The UK’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has published its 2006 Digest of Energy Statistics showing trends in energy supply and demand in the United Kingdom over 2005.
Major trends in 2005 showed a higher gas-coal price differential increasing the commercial attractiveness of coal for electricity generation, and decreasing the amount of electricity generated from gas by 2% to 39% of electricity generation. Coal consumption by major power producers rose by 3.5% in 2005 with 33.5% of total electricity supplied, up from 31% in 2004.
However, an increased demand for fossil fuels which increased the emissions of carbon dioxide by 0.25% over the year.
In 2005 Combined Heat and Power (CHP) capacity increased by 108 MW or 2% with a total electrical capacity of 5,792 MW. There were 29 new schemes but 22 ceased to operate. Electrical output from CHP rose by 8%, to exceed the 30,000 GWh mark for the first time.
Renewable sources increased to 4.2% of total UK electricity generation, up from 3.6% in 2004. Installed generating capacity of renewable sources rose by 20% in 2004, mainly as a result of a 67% increase in wind capacity and an 10% increase in the capacity of sites fuelled by biofuels and wastes.
Total electricity demand in the UK in 2005 was 407 TWh, an increase of 2% on 2004, with the industrial sector the largest consumer with 119 TWh, although the domestic sector was a close second at 117 TWh.
The full report is available at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/dukes/page29812.html