2025, the UK approved 677 solar PV projects, a 14% year-on-year increase and the second-highest rolling 12-month total on record. Together, these projects will deliver a record 6,075 MW of capacity, 37% more than the previous peak year in 2023. 2025 was a landmark year for UK offshore wind. Eight projects were approved, unlocking a record-breaking 9,900 MW of capacity, nearly double the previous peak set in 2015 and almost seven times the 1,282 MW approved in 2024. Onshore wind approvals rose to 56 projects. While this ranks only eighth by project count, their combined capacity of 1,734 MW is the second-highest total on record.

Britain's Electricity Generation - January 2026

by Doug Mccauley • 6 February 2026

Fuel Type Breakdown Britain’s electricity generation in January 2026 was led by wind, which supplied 37% of the energy mix. This marks a strong rebound from the 27% recorded in January 2025 and represents the highest January contribution in the past five years. Wind outperformed gas by 6 percentage points, reinforcing its growing role as the backbone of winter electricity generation. Gas accounted for 31% of electricity generation in January 2026, down from 38% in January 2025 but still reflecting its continued role in meeting peak winter demand. Despite the year-on-year decline, gas remained the second-largest source of generation during the month. Electricity imports contributed 11% of the generation mix, slightly lower than January 2025 but broadly in line with recent winters. This continued reliance on imports highlights the importance of interconnectors in balancing domestic supply during periods of high demand. Nuclear power supplied 10% of electricity, down from 12% in January 2025 and well below levels seen earlier in the decade. This ongoing reduction reflects the continued decline of nuclear electricity generation in Britain. Biomass generation increased to 7%, up from 6% in January 2025, providing a stable source of dispatchable low-carbon power. Solar generation contributed 2%, consistent with recent January levels and reflecting limited seasonal output. Storage technologies supplied 2% of the mix, matching January 2025 and marking the joint-highest January contribution on record. This continued growth highlights the increasing importance of battery and storage assets in managing system flexibility. Hydropower remained steady at 2%, consistent with recent January performance. Coal remained absent from the generation mix, following its removal from Britain’s electricity generation in 2024. Zero-Carbon Sources & Carbon Intensity Zero-carbon sources, including wind, solar, nuclear and hydro, delivered 61% of Britain’s electricity in January 2026. This represents a significant improvement on January 2025’s 43% and the highest January share in the past five years. Carbon intensity fell to 144 gCO₂/kWh, a notable reduction (14%) compared with 168 gCO₂/kWh in January 2025 and broadly in line with January 2023 levels. This improvement reflects the stronger contribution from wind, storage and biomass alongside reduced gas generation. On a rolling 12-month basis, carbon intensity stood at 129 gCO₂/kWh, slightly higher than the previous rolling period but still well below historical averages. Meanwhile, the rolling 12-month average for zero-carbon generation increased to 57% (up by 6 percentage points), underlining continued long-term progress in decarbonising Britain’s electricity supply. Concluding Remarks January 2026 marked a strong start to the year for Britain’s electricity transition. Wind reclaimed its position as January's leading power source, following two years of gas-led January generation. Zero-carbon generation exceeded 60%, and carbon intensity fell sharply compared to the previous January. However, gas continued to play a significant role in meeting winter demand, while nuclear output remained subdued, and imports continued to play a large role in supporting system balance. Sustaining progress through the remainder of the year will depend on maintaining high renewable output, accelerating storage deployment, and further reducing our reliance on fossil-fuel-sourced energy. Britain's Electricity Summary Charts

Electricity pylon against amber sky, with text

Britain's Electricity Generation - Annual Review

by Doug Mccauley • 28 January 2026

Finding 1: Wind Energy Dominated Britain's Electricity Generation in 2025 In 2025, wind energy was Britain’s largest source of electricity generation, supplying around a third (30%) of total electricity. Wind now makes up almost 10% more of Britain's electricity mix than it did in 2021, underscoring its role as the backbone of Britain’s electricity system (figures 1 & 2). Finding 2: Gas Levels Have Fallen Dramatically Since 2021 Gas generation declined by almost 15%, falling from 39% of Britain’s electricity mix in 2021 to 26% in 2025. After a sharp decline between 2021 and 2024, gas output stabilised in 2025, indicating a new, lower baseline for fossil-fuel generation (figures 1 & 2). Finding 3: Coal Absent from Britain's Electricity Mix in 2025 Coal’s share of generation fell from 2% in 2021 to 0% in 2025, making 2025 the first full year with no electricity generation in Britain from coal. This is a major milestone for Britain’s electricity decarbonisation and a significant step to reduce emissions (figures 1 & 2). Finding 4: Solar, Storage, and Imports Played a Growing Role Between 2021 and 2025, solar generation increased from supplying 4% of Britain's electricity, to 7% in 2025, while storage has doubled from 1% to 2% in 2025. Over the same period, imported energy has risen from 10% to 15% of Britain's electricity mix, highlighting a strong need to balance domestic low-carbon generation and improve grid flexibility (figures 1 & 2).

