UK electricity generation share: biomass
UK electricity generation share: biomass stood at 8.51% on Oct 18, 2026, according to National Energy System Operator (NESO) data portal. It is one of the indicators in the Electricity system, daily table (Value · Daily), with a complete series running from Jul 31, 2025 to Oct 18, 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Electricity system, daily table
| Indicator | 18-10-2026 | 17-10-2026 | 16-10-2026 | 15-10-2026 | 14-10-2026 | 13-10-2026 | 12-10-2026 | 11-10-2026 | 10-10-2026 | 09-10-2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of generation by fuel | |||||||||||
| Biomass | 8.51 | 7.02 | 10.16 | 6.9 | 8.56 | 7.28 | 8.69 | 8.85 | 2.42 | 2.17 | |
| Hydro | 2.24 | 2.75 | 2.21 | 3.07 | 2.71 | 1.71 | 2.28 | 3.31 | 1.8 | 2.2 |
Understanding UK electricity generation share: biomass
The daily share of total Great Britain electricity generation produced by biomass-fuelled power stations is recorded as a percentage. The series measures energy derived from organic matter, including dedicated biomass combustion and organic waste streams, relative to total system generation. Unlike weather-dependent renewables, biomass facilities can operate as dispatchable baseload generation, providing a more consistent contribution to the daily energy mix.
When reviewing these statistics, analysts must consider scheduled maintenance cycles for large pellet-burning conversion units, which can cause sudden step-changes in the daily share. Month-on-month comparisons are more useful than daily volatility measures, given the steady operational profiles of these plants. Observers should avoid confusing biomass shares with zero-emissions renewables, as accounting methodologies treat biomass emissions according to specific regulatory sustainability criteria.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of fuel are categorised under biomass generation?
- It includes imported wood pellets, agricultural byproducts, and organic waste used for electricity generation.
- Can biomass plants adjust output quickly to meet demand spikes?
- While more flexible than nuclear, they primarily operate as stable baseload rather than rapid-response peaking units.
- Are preliminary daily estimates subject to retrospective correction?
- Yes, fuel input data and metered output figures undergo routine reconciliation after initial publication.