Energy mix in the UK in 2015 and 2016

The UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published new statistics on the energy mix called the Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2017.

It contains tables and extensive commentary, charts and technical notes. In the UK, energy sources had the following shares in energy generation in 2015 and 2016:

Illustration
  • nuclear - 21% (2015) -> 21% (2016)
  • coal - 22% (2015) -> 9% (2016)
  • gas - 29% (2015) -> 42% (2016)
  • renewables – 24.6% (2015) -> 24.5% (2016)

The share of nuclear power on the total electricity consumption is actually higher, because the UK is a net importer of electricity, mainly from France, which produces most of its electricity in nuclear power stations. Imports, however, fell by 13% and exports increased by 21%.

The share of low-carbon electricity generation increased slightly from 46.2% in 2015 to 46.5% in 2016. Nuclear power stations produced electricity 77% of the time. However, the output from wind, solar and hydro power fell in 2016, as the UK experienced worse wind, rain and sunny conditions than in 2015.

New electric cars and the government’s plans to stop sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2040 will put added pressure on the UK's electricity grid. National Grid's Future Energy Scenarios 2017 predicts electric vehicles could add eight gigawatts of demand at peak times.

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Article source World Nuclear Association (WNA) - international organization promoting nuclear energy
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