A solar-shaped chart that captures a year of progress
JJ36 – BBC News analysis by Mark Poynting, Becky Dale and Jess Carr
We’re kicking off Rows and Columns in 2026 with some genuinely good news, the BBC has announced some real progress on the critical issue of renewable energy.
Using provisional data from the National Energy System Operator (NESO), the article shows that 2025 was a record year for renewable electricity generation in Great Britain. The most striking change came from solar power that produced over 6% of Britain’s electricity, an increase of nearly a third compared with 2024.
The article also shows how far the system has already shifted. On roughly a third of days in 2025, at least half of Britain’s electricity came from renewables. Carbon intensity has fallen sharply over the past decade, even though fossil gas still plays a significant role. The article is clear that further progress will depend on grid upgrades, energy storage, and other low-carbon sources.
By using time of day as the x-axis and time of year as the y-axis, the BBC’s data visualisation showing solar contribution naturally adopts the circular shape of the sun. The addition of the colour bar shows how the solar share of electricity generation has intensified over time.
Overall, this piece and its use of data visualisation stands out for its simplicity and clarity. It’s a concise, well-designed snapshot that makes a complex energy transition legible, while also highlighting that meaningful progress is already underway.
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