GB electricity market summary Q1 2026
Track the key movements in Great Britain’s power market from January to March 2026, including prices, demand, generation and imports.
What shaped the market in Q1 2026
Strong wind output, shifting demand and global gas markets defined the quarter.
Record wind generation
Wind output reached 29.2 TWh in Q1 2026, supported by storm activity in January and making wind the largest renewable source in Great Britain.
Gas price volatility returned
NBP gas prices rose from GBP 25.9/MWh at the start of January to a quarterly high of GBP 52.6/MWh in March following geopolitical disruption.
Cold weather lifted demand
A cold spell in early January pushed peak demand to 47.3 GW, the highest level since March 2018.
Imports remained essential
Net imports totalled 6.1 TWh, helping support the system during tighter conditions and lower renewable periods.
Power prices stayed sensitive
Day-ahead prices reached GBP 121.4/MWh in early January, with hourly prices peaking around GBP 182/MWh during system stress.
Q1 2026 at a glance
The key numbers behind the quarter.
Total renewables: 40.3 TWh
Renewables excluding biomass: 33.2 TWh
Gas generation: 22.5 TWh
Nuclear generation: 8.4 TWh
Net imports: 6.1 TWh
Renewables share of generation: 52%
Total GB consumption: 77.3 TWh
Clean power strengthened its role
Renewables became the largest source of generation in Great Britain.
Renewable output rose to 40.3 TWh, up from 33.7 TWh in Q1 2025. Growth was led by stronger wind generation, while renewables accounted for 52% of total generation during the quarter.
Why prices stayed volatile
Weather and fuel markets continued to shape power prices.
Prices surged during colder periods when demand increased and renewable output fell. Later in the quarter, higher gas prices fed directly into wholesale electricity prices, reinforcing gas as the main price-setting fuel.
What comes next in Q2 2026
The market enters Q2 with higher uncertainty.
Forward baseload power contracts traded between GBP 69/MWh and GBP 77/MWh through January before rising above GBP 100/MWh in March and peaking near GBP 109/MWh. Seasonal lower demand and renewable output may ease conditions, but the outlook remains highly sensitive to global gas markets and geopolitical developments.
Why download the report
Get the full market picture with deeper analysis and supporting data.
Quarterly price comparisons
Generation mix trends
Gas market movements
Demand and imports analysis
Q2 forward market outlook
Supporting charts and tables