While the UK electrical industry is quietly powering an incredible £38.5 billion in annual turnover, its true strength lies in the vibrant details, from the surge in renewables to the critical need for skilled electricians, that are shaping the future of energy.
Key Takeaways
- The UK electrical industry generated a total turnover of £38.5 billion in 2022, representing 1.8% of UK GDP
- Electrical equipment manufacturing sub-sector contributed £12.4 billion to UK GVA in 2021
- Wholesale of electrical equipment sector grew by 4.2% YoY in 2023 Q1, reaching £6.7 billion
- UK electrical industry employed 650,000 people directly in 2022
- Electrical contractors numbered 42,500 firms employing 220,000 workers in 2023
- 15% of UK electrical workforce aged under 25 in 2022
- UK electricity generation totalled 317 TWh in 2022
- Renewables share of electricity generation reached 41.5% in 2022
- Onshore wind generated 36.7 TWh, 11.6% of total in 2022
- Domestic electricity consumption averaged 3,200 kWh per household in 2022
- Total final electricity consumption 122 TWh domestic sector 2022
- Industrial electricity use 78 TWh in 2022, down 5% YoY
- UK grid investment totalled £8.2 billion in 2022
- Substation projects 150 new/upgrade sites 2023
- Overhead line replacements 1,200 km in 2022
The UK electrical industry is a large and diverse sector vital to the nation's economy and energy transition.
Consumption and Demand
1Domestic electricity consumption averaged 3,200 kWh per household in 2022
Verified2Total final electricity consumption 122 TWh domestic sector 2022
Verified3Industrial electricity use 78 TWh in 2022, down 5% YoY
Verified4Commercial/services sector consumed 92 TWh electricity 2022
Directional5Transport electricity demand 1.2 TWh from EVs in 2022
Single source6Peak demand 53.5 GW winter 2022/23
Verified7Average wholesale price £250/MWh in 2022
Verified8Domestic dual fuel bills averaged £2,500/year in 2023
Verified9Non-domestic max demand tariffs cover 70 GW capacity
Directional10Heat pumps electricity use added 2.5 TWh demand 2022
Single source11Data centres electricity consumption 17 TWh projected 2025 but 12 TWh 2022
Verified12Electricity intensity per GDP fell 2.1% in 2022
Verified13Smart meter rollout 32 million electricity meters by 2023
Verified14Demand side response capacity 5 GW in 2023
Directional15Average household consumption down 9% to 2,900 kWh 2023
Single source16Steel industry electricity use 12 TWh 2022
Verified17Supermarkets refrigeration 15 TWh annually
Verified18EV fleet electricity 0.8 TWh public charging 2022
Verified19Ventilation fans in buildings 8 TWh 2022
Directional20Lighting consumption total 40 TWh across sectors 2022
Single source21Chemical sector electricity 18 TWh 2022
Verified22Remote working reduced office demand 4 TWh 2022
Verified23Hourly peak pricing trials saved 10% peak demand
Verified24Food/beverage industry 14 TWh electricity 2022
Directional25Hospitals/NHS electricity 10 TWh 2022
Single source26Cement production electricity 5 TWh 2022
VerifiedConsumption and Demand Interpretation
While households tightened their belts by 9%, data centers and heat pumps quietly began plugging in their own extensions to the national grid, proving that our electricity story is becoming less about the traditional kettle and more about the server and the heat pump.
