UK bioenergy and waste share of electricity
UK bioenergy and waste share of electricity stood at 13.79% in Q2 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Renewables and gas supply table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 2010 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Renewables and gas supply table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of electricity generated | |||||||||||
| Bioenergy and waste | 13.79 | 12.53 | 13.46 | 15.61 | 14.68 | 12.58 | 13.61 | 15.15 | 14.92 | 12.77 | |
| Onshore wind | 11.56 | 15.05 | 13.6 | 10.6 | 10.56 | 11.75 | 12.48 | 10.67 | 11.22 | 13.9 |
Understanding UK bioenergy and waste share of electricity
This metric tracks the fraction of total electricity generated within the United Kingdom that is produced by burning or processing organic matter, plant materials, and biodegradable waste streams. Included technologies encompass dedicated biomass plants, animal waste digestion facilities, landfill gas capture, and the renewable fraction of municipal solid waste incineration. Unlike intermittent wind and solar sources, bioenergy facilities can operate as dispatchable baseload power, making this series distinct in reflecting continuous organic-fuelled generation rather than weather-dependent output.
Analysing this data demands careful attention to fuel supply adjustments and periodic plant maintenance schedules that can cause abrupt generation drops. Revisions typically stem from updated estimates regarding the exact biodegradable proportion of mixed waste fuels. Analysts should evaluate annual shifts rather than immediate quarter-on-quarter changes to understand underlying structural adjustments in waste management and agricultural feedstock utilisation for power generation.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of fuel feed into this category?
- It includes plant biomass, animal manure, landfill gas, sewage sludge, and the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste.
- How does this differ from wind or solar series?
- Bioenergy generation relies on storable organic fuels and can operate continuously, whereas wind and solar depend entirely on immediate weather conditions.
- Why might figures for this series be revised?
- Initial estimates often rely on preliminary fuel input data, which are later refined following detailed surveys of waste composition and plant efficiency.