This article examines changes and trends in the capacity of UK electricity generation assets in the period 2000 to 2019. In particular, the article draws attention to dramatic changes to capacity by fuel and technology, which drove changes in the generation mix. The data in this article are taken from chapters 5 and 6 of the Digest of
United Kingdom Energy Statistics (DUKES) 2020; the definitions are thus identical to those in DUKES. Note that fossil fuel-fired capacity totals in this article include coal, oil, mixed and dual fuelled conventional steam
stations, combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) stations, gas turbines and oil engines and combined heat and
power plants (electrical capacity only) as listed in DUKES table 5.7. Renewable electricity generation capacity includes hydroelectric (natural flow) stations, wind, solar, shoreline wave, tidal, bioenergy and waste as
defined in DUKES table 6.4.