Scotland Live Carbon Intensity
How clean is the electricity powering Scottish homes right now? Updated every 30 minutes from National Grid data.
Last updated: —
What's generating Scotland's electricity right now?
Carbon intensity forecast — next 24 hours
💡 Why does this matter?
Running high-energy appliances (washing machine, dishwasher, EV charging) when carbon intensity is low means your electricity comes from more renewable sources. The best times are usually when Scottish wind output is highest — often overnight or during windy afternoons.
Scotland vs GB
| Current gCO₂/kWh | 24h Average | Carbon Category | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏴 Scotland | — | — | — |
| 🇬🇧 GB National | — | — | — |
Scotland typically has lower carbon intensity than the GB average due to its large wind, hydro and nuclear capacity. On the windiest days, Scotland's carbon intensity can fall below 50 gCO₂/kWh.
What this means for your home
Electric heating & heat pumps
If you have a heat pump or electric heating, using it when carbon intensity is low (green on the gauge) maximises your environmental benefit and can reduce costs on time-of-use tariffs.
EV charging
Charge your electric vehicle overnight or during high-wind periods when Scotland's grid is at its cleanest. Many EV tariffs already do this automatically.
Solar panels
Solar panels generate zero-carbon electricity regardless of grid intensity. Combined with a battery, you can store clean energy for use when the grid is at its dirtiest.
Estimate your solar savings →Carbon intensity and generation mix data sourced from the National Grid ESO Carbon Intensity API (carbonintensity.org.uk). Updated every 30 minutes. Scotland = Region 17 in the Carbon Intensity API regional dataset.