Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources

This indicator was added following indicator changes from the United Nations 2020 Comprehensive Review. The indicator it replaced has been archived.

Sub-categories

Choose categories from the dropdowns below to see different breakdowns of the data. Some will not be available until a higher level is chosen.

Download Headline CSV Download Source CSV

Download source CSV for disaggregations

Headline data

Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources
Year Value Units Series GeoCode Observation status Unit multiplier
2008 110.5869309772 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2009 128.5596965452 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2010 147.4817679474 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2011 195.6422939925 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2012 245.6414033958 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2013 311.374671538 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2014 385.7707972364 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2015 475.5897409081 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2016 543.0586170679 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2017 610.1213418441 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2018 664.233401589 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2019 701.1143034183 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units
2020 712.770003136 Watts per capita Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources Normal value Units

Source: Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategey

Geographical Area: United Kingdom

Unit of Measurement: Watts per capita

Footnote:

1. Information for energy capacity as at 31 December

2. Data for population are mid year estimates

3. Data for offshore wind are allocated to the Region/Country that the cables come ashore

4. Data showing 0 are less than 50 GW capacity in the Region/Country

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available

Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources
Indicator description
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Unit of measurement

Watts per capita
Definitions

Solar PV - the direct conversion of solar radiation into electricity by the interaction of light with the electrons in a semiconductor device or cell.

Bioenergy - renewable energy made from material of recent biological origin derived from plant or animal matter, known as biomass.

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) - a natural process in which microorganisms break down organic matter, in the absence of oxygen, into biogas (a mixture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane) and digestate (a nitrogen-rich fertiliser). The biogas can be used directly in engines for Combined Heat and Power (CHP), burned to produce heat, or can be cleaned and used in the same way as natural gas or as a vehicle fuel.
Available disaggregations

Region; Renewable source
Calculations

Type of Energy (in Watts)/Population
Other information

Source 1 contains an estimate of non-fossil fuelled capacity used for co-firing of renewables based on the proportion of generation accounted for by the renewable source that is not reported here. This is applicable for Other Bioenergy and the sub category Biomass and Waste.

In each year, some sites have not been attributed to a region so that data related to individual companies are not disclosed. Specific information related to this is contained within the tables in the source 1 data link under the Sources tab.

Data follows the UN specification for this indicator. This indicator has been identified in collaboration with topic experts.

Data last updated 13 April 2022
Metadata last updated 13 April 2022

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name

Installed renewable energy-generating capacity in developing countries (in watts per capita)
Target name

By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support
Global indicator description
UN designated tier

Tier I
UN custodian agency

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals metadata for target 7.b opens in a new window

Source 1

Organisation

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategey
Periodicity

Annual
Earliest available data

2003
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Link to data source Regional Renewable Statistics opens in a new window
Release date 30 September 2021
Next release

29/09/2022
Statistical classification

National statistics
Contact details

renewablesstatistics@beis.gov.uk
Other information

Data can be found in the Regional Statistics 2003-2020 Installed Capacity tables.

Source 2

Organisation

Office For National Statistics (Nomis)
Periodicity

Annual
Earliest available data

1981
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Link to data source Population Estimates opens in a new window
Release date 25 June 2021
Next release

30/06/2022
Statistical classification

National statistics
Contact details

pop.info@ons.gov.uk
Other information

The calculation is performed using the mid year population estimates.
Back to top