Economic Report 2021 - OGUK

Figure 3: UK Energy Consumption

Oil

Natural Gas Coal

Bioenergy & waste Nuclear

Wind, solar and hydro Net Imports

250

200

150

100

UK Energy Consumption (Mtoe)

50

0

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

Source: BEIS

Coal: Coal demand for electricity generation was 30 per cent down in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020 (to the lowest first quarter levels on record) as coal-fired generation (2.8 per cent of total electricity generation) continues to be displaced in favour of gas-fired and renewable power. The UK has committed to ceasing coal use by 1October 2024, through amanaged decline in coal- fired electricity generation. Domestic coal production mirrored this, with a 53 per cent reduction largely driven by the closure of Fiddlers Ferry and Aberthaw mines in March 2020.

having grown its percentage share of total electricity significantly over the last two decades, to 41.6 per cent today. In Q1 2021, total electricity demand was 3 per cent lower compared with the same period last year. Whilst renewable power generation was down 5.6 per cent compared to 2020, largely due to less favourable conditions for wind generation, gas-fired electricity generation rose by 6.8 per cent per cent to help balance supplies.

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