A record 16% of UK electricity imported so far this year
Imports driven by higher UK baseload prices than in Europe
Regulatory reform to accelerate nuclear deployment vital to UK energy security
The UK is more dependent on imported electricity than at any point on record, with an average of 16% of supply coming from overseas this year, according to new analysis of National Energy System Operator (NESO) data by the Nuclear Industry Association.
In the first nine months of 2025 Britain imported a net total of 25 TWh of power – enough electricity for roughly 6 million homes – and is on course to match or surpass the record 33.3 TWh net import total for 2024.
July saw the highest ever proportion of imported electricity to Britain, making up 19.5% of the mix, second only to gas. In seven of the other eight months this year, imports were the third largest source of electricity.
The system operator says the UK tends to import power because it has higher baseload prices than in Europe. The UK has shrinking clean baseload capacity of just 5.9 GW, as nuclear stations retire, whereas France has 63 GW of nuclear power underpinning its grid.
French nuclear is the leading source of imported electricity to the UK, which totalled a record 19.5 TWh in 2024 according to official government data.
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association said:
“Restoring our lost nuclear capacity is vital to UK energy security so the Government is right to move ahead with Sizewell C and Rolls-Royce SMRs.
“As we saw in the recent UK-US nuclear deals there is huge interest from emerging industries and international investors in bringing more nuclear projects to Britain, which will give us control over our power, protect consumers from volatile prices, and reindustrialise the country. But to make that happen, we need smarter, proportionate regulation that upholds safety while giving investors the confidence to move at pace.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- NIA analysed data from NESO’s monthly energy stats from January 2025 through August 2025. Their data can be accessed here: https://www.neso.energy/energy-101/great-britains-monthly-energy-stats
- Annual net imports and average monthly share: 2024 (33.3 TWh; 14.4%), 2023 (23.9 TWh ; 12.2%), 2022 (-3.1 TWh & 5.4%), 2021 (46.9 TWh; 10.4%).
- In its 2024 Summer Outlook, NESO said: “This summer we expect: To see net imports into Great Britain from the Continent as both baseload and peak forward electricity prices are higher than those on the Continent as both baseload and peak forward electricity prices are higher than those on the Continent.” It can be accessed here: https://www.nationalgrideso.com/document/316126/download (Page 13).
- France is Europe’s largest net exporter of power.
- The UK and US struck a landmark nuclear energy partnership to fast-track approvals and unlock billions in private investment, potentially creating 2,500 jobs and strengthening energy security.
- The independent Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce found the UK’s nuclear regulation to be too slow and costly, and will soon produce its final report on how to streamline regulation, boost capacity, and enable faster, more affordable delivery of nuclear programmes.
About the NIA
As the trade association for the civil nuclear industry in the UK, the Nuclear Industry Association represents over 300 companies across the UK’s nuclear supply chain.
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