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Coal down and renewables up lead to lower carbon emissions in 2017

UK carbon emissions and coal production both fell in 2017, by 3% and 27% respectively, while renewable power generation rose by 19% – according to early and provisional data published by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). 

The rise of renewable electricity generation means that low carbon (including nuclear) sources generated slightly more than half of UK electricity needs last year. 

Other changes were more marginal. The main points for 2017 were: 

  • Total UK energy production was 0.4% higher than in 2016, a rise for the third year running, due to rises in output from gas, bioenergy, wind, solar and hydro. 

  • Energy imports in 2017 were 0.9% higher than in 2016, whilst exports rose by 4.4% – as a result, net import dependency fell back slightly, from 36.2% to 35.8%. 

  • Crude oil and NGL production was 2.0% lower than in 2016, while natural gas production was 0.3% higher.

  • Coal production was 27% lower than in 2016, and at a record low level, due to a number of mines not operating and other mines producing less coal as they are coming to the end of production. Imports of coal in 2017 were at a similar level to 2016.

  • Final energy consumption was 1.0% lower than in 2016, with rises in the industry and transport sectors offset by falls in the domestic and services sectors. On a temperature-adjusted basis it is estimated to have risen by 0.5%. 

  • Gas demand was 2.6% lower than in 2016, driven by lower use of gas in electricity generation; while electricity consumption was 1.9% lower due to the warmer weather. 

  • Total electricity generation in 2017 fell by 1.0%, with falls in generation from coal and gas offset by an increase from renewables. 

  • Of electricity generated in 2017, gas accounted for 39.7% (down 2.5% compared to 2016) and coal 6.7% (a fall of 2.3%). Nuclear’s share decreased by 0.2% to 20.9%.

  • Renewable electricity generation was 98.9 TWh in 2017, a record high and an increase of 18.8% on the 2016 total, due to increased capacity and higher wind speeds. Renewables’ share of electricity generation increased by 4.9% to 29.4%. Renewable electricity capacity was 40.5 GW at the end of 2017, a 13.3% increase on a year earlier. 

  • Low carbon electricity’s share of generation thus increased from 45.7% in 2016 to a record high of 50.4% in 2017. 

Provisional estimates show that carbon dioxide emissions fell between 2016 and 2017 by 3%; the key factor being the switch in generation from coal and gas to renewable sources.

News Item details


Journal title: Energy World

Subjects: Energy consumption, Renewables, Production, Carbon emissions, Renewable energy

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