Where does my energy come from in the UK

Where does my energy come from in the UK?

Fossil fuels? Renewable energy? The energy sources from which we get our power in Britain vary and are changing all the time as the country transitions away from natural gas and other emissions producing sources towards more sustainable forms of electricity generation. Read on and we’ll explain how power generation in the UK works, where our energy comes from and how you can understand ‘fuel mix’ and other industry terms.

Where does my electricity come from?

According to the National Grid, in 2023, 51% of electricity generation in Britain came from low-carbon, renewable energy sources, such as biomass, wind farms, solar power and nuclear power. 32% came from natural gas. Wind power is now the second largest overall energy source, behind natural gas, with renewable use growing yearly.

The same National Grid statistics show that 11.7% of our electricity supply either comes from storage or is imported.

With the UK aiming to reach net zero by 2050, there is growing urgency to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy, with the shift in usage likely to tilt even further away from emissions producing fuels that are behind climate change and towards renewable electricity.

Where does my gas come from?

Natural gas in Britain either comes from its own North Sea oil fields or is imported from overseas. The split between the two is around 50/50.

Much of the UK’s imported natural gas comes from Norway. The main interconnector (undersea link) for UK energy from Norway is the Langeled pipeline, which comes into the country at Easington and carries about 20% of the gas demand from the UK.

Other countries which supply gas to the UK include the United States and Qatar. Since 2022, Russia’s gas imports have been banned in the UK due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Natural gas can also be imported and exported via a key interconnector between the UK and Belgium, found in Zeebrugge and coming into England at Bacton on the Norfolk coast.

Such interconnectors aren’t just gas-focused. The new LionLink interconnector, between the UK and Netherlands, will plug offshore wind on the continent into the UK National Grid.

What is ‘fuel mix’? 

Fuel mix is the term used to describe the source of all of the electricity which comes into and is used in the Great Britain. This covers all sources, whether it’s carbon dioxide and emissions producing coal, oil, natural gas or renewables such as solar power, bioenergy, hydropower or wind turbines from onshore wind and offshore wind farms. It also includes power from nuclear power stations.

All energy suppliers must update their fuel mix every year, under Ofgem regulations. This is published by both the regulator and those delivering Great Britain’s energy supply.

Can I see my fuel mix on my bill?

Because energy suppliers are legally bound to provide details on fuel mix, you’ll be able to see your own fuel mix on your bill and your annual statement. This will be under either ‘fuel mix’ or ‘fuel disclosure’.

You’ll find that suppliers focused on reducing their carbon emissions will pull more fuel from renewable sources. By searching for this you can decide which supplier you want to use, great if you’re concerned about climate change. Fuel mix can also vary depending on what tariff you’re on too.