Ireland vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Ireland generated 31.3 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 295 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 47.9% in Ireland and 31.2% in the United Kingdom. Each kWh generated emitted 263 gCO2/kWh in Ireland 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

Gas supplied 47.9% of Ireland's electricity in 2025, against 31.2% in the United Kingdom.
Electricity demand rose 17% in Ireland between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 4% in the United Kingdom.
Low carbon sources supplied 47.7% of Ireland's electricity in 2025 and 63.8% of the United Kingdom's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 37.4 TWh in Ireland and 313 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Ireland	United Kingdom
Total generation	31.3 TWh	295 TWh
Electricity demand	37.4 TWh	313 TWh
Demand per person	6.99 MWh	4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity	263 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	8.23 MtCO2	65.5 MtCO2
Low carbon share	47.7%	63.8%
Largest source	Gas 47.9%	Gas 31.2%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Ireland	United Kingdom
Gas	47.9%	31.2%
Wind	37.7%	29.2%
Bioenergy	3.3%	13.9%
Nuclear	0.0%	12.3%
Solar	4.7%	6.6%
Other fossil	2.9%	4.3%
Hydro	2.1%	1.8%
Coal	1.5%	0.6%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Ireland and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 263 gCO2/kWh in Ireland and 222 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Ireland and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Ireland	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	696 gCO2/kWh	705 gCO2/kWh
1991	693 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
1992	705 gCO2/kWh	665 gCO2/kWh
1993	693 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
1994	688 gCO2/kWh	589 gCO2/kWh
1995	692 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1996	676 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
1997	668 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
1998	657 gCO2/kWh	510 gCO2/kWh
1999	640 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2000	633 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2001	642 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2002	616 gCO2/kWh	521 gCO2/kWh
2003	596 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2004	592 gCO2/kWh	536 gCO2/kWh
2005	593 gCO2/kWh	535 gCO2/kWh
2006	560 gCO2/kWh	559 gCO2/kWh
2007	535 gCO2/kWh	556 gCO2/kWh
2008	517 gCO2/kWh	554 gCO2/kWh
2009	486 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2010	478 gCO2/kWh	517 gCO2/kWh
2011	456 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2012	483 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2013	462 gCO2/kWh	507 gCO2/kWh
2014	446 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2015	440 gCO2/kWh	398 gCO2/kWh
2016	442 gCO2/kWh	333 gCO2/kWh
2017	404 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
2018	362 gCO2/kWh	286 gCO2/kWh
2019	312 gCO2/kWh	268 gCO2/kWh
2020	291 gCO2/kWh	243 gCO2/kWh
2021	352 gCO2/kWh	267 gCO2/kWh
2022	331 gCO2/kWh	255 gCO2/kWh
2023	282 gCO2/kWh	236 gCO2/kWh
2024	271 gCO2/kWh	216 gCO2/kWh
2025	263 gCO2/kWh	222 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Ireland and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 6.99 MWh in Ireland and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Ireland and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	Ireland	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	6.24 MWh	6.63 MWh
2001	6.30 MWh	6.67 MWh
2002	6.44 MWh	6.65 MWh
2003	6.51 MWh	6.69 MWh
2004	6.58 MWh	6.67 MWh
2005	6.65 MWh	6.71 MWh
2006	6.77 MWh	6.63 MWh
2007	6.76 MWh	6.53 MWh
2008	6.77 MWh	6.45 MWh
2009	6.34 MWh	6.07 MWh
2010	6.28 MWh	6.11 MWh
2011	6.05 MWh	5.89 MWh
2012	5.99 MWh	5.87 MWh
2013	6.02 MWh	5.79 MWh
2014	6.01 MWh	5.53 MWh
2015	6.13 MWh	5.51 MWh
2016	6.23 MWh	5.42 MWh
2017	6.26 MWh	5.32 MWh
2018	6.36 MWh	5.29 MWh
2019	6.39 MWh	5.19 MWh
2020	6.42 MWh	4.88 MWh
2021	6.63 MWh	4.92 MWh
2022	6.66 MWh	4.70 MWh
2023	6.70 MWh	4.60 MWh
2024	6.88 MWh	4.59 MWh
2025	6.99 MWh	4.62 MWh

Ireland history · United Kingdom history

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

Ireland 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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