UK natural gas used for electricity generation
UK natural gas used for electricity generation stood at 37,726.58 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 1998 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total demand | 121,382.78 | 235,879.07 | 203,486.2 | 104,316.51 | 120,138.74 | 252,444.35 | 216,961.08 | 105,358.43 | 128,085.88 | 236,915.23 | |
| Transformation | 43,083.77 | 62,243.33 | 58,955.91 | 44,127.85 | 42,204.71 | 73,273.38 | 64,810.12 | 40,814.62 | 40,142.62 | 60,570.71 | |
| Used for electricity generation | 37,726.58 | 53,728.8 | 51,359.36 | 39,231.05 | 36,847.52 | 64,758.85 | 57,189.78 | 35,740.74 | 34,353.55 | 52,309.3 |
Understanding UK natural gas used for electricity generation
This indicator measures the precise volume of natural gas combusted in thermal power stations to generate electricity for the national grid across the United Kingdom. It isolates gas-fired power generation from all other transformation uses, capturing the operational fuel demand of combined-cycle gas turbine plants and conventional thermal stations. Unlike total demand or transformation totals, this row focuses exclusively on the power sector's consumption of gas.
Interpreting this series requires understanding the merit order of electricity dispatch, where gas plants frequently balance fluctuations in wind and solar output. Revisions follow the receipt of detailed fuel use surveys from major generator companies. Analysts should examine this series alongside renewable generation data to understand how fossil fuel plants compensate for weather-driven drops in green energy output.
Frequently asked questions
- What specific facilities are covered here?
- It measures gas burned in utility-scale power stations and combined heat and power plants to generate electricity.
- How does this differ from total transformation gas?
- Electricity generation is a sub-category of transformation; this series isolates power production from heat generation.
- Why does this series fluctuate significantly?
- Gas plants operate to fill generation gaps when renewable output drops or overall electricity demand spikes.