UK renewable hydro electricity generation (GWh)
UK renewable hydro electricity generation (GWh) stood at 1,208.89 Gigawatt hours 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity generated | |||||||||||
| Hydro | 1,208.89 | 1,641.44 | 1,968.02 | 1,057.04 | 714.35 | 1,646.61 | 1,493.25 | 1,116.39 | 1,077.72 | 2,043.64 | |
| Non-biodegradable wastes | 1,314.55 | 1,319.3 | 1,373.74 | 1,345.15 | 1,309.52 | 1,336.9 | 1,372.31 | 1,393 | 1,356.5 | 1,349.94 |
Understanding UK renewable hydro electricity generation (GWh)
Gross electrical energy produced by natural and artificial hydro schemes across the United Kingdom is quantified in gigawatt hours through this metric. The series encompasses conventional run-of-river installations, large reservoir storage hydro schemes, and pumped storage facilities where natural catchment water drives the turbines. Output measures total electricity supplied to the grid, isolating water-powered generation from wind, solar, and thermal renewable sources.
Assessing hydro generation requires careful consideration of regional rainfall patterns and reservoir storage levels, which introduce distinct hydrological seasonality across quarters. Revisions to initial data are common as operators reconcile metered generation with complex water throughput and pumping logs. Analysts should examine year-on-year comparisons rather than sequential quarters to properly interpret wet versus dry operating periods. A major analytical mistake is treating pumped storage generation as net primary renewable output without accounting for the electricity consumed during the pumping phase.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this hydro generation series include electricity produced by pumped storage facilities?
- Yes, hydro figures cover conventional water-driven schemes as well as pumped storage plants operating across the United Kingdom.
- How do seasonal weather variations impact quarterly hydro electricity figures?
- Rainfall volumes and melting snowpack directly alter reservoir levels and water flow rates, causing output to peak during wetter seasonal periods.
- Why is it important to distinguish between gross generation and net supply for hydro?
- Pumped storage facilities consume significant electricity when pumping water back upstream, meaning gross generation figures do not represent net energy addition.