UK electricity generation: hydro (non-pumped storage)
UK electricity generation: hydro (non-pumped storage) stood at 470.6 MW on Oct 20, 2026, according to Elexon (BMRS). It is one of the indicators in the Electricity system, daily table (Value · Daily), with a complete series running from Aug 1, 2025 to Oct 20, 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Electricity system, daily table
| Indicator | 20-10-2026 | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation by fuel | |||||||||||
| Hydro (non-pumped storage) | 470.6 | 581.27 | 657.9 | 639.33 | 646.85 | 584.94 | 546.31 | 591.33 | 748.75 | 461.42 | |
| Pumped storage | 425.64 | 298.43 | 446.59 | 337.3 | 533.35 | 470.36 | 201.5 | 491 | 702.92 | 548.36 |
Understanding UK electricity generation: hydro (non-pumped storage)
Hydro generation (non-pumped storage) tracks the electrical power produced by conventional water-driven turbines situated on rivers and natural catchment reservoirs across Great Britain. This series separates conventional run-of-river and natural reservoir hydro from pumped storage facilities that consume electricity to pump water uphill. The geographic scope is strictly confined to Great Britain, excluding Northern Ireland.
Interpreting these statistics requires accounting for regional rainfall patterns and reservoir storage levels, which introduce distinct seasonal output variations independent of electricity demand cycles. Day-to-day volatility can be high depending on recent precipitation, making year-on-year comparisons against similar hydrological conditions more reliable than consecutive period evaluations. Analysts should avoid confusing this series with pumped storage output, which serves a different balancing function on the network.
Frequently asked questions
- What is included in non-pumped hydro generation?
- It measures electricity generated by conventional water turbines driven by natural river flows and catchment reservoirs.
- How does this differ from pumped storage?
- Conventional hydro generates power from natural water supplies, whereas pumped storage cycles water between lower and upper reservoirs.
- What drives fluctuations in this series?
- Rainfall and snowmelt directly influence available water volumes and subsequent generation capacity across catchment areas.