Belgium vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Belgium generated 72.0 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 295 TWh, according to Ember. Belgium's largest source was nuclear (33.5%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.2%). Each kWh generated emitted 126 gCO2/kWh in Belgium and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Why this comparison: neighbours by land border or interconnector.

Key Facts

Nuclear supplied 33.5% of Belgium's electricity in 2025, against 12.3% in the United Kingdom.
The United Kingdom's electricity was 1.8 times as carbon intensive as Belgium's in 2025, at 222 gCO2/kWh against 126 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 74.6% of Belgium's electricity in 2025 and 63.8% of the United Kingdom's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 85.4 TWh in Belgium and 313 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Belgium	United Kingdom
Total generation	72.0 TWh	295 TWh
Electricity demand	85.4 TWh	313 TWh
Demand per person	6.83 MWh	4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity	126 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	9.06 MtCO2	65.5 MtCO2
Low carbon share	74.6%	63.8%
Largest source	Nuclear 33.5%	Gas 31.2%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Belgium	United Kingdom
Nuclear	33.5%	12.3%
Gas	25.9%	31.2%
Wind	18.7%	29.2%
Solar	14.5%	6.6%
Bioenergy	7.2%	13.9%
Other fossil	0.0%	4.3%
Hydro	0.7%	1.8%
Coal	0.0%	0.6%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Belgium and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 126 gCO2/kWh in Belgium and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Belgium and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Belgium	United Kingdom
1985	n/a	694 gCO2/kWh
1986	n/a	721 gCO2/kWh
1987	n/a	737 gCO2/kWh
1988	n/a	710 gCO2/kWh
1989	n/a	689 gCO2/kWh
1990	313 gCO2/kWh	705 gCO2/kWh
1991	311 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
1992	302 gCO2/kWh	665 gCO2/kWh
1993	311 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
1994	326 gCO2/kWh	589 gCO2/kWh
1995	320 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1996	304 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
1997	273 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
1998	292 gCO2/kWh	510 gCO2/kWh
1999	246 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2000	270 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2001	253 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2002	250 gCO2/kWh	521 gCO2/kWh
2003	249 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2004	248 gCO2/kWh	536 gCO2/kWh
2005	241 gCO2/kWh	535 gCO2/kWh
2006	232 gCO2/kWh	559 gCO2/kWh
2007	224 gCO2/kWh	556 gCO2/kWh
2008	218 gCO2/kWh	554 gCO2/kWh
2009	217 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2010	213 gCO2/kWh	517 gCO2/kWh
2011	193 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2012	203 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2013	184 gCO2/kWh	507 gCO2/kWh
2014	190 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2015	215 gCO2/kWh	398 gCO2/kWh
2016	159 gCO2/kWh	333 gCO2/kWh
2017	160 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
2018	187 gCO2/kWh	286 gCO2/kWh
2019	157 gCO2/kWh	268 gCO2/kWh
2020	167 gCO2/kWh	243 gCO2/kWh
2021	132 gCO2/kWh	267 gCO2/kWh
2022	139 gCO2/kWh	255 gCO2/kWh
2023	135 gCO2/kWh	236 gCO2/kWh
2024	127 gCO2/kWh	216 gCO2/kWh
2025	126 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Belgium and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 6.83 MWh in Belgium and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Belgium and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Belgium	United Kingdom
1985	n/a	n/a
1986	n/a	n/a
1987	n/a	n/a
1988	n/a	n/a
1989	n/a	n/a
1990	n/a	n/a
1991	n/a	n/a
1992	n/a	n/a
1993	n/a	n/a
1994	n/a	n/a
1995	n/a	n/a
1996	n/a	n/a
1997	n/a	n/a
1998	n/a	n/a
1999	n/a	n/a
2000	8.50 MWh	6.63 MWh
2001	8.53 MWh	6.67 MWh
2002	8.57 MWh	6.65 MWh
2003	8.67 MWh	6.69 MWh
2004	8.70 MWh	6.67 MWh
2005	8.65 MWh	6.71 MWh
2006	8.86 MWh	6.63 MWh
2007	8.81 MWh	6.53 MWh
2008	8.75 MWh	6.45 MWh
2009	8.13 MWh	6.07 MWh
2010	8.56 MWh	6.11 MWh
2011	8.32 MWh	5.89 MWh
2012	8.23 MWh	5.87 MWh
2013	8.21 MWh	5.79 MWh
2014	7.92 MWh	5.53 MWh
2015	7.93 MWh	5.51 MWh
2016	7.99 MWh	5.42 MWh
2017	8.03 MWh	5.32 MWh
2018	7.98 MWh	5.29 MWh
2019	7.91 MWh	5.19 MWh
2020	7.62 MWh	4.88 MWh
2021	7.91 MWh	4.92 MWh
2022	7.46 MWh	4.70 MWh
2023	7.15 MWh	4.60 MWh
2024	7.34 MWh	4.59 MWh
2025	6.83 MWh	4.62 MWh

Belgium history · United Kingdom history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Belgium vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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