UK energy consumption down, imports up

The UK is consuming less energy than it did in 1998. Energy consumption fell by 17% between 1998 and 2015, new data from the Office from National Statistics (ONS) reveals. […]

The UK is consuming less energy than it did in 1998.

Energy consumption fell by 17% between 1998 and 2015, new data from the Office from National Statistics (ONS) reveals.

That’s due to the increased use of energy efficient technologies, government policies designed to reduce consumption and a decline of manufacturing, especially in energy-intensive industries, it states.

It adds the percentage of total energy consumption from renewable and waste sources has risen to 9% during the same period.

Earlier this month, BEIS stated 25% of the country’s electricity comes from renewables.

However, the decline in North Sea oil and gas production has increased the UK’s reliance on imports of energy.

Since 1998 the UK has gone from being a net exporter to a net importer of energy while Germany, Spain, France and Italy have all consistently imported more energy than they exported, the ONS states.

In 2014, the UK’s import dependency was below the EU average and the country was the least dependent on foreign sources of energy compared to Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

However, even though the UK’s reliance on imported energy is still below its EU neighbours, the UK is now more in line with them than it has been in recent history, the ONS adds.

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