Germany vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Germany generated 497 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 293 TWh, according to Ember. Germany's largest source was wind (26.6%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.4%). Each kWh generated emitted 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany and 218 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: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Key Facts

Coal supplied 21.0% of Germany's electricity in 2025, against 0.1% in the United Kingdom.
Germany's electricity was 1.5 times as carbon intensive as the United Kingdom's in 2025, at 334 gCO2/kWh against 218 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 58.5% of Germany's electricity in 2025 and 64.2% of the United Kingdom's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 517 TWh in Germany and 311 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Germany	United Kingdom
Total generation	497 TWh	293 TWh
Electricity demand	517 TWh	311 TWh
Demand per person	6.19 MWh	4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity	334 gCO2/kWh	218 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	166 MtCO2	64.0 MtCO2
Low carbon share	58.5%	64.2%
Largest source	Wind 26.6%	Gas 31.4%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Germany	United Kingdom
Gas	16.8%	31.4%
Wind	26.6%	29.4%
Coal	21.0%	0.1%
Solar	18.1%	6.6%
Bioenergy	10.1%	14.0%
Nuclear	0.0%	12.4%
Other fossil	3.8%	4.4%
Hydro	3.7%	1.9%
Other renewables	0.1%	0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Germany and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Germany and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	United Kingdom
1985	431 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1986	431 gCO2/kWh	721 gCO2/kWh
1987	431 gCO2/kWh	737 gCO2/kWh
1988	431 gCO2/kWh	710 gCO2/kWh
1989	431 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
1990	622 gCO2/kWh	705 gCO2/kWh
1991	628 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
1992	605 gCO2/kWh	665 gCO2/kWh
1993	608 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
1994	604 gCO2/kWh	589 gCO2/kWh
1995	596 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1996	591 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
1997	575 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
1998	587 gCO2/kWh	510 gCO2/kWh
1999	566 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2000	573 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2001	565 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2002	570 gCO2/kWh	521 gCO2/kWh
2003	570 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2004	555 gCO2/kWh	536 gCO2/kWh
2005	546 gCO2/kWh	535 gCO2/kWh
2006	536 gCO2/kWh	559 gCO2/kWh
2007	552 gCO2/kWh	556 gCO2/kWh
2008	525 gCO2/kWh	554 gCO2/kWh
2009	522 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2010	517 gCO2/kWh	517 gCO2/kWh
2011	530 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2012	534 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2013	538 gCO2/kWh	507 gCO2/kWh
2014	522 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2015	504 gCO2/kWh	398 gCO2/kWh
2016	498 gCO2/kWh	333 gCO2/kWh
2017	470 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
2018	455 gCO2/kWh	286 gCO2/kWh
2019	392 gCO2/kWh	268 gCO2/kWh
2020	356 gCO2/kWh	243 gCO2/kWh
2021	395 gCO2/kWh	267 gCO2/kWh
2022	420 gCO2/kWh	255 gCO2/kWh
2023	364 gCO2/kWh	236 gCO2/kWh
2024	340 gCO2/kWh	216 gCO2/kWh
2025	334 gCO2/kWh	218 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Germany and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 6.19 MWh in Germany and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Germany and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	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	6.99 MWh	6.63 MWh
2001	7.11 MWh	6.67 MWh
2002	7.24 MWh	6.65 MWh
2003	7.29 MWh	6.69 MWh
2004	7.39 MWh	6.67 MWh
2005	7.42 MWh	6.71 MWh
2006	7.51 MWh	6.63 MWh
2007	7.56 MWh	6.53 MWh
2008	7.55 MWh	6.45 MWh
2009	7.11 MWh	6.07 MWh
2010	7.54 MWh	6.11 MWh
2011	7.44 MWh	5.89 MWh
2012	7.41 MWh	5.87 MWh
2013	7.37 MWh	5.79 MWh
2014	7.19 MWh	5.53 MWh
2015	7.20 MWh	5.51 MWh
2016	7.14 MWh	5.42 MWh
2017	7.12 MWh	5.32 MWh
2018	7.00 MWh	5.29 MWh
2019	6.79 MWh	5.19 MWh
2020	6.55 MWh	4.88 MWh
2021	6.69 MWh	4.92 MWh
2022	6.42 MWh	4.70 MWh
2023	6.10 MWh	4.60 MWh
2024	6.18 MWh	4.59 MWh
2025	6.19 MWh	4.62 MWh

Germany history · United Kingdom history

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

Germany 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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