Electricity sector in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The electricity sector in the United Kingdom relies mainly on fossil fuelled power and 15-20 % in nuclear power. The use of electricity declined 11 % in 2009 compared to 2004 and respectively the renewable energy
per cent share of total electricity use increased 2.8 %. The annual use of electricity declined 736 kWh per person in 2009 compared to 2004. In 2008 nuclear electricity production was 860 kWh pro person. The share of wind power was 3.2% of electricity when top countries were Denmark (24% of electricity), Spain (14.4%), Portugal (14%), Ireland (10.1%) and Germany (9.3%). The United Kingdom ended voluntarily the use of lightbulbs in 2011.
banned incandescent lightbulbs
from 2012. The United Kingdom banned them voluntarily from 2011 after Ireland in 2009.
(3.2 %). In 2009 the UK’s own gas production was less and natural gas was also imported.
in the UK was 5,204 MW at the end of 2010 and 4,245 MW at the end of 2009. The share of wind power was 3.2% of electricity when top countries were Denmark (24%), Spain (14.4%), Portugal (14%), Ireland (10.1%) and Germany (9.3%). The wind power share of the EU electricity need was in the end of 2010 5.3%.
the UK was top electricity importer 6 th importing 11 TWh after (TWh): Brazil 42, Italy 40, United States 33, Netherlands 16 and Finland
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Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
per cent share of total electricity use increased 2.8 %. The annual use of electricity declined 736 kWh per person in 2009 compared to 2004. In 2008 nuclear electricity production was 860 kWh pro person. The share of wind power was 3.2% of electricity when top countries were Denmark (24% of electricity), Spain (14.4%), Portugal (14%), Ireland (10.1%) and Germany (9.3%). The United Kingdom ended voluntarily the use of lightbulbs in 2011.
Lighting
The European CommissionEuropean Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
banned incandescent lightbulbs
Banning of incandescent lightbulbs
Some governments around the world have passed measures to phase out incandescent light bulbs for general lighting. The aim is to encourage the use and technological development of more energy-efficient lighting alternatives, such as compact fluorescent lamp and LED lamps...
from 2012. The United Kingdom banned them voluntarily from 2011 after Ireland in 2009.
Electricity per person and by power source
| Electricity per person in the United Kingdom (kWh/ hab.) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use | Production | Import | Import % | Fossil | Nuclear Nuclear power Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity... |
Nuc. Nuclear power Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity... % |
Other RE Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from... * |
Bio Biomass Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel.... +waste |
Wind | Non RE Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from... use* |
RE Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from... %* |
|
| 2004 | 6,741 | 6,615 | 125 | 1.9 % | 4,988 | 1,337 | 19.8 % | 159 | 132 | 6,450 | 4.3 % | |
| 2005 | 6,791 | 6,651 | 139 | 2.0 % | 4,902 | 1,355 | 20.0 % | 180 | 214 | 6,397 | 5.8 % | |
| 2006 | 6,624 | 6,539 | 86 | 1.3 % | 5,059 | 1,026 | 15.5 % | 251 | 203 | 6,171 | 6.8 % | |
| 2008 | 6,573 | 6,392 | 180 | 2.8 % | 5,069 | 860 | 13.1 % | 266 | 198 | 6,108 | 7.1 % | |
| 2009 | 6,005 | 5,958 | 47 | 0.8 % | 4,411 | 1,120 | 18.7 % | 84* | 204 | 138* | 5,579 | 7.1 % |
| * Other RE Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from... is waterpower, solar and geothermal electricity Geothermal electricity Geothermal electricity is electricity generated from geothermal energy.Technologies in use include dry steam power plants, flash steam power plants and binary cycle power plants... and windpower until 2008 * Non RE use = use – production of renewable electricity * RE % = (production of RE / use) * 100 % Note: EU Renewable energy in the European Union The countries of the European Union are currently the number two global leaders in the development and application of renewable energy. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources is important both to the reduction of the EU's dependence on foreign energy imports, and in meeting targets to combat... calculates the share of renewable energies in gross electrical consumption. |
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Mode of production
The gross production of electricity was 393 TWh in 2004 which gave the 9th position in the world top producers in 2004.Gas
Electricity was produced with gas 160 TWh in 2004 and 177 TWh in 2008. The United Kingdom was 4th top electricity producer from gas both in 2004 and in 2008. In 2005 the UK produced 3.2 % of the world total natural gas having the 5th top position after Russia (21.8 %), United States (18 %), Canada (6.5 %) and AlgeriaEnergy in Algeria
Energy in Algeria describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Algeria. Energy policy of Algeria will describe the energy policy in the politics of Algeria more in detail. Algeria is an OPEC country.-Overview:-Natural gas:...
(3.2 %). In 2009 the UK’s own gas production was less and natural gas was also imported.
Nuclear power
The installed nuclear power capacity in the United Kingdom was 11 GW in 2008. The production of nuclear power was 80 TWh in 2004 (2.9 % of world total) and 63 TWh in 2007 (2.3 % of world total) The production of nuclear electricity was lower in 2006 and 2008 than the actual capacity. The electricity consumption declined in 2009 compared to 2004 by 736 kWh/person when the nuclear energy was produced at nearly same volume 860 kWh/person in 2008. Further, Denmark produced more wind power pro person (1,218 kWh/person) than the United Kingdom produced annually nuclear power pro person in 2006-2009 (860-1,120 kWh/person).Wind power
Installed wind powerWind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
in the UK was 5,204 MW at the end of 2010 and 4,245 MW at the end of 2009. The share of wind power was 3.2% of electricity when top countries were Denmark (24%), Spain (14.4%), Portugal (14%), Ireland (10.1%) and Germany (9.3%). The wind power share of the EU electricity need was in the end of 2010 5.3%.
Power stations
Export /Import
The export of electricity was 1-3 % of consumption between 2004-2009. According to IEAInternational Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974 in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis...
the UK was top electricity importer 6 th importing 11 TWh after (TWh): Brazil 42, Italy 40, United States 33, Netherlands 16 and Finland
Electricity sector in Finland
The electricity sector in Finland relies on nuclear power, forest industry black liquor and wood consumption, cogeneration and electricity import from Russia. In 2008 the consumption of electricity in Finland was 17 036 kWh/person. The European union average was 7 409 kWh/person...
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See also
- Energy in the United Kingdom
- Energy policy of the United KingdomEnergy policy of the United KingdomThe current energy policy of the United Kingdom is set out in the Energy White Paper of May 2007 and Low Carbon Transition Plan of July 2009, building on previous work including the 2003 Energy White Paper and the Energy Review Report in 2006...