A decade of decline in Britain's nuclear fleet is quietly undermining its clean energy transition, with gas generation rising to compensate and businesses bearing the cost.
The UK generated a record 52.5% of its electricity from renewables in 2025, the second consecutive year above the 50% threshold.
While that figure is impressive, what sits beneath it might concern some in government.
Official figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) show that nuclear generation fell 12% last year to just 35.9TWh – roughly half the output recorded a decade ago – while gas generation rose 4.7% to 91.6TWh, making it the single largest source of electricity on the grid at a 31.5% share.
Wind, despite its record performance, came in second at 30%.