Britain's Electricity Generation - December 2025

by Doug Mccauley • 15 January 2026

Fuel Type Breakdown Britain’s electricity generation in December 2025 was once again led by wind, which supplied 38% of the energy mix. While slightly below the 39% recorded in December 2024 and the 41% peak in December 2023, wind maintained its dominant position and continued to outperform all other generation sources. Wind generation exceeded gas output by 13 percentage points, underlining its central role in Britain’s winter electricity supply. Gas accounted for 25% of electricity generation in December 2025, its lowest December share in the past five years, and 13 percentage points below December 2021. This continued decline highlights sustained progress in reducing reliance on fossil fuels, particularly during peak winter demand. Electricity imports rose to 15% of the generation mix, the highest December share over the past five years and up 5 percentage points year-on-year. This increase reflects growing reliance on cross-border electricity flows to support domestic supply during periods of high demand. Nuclear power contributed 10% to the mix, its lowest December contribution in the past five years and 6 percentage points below both December 2021 & 2022, continuing a multi-year trend of reduced nuclear availability. Solar generation delivered 2% of electricity, the highest December contribution in the past five years, though still modest given seasonal conditions. Storage technologies supplied 2% of the mix, doubling their contribution compared to previous Decembers and marking the strongest December performance to date. This growth highlights ongoing improvements in grid flexibility and battery capacity. Biomass generation accounted for 7%, up from 6% in December 2024, while hydropower remained steady at 3%, consistent with the past three Decembers. Coal remained absent from the generation mix, reinforcing Britain’s continued phase-out of coal-fired power. Zero-Carbon Sources & Carbon Intensity Zero-carbon sources, including wind, solar, nuclear, and hydro, supplied 67% of Britain’s electricity in December 2025. This represents the highest December share in the past five years and an 11 percentage point increase compared to December 2024. Carbon intensity fell further to 120 gCO₂/kWh, improving on December 2024’s 126 gCO₂/kWh and marking the lowest December level across the five-year period. This reduction reflects the combined impact of strong wind generation, increased storage deployment, and reduced gas usage. On a rolling 12-month basis, carbon intensity stood at 129 gCO₂/kWh, slightly higher than the previous year’s rolling average but still significantly lower than levels seen earlier in the decade. Meanwhile, the rolling 12-month average for zero-carbon generation increased to 56%, highlighting continued long-term progress in decarbonising Britain’s electricity system. Concluding Remarks December 2025 capped off a strong year for Britain’s electricity transition. Wind remained the backbone of the generation mix, and the zero-carbon share climbed to a record December high of 67%. These developments helped drive carbon intensity to its lowest December level in five years. However, the continued decline in nuclear output and a sharp rise in electricity imports underline ongoing structural challenges. To maintain momentum toward net zero and strengthen energy security, sustained investment in domestic clean generation, nuclear capacity, and flexible technologies will remain essential as Britain enters the next phase of its energy transition. Britain's Electricity Summary Charts

UK Renewable Energy Approvals: Q3 2025

by Doug Mccauley • 19 December 2025

edenseven are following trends in the renewable energy sector closely, as decarbonising the energy sector is vital for ensuring a sustainable future and achieving Net Zero. Considering the recent DESNZ quarterly update of the renewable energy planning database, we have produced a consolidated summary of projects in the United Kingdom that have received planning permission. We will continue to release updates each quarter. Key Insights: In the 12 months to the end of Q3 2025, the UK approved 710 solar PV projects, up 6% year on year and the second-highest 12-month total ending Q3. These approvals will deliver a record 5,448 MW of solar capacity. Offshore wind approvals doubled to 8 projects, set to deliver a record 9,900 MW. Meanwhile, onshore wind approvals fell to 42 projects, though total capacity rose to 1,039 MW, driven by larger average project sizes.

Britain's Electricity Generation - November 2025

by Doug Mccauley • 17 December 2025

Fuel Type Breakdown Britain's electricity generation in November 2025 was led by wind, which contributed 37% of the energy mix. This represents the highest November share in the past five years, up 10 percentage points compared to November 2024. Wind also outpaced gas generation by 10 percentage points, reinforcing its role as the dominant power source. Gas supplied 27% of electricity in November 2025, marking its lowest November contribution over the last five years. This decline underscores ongoing progress in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and highlights the shifting balance towards renewable energy. Electricity imports accounted for 11% of the generation mix, unchanged from November 2024 but slightly below the 12% seen in November 2023. This continued reliance on cross-border electricity reflects the need to balance intermittent domestic supply. Nuclear power contributed 10% of the mix, down from 12% in both November 2023 and November 2024, and 6% below the level seen in November 2021, continuing a trend of reduced nuclear availability. Solar generation provided 2% of Britain’s electricity, down from 4% in November 2024, but largely consistent with the previous years, indicating stable, though modest, contributions from solar during autumn. Storage technologies supplied 2% of the mix, up 1 percentage point compared to November 2024, marking the highest November contribution in the past five years. This increase signals improvements in grid flexibility and battery deployment. Biomass contributed 8%, up slightly from 7% in November 2024, while hydropower remained steady at 2%, consistent with levels over the previous five years. Coal remained absent from the generation mix, continuing Britain’s phasing out of coal-fired power. Zero-Carbon Sources & Carbon Intensity Zero-carbon sources, including wind, solar, nuclear and hydro, delivered 66% of Britain’s electricity in November 2025, the highest November share in the past five years and a significant 24 percentage points higher than November 2024. Carbon intensity fell sharply to 126 gCO₂/kWh in November 2025, a marked reduction compared to 171 gCO₂/kWh in November 2024 and the lowest November level in the past five years. On a rolling 12-month basis, carbon intensity remained low at 129 gCO₂/kWh, slightly higher than the previous period but still reflecting the impact of increased renewable generation. The rolling 12-month average for zero-carbon generation is 55%, 4% higher than the previous 12-month period, highlighting steady long-term growth in low-carbon electricity sources. Concluding Remarks November 2025 was a strong month for Britain’s electricity transition. Wind delivered record November output, storage continued to support grid flexibility, and the zero-carbon share reached an all-time November high of 66%. Carbon intensity dropped to its lowest November level in five years, underlining the tangible benefits of renewables and flexible technologies. Despite these gains, nuclear output remained lower than in previous years, and imports continued to play a role in balancing supply. To sustain momentum towards net zero, ongoing investment in domestic clean energy generation, storage, and flexible grid technologies remains essential. Britain's Electricity Summary Charts