Employment and Skills
1UK electrical industry employed 650,000 people directly in 2022
Verified2Electrical contractors numbered 42,500 firms employing 220,000 workers in 2023
Verified315% of UK electrical workforce aged under 25 in 2022
Verified4Average salary for UK electricians £38,500 in 2023
Directional528,000 electrical apprenticeships started in 2022/23
Single source612% gender diversity in electrical installation workforce in 2023
Verified7Shortage of 25,000 skilled electricians reported in 2023
Verified865% of electrical firms reported recruitment difficulties in 2022
Verified9Electrical engineers numbered 45,000 in UK in 2021
Directional10Training spend by electrical firms averaged £2,500 per employee in 2022
Single source1118% growth in electrical technician jobs 2018-2023
Verified12Over 50,000 NICEIC registered electricians in 2023
Verified13Electrical manufacturing employed 85,000 in 2022
Verified147,200 electrical engineering graduates annually in 2022
Directional1532% of workforce hold NVQ Level 3 or above in electrotechnical trades
Single source16Labour turnover rate in electrical contracting 14% in 2023
Verified174,500 new ELECSA certifications issued monthly average 2023
Verified18Female electricians increased 22% from 2018-2023 to 12,000
Verified19Self-employed electricians comprise 55% of workforce, 120,000 in 2022
Directional20Regional employment highest in London/South East at 180,000 jobs
Single source21Average hours worked by electricians 42.3 per week in 2023
Verified229,800 electrical NVQ Level 2 completions in 2022/23
Verified23Zero-hour contracts in electrical sector 3.2% of workforce
Verified24Overseas workers 8% of electrical industry in 2023
Directional25Upskilling in EV charging for 35% of electricians in 2023
Single source26Electrical wholesalers employed 45,000 in 2022
Verified27Youth unemployment in electrical trades 4.1% vs national 12%
Verified282,300 electrical HND/HNC awards in 2022
Verified29Firm size: 78% sole traders/micro firms in contracting
DirectionalEmployment and Skills Interpretation
While boasting nearly half a million sparkies, the UK electrical industry is ironically short-circuiting, with a glaring talent gap, an ageing workforce, and a serious lack of gender diversity, all while trying to power the future on a frayed and fraying cable of recruitment.
Generation and Sources
1UK electricity generation totalled 317 TWh in 2022
Verified2Renewables share of electricity generation reached 41.5% in 2022
Verified3Onshore wind generated 36.7 TWh, 11.6% of total in 2022
Verified4Offshore wind capacity 13.9 GW at end 2022
Directional5Solar PV generation 13.8 TWh in 2022, up 17%
Single source6Gas-fired generation 129 TWh, 40.6% share in 2022
Verified7Nuclear output 70.5 TWh in 2022
Verified8Biomass generation 11.2 TWh in 2022
Verified9Hydro generation 5.1 TWh, 1.6% of total 2022
Directional10Total installed capacity 82.5 GW end 2022
Single source11Interconnector imports 23.4 TWh net in 2022
Verified12Coal generation minimal 0.04 TWh in 2022
Verified13Pumped storage output 2.6 TWh in 2022
Verified14New renewable capacity added 2.2 GW in 2022
Directional15CCGT capacity 30.1 GW operational 2022
Single source16Wind total generation 79.9 TWh, 25% share 2022
Verified17Floating offshore wind pilots 30 MW in 2023
Verified18Energy from waste electrical generation 4.8 TWh 2022
Verified19Total low-carbon generation 182 TWh, 57% in 2022
Directional20Scotland wind generation 30.2 TWh in 2022
Single source21Battery storage capacity reached 3.1 GW end 2022
Verified22UK geothermal electricity pilot 0.02 TWh 2022
Verified23OCGT generation 1.1 TWh peaking in 2022
Verified24Marine energy generation negligible 0.001 TWh 2022
Directional25Total electricity supplied 310 TWh to public in 2022
Single sourceGeneration and Sources Interpretation
Even as renewables now provide a surprisingly respectable 41.5% of our power, that stubborn 40.6% slice from gas-fired generation reminds us we're still in a race against time, not just the elements.
