UK electricity generation: nuclear
UK electricity generation: nuclear stood at 4,865.44 MW on Oct 18, 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 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation by fuel | |||||||||||
| Nuclear | 4,865.44 | 4,829.59 | 4,633.65 | 4,385.65 | 4,265.92 | 4,098.48 | 3,973.67 | 4,014.46 | 4,008.54 | 4,003 | |
| Wind | 8,759.9 | 9,849.63 | 8,240.81 | 10,858.9 | 10,437.58 | 14,664.13 | 12,098.08 | 5,843.81 | 16,923.73 | 16,565.15 |
Understanding UK electricity generation: nuclear
Nuclear generation measures the electrical power supplied continuously to the Great Britain transmission grid by operational nuclear fission power stations. This series isolates atomic energy output from fossil-fuelled combustion, renewable generation, and cross-border interconnector flows. The geographic scope is restricted exclusively to Great Britain, omitting any nuclear facilities situated in Northern Ireland.
When analysing these figures, observers must recognise that nuclear units typically operate as baseload power, maintaining steady output rather than fluctuating to match short-term demand peaks. Year-on-year comparisons are particularly useful for identifying the impact of scheduled maintenance outages or station retirements, which can cause sudden shifts in output levels. Analysts should avoid treating nuclear availability as responsive to weather-driven surges in electricity demand.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the nuclear generation series measure?
- It tracks the electrical power delivered to the Great Britain transmission network by operational nuclear power plants.
- Why does nuclear output remain relatively constant?
- Nuclear stations are designed to provide steady baseload electricity rather than ramping up and down to follow daily demand cycles.
- What causes sudden drops in this series?
- Scheduled refueling outages, statutory maintenance, or unexpected technical faults at specific reactor sites lead to temporary reductions.