Energy Transition Outlook 2019

TR & NSITION ENERGY

Energy Transition Outlook 2019

Pathway 3: Supporting and Deploying Emissions Mitigation Technologies

The third pathway looks to reduce the impact of the uses of oil and gas products in the wider economy. While emissions resulting from the production of oil and gas offshore are 3.5% of the UK’s total GHG emissions, refining, transport, and above all, combustion of these fuels are a much larger proportion.

The use of natural gas in power generation, homes and businesses now produces 50% of the UK’s GHG emissions. Meanwhile, consumption of oil in the form of petrol, diesel and other fuels, including for aviation, comprises 40% of the total. Significant investment across the whole economy will be required to mitigate these emissions.

Many of these applications cannot be provided by renewable or electricity-based solutions rapidly enough to meet the UK’s climate obligations, if at all. Therefore, policies supporting carbon mitigation in these ‘difficult to decarbonise sectors’ must be supported by the government through solutions like CCUS and hydrogen.

Total UK economy emissions by fuel type and sector

Agriculture 5.6 1%

Waste Management 0.3…

LULUCF -11.3 -3%

Public 8.1 2%

Oil & Gas Production 14.63 4%

Non-fuel 1%

Other fuels 3%

Industrial process 10.0 3%

Coal 6%

Energy supply (rest of)

Business 65.9 17%

83.7 22%

Gas 50%

Residential 65.9 17%

Oil 40%

Transport 121.4 31%

Source: BEIS

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