The UK renewable electricity record 2026 is 55.8%: that was renewables' share of electricity generation in the second quarter, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Renewable output reached 38.3 TWh, 5% more than the same quarter in 2025.
UK renewable electricity record 2026: the key figures
| Measure | Q2 2026 result | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable share | 55.8% | A new quarterly record, above the previous 54.8% record in Q3 2025. |
| Renewable generation | 38.3 TWh | Up 5% from Q2 2025. |
| Wind | 19.2 TWh, 27.9% share | Up 9.4%; wind's share was higher than gas at 26.8%. |
| Solar | 8.4 TWh, 12.3% share | Matched the previous generation record despite fewer sun hours. |
| Renewable capacity | 66.3 GW | Up 2.7 GW year on year; solar supplied 2.1 GW of that increase. |
This is a meaningful change in the generation mix. Wind produced more UK electricity than gas during the quarter, while extra installed solar capacity helped output match the previous record even with less sunshine than the exceptionally sunny second quarter of 2025.
Why did the energy price cap still rise?
From 1 October to 31 December 2026, Ofgem's typical dual-fuel cap is £1,723 a year, 4% higher than the previous cap period. That headline does not mean electricity itself increased by 4%. Our current cost of electricity in the UK page keeps the household benchmark separate from this generation news.
| Direct Debit average | July–September | October–December |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity unit rate | 26.11p/kWh | 26.32p/kWh |
| Electricity standing charge | 57.19p/day | 54.83p/day |
| Gas unit rate | 7.33p/kWh | 7.97p/kWh |
| Gas standing charge | 29.04p/day | 29.68p/day |
The average electricity unit rate rose by 0.21p/kWh while its standing charge fell by 2.36p a day. Gas increased more sharply. Ofgem also states that electricity has no VAT from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, so the periods cannot be compared directly without that tax change.
A household bill includes more than the source of electricity generated in one quarter. Wholesale purchasing, network costs, supplier operating allowances and other cap components all feed into the retail rate. The system also retains exposure to gas when renewable output is low or demand is high. A cleaner quarterly generation mix is progress, but it does not pass through as an instant one-for-one reduction on the next cap.
What the record means for solar and battery decisions
The national record strengthens the long-term direction of travel, but it does not calculate whether solar works on a particular property. For a household, the value of rooftop solar depends on roof area, orientation, shading, system size, the electricity used while the panels generate, the import tariff and the export arrangement.
A battery can increase self-consumption or support tariff shifting, but its value depends on usable capacity, losses, the spread between charging and avoided import prices, and the home's load profile. The 26.32p/kWh cap average is a useful reference point, not a savings guarantee.
Before design, a solar survey should record roof dimensions and condition, orientation, obstructions, shading, access, cable routes, consumer-unit evidence and possible inverter or battery locations. Those facts make the difference between a national trend and a buildable proposal.
What the figures mean for heat pumps
Heat-pump running cost cannot be inferred by comparing one electricity unit rate with one gas unit rate. The result depends on the building's heat demand, the temperatures the system must deliver, seasonal efficiency, controls and the tariff actually used.
That is why room-by-room heat loss calculations, emitter information and site evidence matter before an installer makes a running-cost claim. The latest tariff can be inserted into an estimate, but good inputs and a suitable design determine how much electricity the system needs.
Great British Grid is part of the next step
On the same day as the statistics release, the government announced Great British Grid, a publicly owned body intended to invest in electricity-network infrastructure alongside existing network companies. It also announced planned reforms to expand self-build connections.
That is relevant because more renewable generation only helps when projects can connect and power can move to where it is needed. The announcement is a structural programme, not an immediate promise that a household solar or heat-pump connection will be approved faster. Installers still need to follow the current DNO and equipment-specific process for each job.
Questions about the record
What was the UK renewable electricity record in 2026?
Renewables supplied 55.8% of UK electricity generation in Q2 2026, the highest quarterly share in the official series.
Did renewables make the October price cap rise?
The official figures do not establish that. They cover different periods, and the price cap combines several wholesale, network and operating cost components. The October dual-fuel rise was also much larger for gas than for electricity.
Does record renewable generation make a property survey unnecessary?
No. National generation data cannot establish the roof, electrical supply, heat loss, siting, access or equipment constraints at an individual property.
Official sources
- DESNZ: Energy Trends, September 2026, published 29 September 2026.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges, including the 1 October to 31 December 2026 rates.
- GOV.UK: Great British Grid announcement, published 29 September 2026.
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