GCSE-readyEnergy: powering the UK
Every light, phone and bus needs energy. Where it comes from affects the climate, the landscape and how secure a country's supply is.
The energy mix
Non-renewable: coal, oil and natural gas (fossil fuels), and nuclear (uranium).
Renewable: wind, solar, hydroelectric (HEP), tidal, wave, geothermal and biomass.
Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide when burned, adding to climate change. Nuclear is low-carbon but makes dangerous waste that must be stored for thousands of years.
Renewables: pros and cons
But wind and solar are intermittent: they depend on the weather and time of day, so the grid needs storage or back-up.
Some people object to the look of wind turbines or to dams flooding valleys.
| Source | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | Renewable, low carbon | Not windy every day |
| Solar | Renewable; works on rooftops | Little output at night or in winter |
| HEP | Reliable; can be switched on fast | Dams flood valleys and habitats |
| Gas | Reliable; fast to start | Releases carbon dioxide; finite |
| Nuclear | Low carbon; reliable | Radioactive waste; costly to build |
The UK's changing electricity
In 2024, renewables made just over half of UK electricity for the first time. In 2025 they made 52.1%, a new record (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, DESNZ). Wind alone made 29.5%; fossil fuels made 32.3%.
The UK has some of the world's largest offshore wind farms, in the North Sea.
Energy security means having a reliable, affordable supply that does not depend too much on other countries.
Suggest why the UK has built so many wind farms at sea rather than on land.
- The UK is an island with long, shallow coastal waters such as the North Sea.
- Winds are stronger and steadier at sea, so turbines make more electricity.
- Turbines at sea are further from homes, so fewer people object to their look and noise.
Answer: Strong, steady winds over shallow seas, and fewer objections than on land.
The energy mix combines non-renewable (coal, oil, gas, nuclear) and renewable (wind, solar, HEP, tidal, geothermal, biomass) sources. Renewables are low carbon but some are intermittent. UK: last coal power station closed in September 2024; renewables made over half of electricity in 2024 and 52.1% in 2025 (DESNZ), led by wind.
- Climate
- The average weather of a place, usually measured over 30 years.
- Climate change
- A long-term change in the Earth's climate. Today's warming is mainly caused by burning fossil fuels.
- Weather
- The day-to-day condition of the atmosphere: temperature, rainfall, wind and cloud.
- Not “It releases large amounts of carbon dioxide”. Nuclear power produces very little carbon dioxide.
Try two quick questions
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2 more questions
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A country uses gas, nuclear, wind and solar. What is this called?
- Its carbon footprint
- Its GDP
- Its energy mix
- Its water footprint
Show the answer
Answer: Its energy mix
The energy mix is the combination of sources used.
Which of these is a renewable energy source?
- Tidal power
- Coal
- Oil
- Natural gas
Show the answer
Answer: Tidal power
Tides are driven by the Moon and will not run out.
Check you have got it
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- National Curriculum in England, Key Stage 3: Geography programme of study
- DESNZ, DUKES 2026 Chapter 5: Electricity
Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 16 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.