DECC has just released their statistics for energy use in 2012. Energy Desk takes a look at the key points from the report.
1. Renewables on the rise
Electricity generation from renewables rose by 19% in 2012. In total renewables accounted for 11.3% of UK electricity production. Driven by the high uptake of the Feed in Tariffs onshore wind, offshore wind and solar PV capacity increased 27%, 63% and 71% respectively.
2. Coal’s revival in electricity generation continues
As previously reported by Energy Desk, coal’s comeback in the UK energy sector continued in 2012. Electricity generation from coal rose to 38% (up from 29% in 2011), its highest share since 1996. The main contributing factor behind the coal resurgence was the high gas price. Consequently gas contributed 28% of the share of electricity generation, down from 41% the previous year.
The demise of gas was so complete in fact that last year offshore wind produced power more of the time than gas - with a load factor of 33% compared to 30%.
3. And that means more imported coal
Coal imports rocketed by 38% in 2012. The UK imported 45 million tonnes in 2012, a 12 million tonne increase on 2011. 40% came from Russia, 26% from Colombia and 24% from the USA.
4. UK importing more and more energy
The UK imported more energy than ever before in 2012, up 6.9% on 2011. Nearly 50% of both our oil and gas imports came from Norway, whilst Russia shipped us 40% of our imported coal. Net import dependency reached 43%, its highest level since the 1970s.
