Actual cost of generating electricity in UK?
I have been trying to find out the cost of generating electricity in Britain from the various different methods used. The figures below are from the Google AI Overview and do NOT include the results of the war in Iran or the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The benchmark since the establishment of the Wholesale Price Market in 1990 has been the cost of generating electricity in gas-fired power stations. Before March 2026 this was £114/MWh.
Compared to this, on-shore wind is £38/MWh’
Off-shore wind is £44/MWh.
Large-scale solar is £41/MWh
Hinkley Point nuclear, when it comes on=stream is £128/MWh.
Biomass (Drax) is £138/MWh.
Meanwhile the Rance tidal barrage in Brittany produces electricity for £18/MWh.
Compared to these figures other European countries have the following average costs:-
France – £66/MWh. (mainly from old nuclear reactors)
Germany – £89/MWh. (surface mined coal)
These figures do not include capital costs (except for nuclear). We are obviously doing the right thing in transferring as much as possible of our generation to wind and solar sources. However, one wonders why the government is thinking of committing to further nuclear power stations and why no consideration has been given to tidal power. I will go into this next week.
If you wish to get in touch with me about any of the matters I raise in my blogs, you can contact me through my website or at mike@mikehillier.co.uk.
Mike.
