When you switch on a light or turn on the TV, do you think about where that power comes from? In the UK, our use of renewable energy is growing each year – solar panels are popping up on roofs and it’s increasingly common to spot a wind turbine or two on a long journey. But how much of what travels through the pylons and cables that crisscross the country is really renewable?
When it comes to energy, knowledge is quite literally power. So test yours in our interactive renewable energy quiz.
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What percentage of the UK’s electricity came from renewable sources in 2025?
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22.5%.
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72.5%.
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52.5%.
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Which energy source generates the most electricity in the UK?
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Gas.
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Wind.
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Solar.
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Nuclear.
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True or false? Solar panels generate power even on cloudy days.
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True.
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False.
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What is the main purpose of the national grid?
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Its pylons and cables are great places for birds to sit.
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To safely transport electricity across the UK.
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To generate power for our homes.
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True or false? The UK has stopped burning coal to generate electricity.
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True.
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False.
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Not accounting for infrastructure costs, which are the cheapest sources of electricity generation?
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Wind and large-scale solar.
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Nuclear and gas.
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Large-scale solar and hydroelectric.
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Biomass and wind.
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Which of the below are possible on a solar farm?
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Grazing sheep.
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Growing crops.
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Wildflower meadows.
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All of the above.
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True or false? If I have a 100% renewable electricity tariff, all the power I use comes from renewable sources.
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True.
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False.
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What is hourly energy matching?
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When there are equal amounts of energy in the grid from all the different kinds of power sources.
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When the amount of electricity supplied to the grid is the same as the amount used.
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When energy companies match the power their customers are using, with power being generated by renewables, in real time.
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Which energy supplier offers hourly energy matching with renewable generation for all large business energy customers as standard?
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None in the UK.
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All of the big five.
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Good Energy.
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Solutions
1:C - In 2025, a record 52.5% of the UK’s electricity was generated by renewable sources, up from 50.4% in 2024. On the sunniest day (July 8) 43% of the grid was powered by solar alone., 2:B - In 2025, 30% of UK electricity was generated by wind turbines. As an island in the north-east Atlantic, we’re in prime position to make the most of wind power. On 11 November, a new British wind energy generation record was set, powering the needs of more than 22m homes and generating 39% of the nation’s overall electricity demand., 3:A - The sun doesn’t have to be shining at full brightness for solar panels to work. Light, not heat generates electricity for solar. Modern solar panels can absorb diffuse light (the light that filters through the clouds), although most power is generated on sunnier days., 4:B - The national grid is a system of cables, pylons and transformers that safely deliver electricity to consumers for use in their homes., 5:A - In 2024, the UK shut down its last coal power station after 142 years of using the energy source. In the 1950s, coal provided the overwhelming majority of British energy and, while globally it remains high, for the first time in a century, coal was overtaken by renewables last year., 6:A - Financing, installation and maintenance all do cost, but much less than other forms of electricity., 7:D - Solar farms can be a surprisingly efficient use of space. They turn fields into much-needed alternative income sources, while still allowing for grazing or growing. Pairing solar panels with wildflowers can provide habitats for wildlife, creating biodiversity hotspots. , 8:B - Not always. It’s worth doing your research into how green your supplier really is. The Matched Clean Power Index is a great, free resource to check. In the UK, suppliers can buy renewable energy guarantees of origin certificates (Regos) to make it seem like the energy they are providing is sustainably sourced when it may not be., 9:C - You can't get to a fully green grid if renewable energy isn't being generated when people really need it. Hourly energy matching makes sure that energy in equals energy out in real time. , 10:C - Good Energy is the first energy supplier to provide all large business energy customers with their energy matching data, as standard – leading to transparent, credible sustainability reporting. As the Matched Clean Power Index shows, the company matches 88% within the same half hour, then 90% is matched within the same hour and everything else is matched over the course of the year. This tops the tables compared to all other UK energy suppliers.
Scores
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10 and above.
High. Well done! Your renewable energy knowledge is clearly working at full capacity.
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9 and above.
High. Well done! Your renewable energy knowledge is clearly working at full capacity.
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8 and above.
High. Well done! Your renewable energy knowledge is clearly working at full capacity.
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7 and above.
Medium. Not bad! You have some good renewable energy knowledge – but you’ll need to crank up the current to get full points.
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6 and above.
Medium. Not bad! You have some good renewable energy knowledge – but you’ll need to crank up the current to get full points.
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5 and above.
Medium. Not bad! You have some good renewable energy knowledge – but you’ll need to crank up the current to get full points.
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4 and above.
Medium. Not bad! You have some good renewable energy knowledge – but you’ll need to crank up the current to get full points.
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3 and above.
Low. Oh dear, your energy knowledge isn’t fit for purpose. A bit like fossil fuels …
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2 and above.
Low. Oh dear, your energy knowledge isn’t fit for purpose. A bit like fossil fuels …
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0 and above.
Low. Oh dear, your energy knowledge isn’t fit for purpose. A bit like fossil fuels …
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1 and above.
Low. Oh dear, your energy knowledge isn’t fit for purpose. A bit like fossil fuels …
