FAQs

You can find a list of all operational power stations with a capacity of over 1 MW here.

A map of the locations of power stations in the UK can be found here.

A number of coal, oil and nuclear power stations are expected to close in the coming decades. Please see our facts and figures page for information about power station closures.

Download a list of planned power stations from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Projects that have been granted consent and those awaiting permission are available here.

A gigawatt hour is a measurement of the actual amount of electricity that is generated over an hour. A gigawatt is a unit of electrical power, and can be used to measure the installed capacity of an electricity producer.

Different power stations produce different amounts of electricity. For example, a 1 GW coal-fired power station will produce more electricity in a year than a 1 GW wind farm. This is down to something called ‘load factor’, a measure of the actual output of a power plant compared to the maximum output it could produce. As an example, a “typical” 1 GW plant could supply roughly 990,000 average homes. This is based on the plant having a load factor of 52%. “Typical” is taken as an average baseload across all generating technologies.

The table below summarises the generation mix by type of fuel in the UK.

Chart derived from DUKES - Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2009.

Further information can be found in the About Electricity section of this website.

Below is a table illustrating how much electricity is consumed in the UK by sector.

Chart derived from DUKES - Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2009.

A company’s market share changes regularly. Monthly reports of UK producers’ market share can be found here

First of all, please check the About Electricity section of this website. If you can’t find the answer there, a number of potential sources of information are listed here.

To begin with you will need to develop a prototype and demonstrate that it works. Further advice and support about this can be obtained from:

Knowledge Transfer Networks

NESTA – National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts:

Technology Strategy Board

Energy Technologies Institute

Environmental Transformation Fund

If you would like to provide a service or product to a power station, you should contact a company’s procurement team directly. A list of AEP members, who own power stations in the UK, can be found here.

• Building most power stations requires planning permission from local authorities and may require an environmental permit or a generation licence. You will need to check the arrangements for your particular proposal.

• You will need to negotiate a connection to the local distribution network or, for larger plant, to the transmission network. To begin this process, contact the network owner. Visit National Grid’s website for further information.

• Electricity producers sell their output to suppliers, with whom you will have to arrange a contract. Simplified arrangements are being introduced for smaller scale renewable plant (below 5 MW).

• If you are intending to build a renewable power station, you may want to check whether your project qualifies for financial support under the Renewables Obligation or Feed-in Tariff. See DECC website for details.

• There is no substitute for professional help – a list of consultants who may be able to advise you on your project can be found in the Members section of this website.

AEP does not hold information about wholesale electricity prices. Most electricity is sold in bilateral contracts with negotiated terms. Indications of current wholesale electricity prices can be obtained from commercial services such as Platts, Argus or ICIS Heron.

For connections of 132kV and over, you will need to contact National Grid (NG) to begin proceedings. For small generation distribution connections you need to contact you Distribution Network Operator (DNO). A map of DNOs can be found on National Grid’s website.

If you have an enquiry about electricity distribution and transmission, the energy networks or cables that carry electricity around the UK, please contact the Energy Networks Association on 020 7706 5100.

The Energy Retail Association provides useful guidance about how to change your domestic and business supplier.

Consumer Focus provides information about switching websites to ensure consumers receive accurate price comparisons.

You can also contact Consumer Direct for advice about consumer issues on 08454 04 05 06.

For advice on how to become more energy efficient, please contact the Energy Savings Trust. The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) can provide you with information about grants available to insulate your home.