Welcome to MyGridGB

The independent resource charting in real time the decarbonisation of British electricity.

Britain is transitioning to low carbon electricity. Coal power stations are being decommissioned and new low carbon power stations are taking their place. But how much can wind turbines, solar farms, biomass and nuclear power plants reduce carbon emissions? Can Britain keep the lights on? How can Britain provide low carbon energy for electric vehicles?

MyGridGB charts all of this change. It tells you how much electricity is produced, where that electricity comes from and how much carbon is being emitted — all in real time so you can come back again and again to see how Britain is tracking against carbon targets. Read more about MyGridGB.

Britain's Present Electricity Mix

How is your electricity being generated right now?

Low Carbon
%
Renewables
%
Generation
GW
Electricity Independence
%
Carbon Intensity
gCO₂/kWh
Thermal Losses
%

From fuel to power

Not all energy becomes electricity. Gas turbines convert around 57% of fuel into power; nuclear reactors around 35%; biomass stations around 39%. The rest escapes as waste heat. Once electricity reaches the grid, a further 6% is lost in transmission. The diagram below traces every unit of energy from input fuel to delivered electricity, in real time.

Decarbonising British Electricity

The carbon intensity of British electricity has fallen dramatically since 1998, driven by the closure of coal plants and growth in wind, solar and nuclear. The chart tracks this progress — and how far there is still to go to meet the 2030 clean power target of 50–100 gCO₂eq/kWh.

The clock is ticking

Countdown to 2030 carbon target

The UK government has committed to decarbonising the electricity system by the end of 2030. How long do we have?

Years
:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
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Seconds

Latest Blogs

Uncategorized

Clean Power 2030 – My thoughts

By Dr Andrew Crossland · November 5, 2024
National Energy System Operator released the Clean Power 2030 plan today. I've had a brief look this morning…
Uncategorized

How to Maximize Solar Power Efficiency in Small Residential Homes (2024 Guide)

By Dr Andrew Crossland · October 20, 2024
Guest Post from Donaldson Bright. Want to harness the sun's power but worried about your compact space?…
MyGridGB ran a petition for solar on all new homes in the UK. The petition didn't work, but that's democracy. Read the justification here.