Infrastructure and Investment
1UK grid investment totalled £8.2 billion in 2022
Verified2Substation projects 150 new/upgrade sites 2023
Verified3Overhead line replacements 1,200 km in 2022
Verified4HVDC interconnectors 8 GW capacity 2023
Directional5Smart grid tech investment £1.5 billion 2022
Single source6Underground cabling 500 km laid 2022
Verified7Battery storage projects 50 operational 3 GW 2023
Verified8Offshore grid connections 20 GW planned by 2030
Verified9Distribution network operators capex £5.4 billion 2022
Directional10Transformer manufacturing ramp-up 20% capacity increase 2023
Single source11EV charger installations 50,000 public points 2023
Verified12Grid reinforcement for net zero £20-30 billion needed by 2030
Verified13Digital substations 100 deployed by 2025 target
Verified14Fibre optic for grid comms 10,000 km 2022
Directional15Active network management systems 15 DNOs using 2023
Single source16Offshore wind farm grid connections 14 GW operational 2023
Verified17Voltage control devices 5,000 installed 2022
Verified18RIIO-2 transmission investment £7.9 billion allowed 2021-2026
Verified19Microgrid pilots 20 projects funded £100 million 2023
Directional20Fault levels managed across 400 GW grid 2023
Single source21Cable fault repairs average 24 hours response 2022
Verified22Supergrid transformers 350 units total 2023
Verified23Demand flexibility service procured 1.3 GW response 2023
Verified24HV substation automation 85% coverage 2023
Directional25Interconnector projects under construction 5 GW 2023
Single sourceInfrastructure and Investment Interpretation
The UK is painstakingly rewiring the nation for a green future, one careful, costly, and critical project at a time.
Market Size and Economic Impact
1The UK electrical industry generated a total turnover of £38.5 billion in 2022, representing 1.8% of UK GDP
Verified2Electrical equipment manufacturing sub-sector contributed £12.4 billion to UK GVA in 2021
Verified3Wholesale of electrical equipment sector grew by 4.2% YoY in 2023 Q1, reaching £6.7 billion
Verified4UK electrical contracting market size reached £17.2 billion in 2022
Directional5Exports from UK electrical industry totalled £9.8 billion in 2022, up 3.1% from 2021
Single source6Installation and maintenance services accounted for 45% of electrical industry revenue at £17.3 billion in 2022
Verified7Renewable energy equipment sales within electrical sector hit £4.5 billion in 2023
Verified8Electrical goods retail sector turnover was £5.6 billion in 2022
Verified9UK lighting equipment market valued at £2.1 billion in 2023, growing 5.8%
Directional10Cable and wiring market in UK electrical industry worth £3.4 billion in 2022
Single source11Switchgear and controlgear sector revenue £1.9 billion in 2021
Verified12UK electrical testing and inspection services market £1.2 billion in 2023
Verified13Power distribution equipment imports totalled £7.3 billion in 2022
Verified14Domestic electrical appliances market £8.9 billion in 2022
Directional15Industrial electrical equipment sales £4.7 billion in 2023 Q2
Single source16UK electrical services export value £2.4 billion in 2022
Verified17Smart home electrical devices market £1.5 billion in 2023
Verified18Electrical installation firms' average turnover £450,000 in 2022
Verified19UK electrical R&D spend £1.1 billion in 2022
Directional20EV charging infrastructure equipment market £900 million in 2023
Single source21Electrical repair services sector £650 million in 2022
Verified22UK wire and cable manufacturing output £2.8 billion in 2021
Verified23Electrical wholesalers turnover £11.2 billion in 2023
Verified24Building services electrical sub-sector £6.3 billion in 2022
Directional25UK solar PV electrical components market £1.8 billion in 2023
Single source26Data centre electrical fit-out market £2.2 billion in 2022
Verified27Electrical safety equipment sales £750 million in 2023
Verified28UK wind turbine electrical systems £3.1 billion in 2022
Verified29Commercial electrical contracting £4.9 billion in 2023
Directional30Electrical engineering consultancy fees £1.4 billion in 2022
Single sourceMarket Size and Economic Impact Interpretation
While the UK electrical industry might appear from these figures to be a web of lucrative complexity, its enduring truth is that it fundamentally runs on the simple, serious business of keeping the lights on—and increasingly, on turning them green.
Sources & References
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