The UK Fossil Fuel and Imported Energy Problems
This essay examines the UK Fossil Fuel and Imported Energy Problems.
It states the problems relating to fossil fuel and imported energy and then provides data for fossil fuel use; including solid fuels; nuclear energy and renewable energy use, imports of energy data and Imports by fuel type.
Conclusions are then drawn.
The Problems
The UK is dependent on fossil fuel use to the level of 76% of its generating capacity.
The dependency on fossil fuels is growing and not decreasing.
The dependency is overcome by importing fossil fuels.
To comply with UN Climate Agreements the UK will need to reduce its fossil fuel use to 34% below 1990 levels by 2020 and then by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
This will cause an energy ‘gap’ between generation capability and consumption in the UK.
(In the data shown below Mtoe = Million Tonnes of Oil Equivalent)
UK Fossil Fuel Use Data
In 2015 the installed generating capacity from fossil fuel use was 76% of the total installed generation capacity (2012 est.) in the UK.
Source: CIA World Factbook 2015
The primary production by energy type in 1990, 2010 and 2013 was made up of
1990
Total Solid fuels Oil Gas Nuclear Renewable Non-Renewable
100% 67% 7% 0.05% 19% 2.6% 4.35%
2010
Total Solid fuels Oil Gas Nuclear Renewable Non-Renewable
100% 32.3% 1.5% 40.4% 17.6% 8% 0.2%
2013
Total primary
Production Solid fuels Oil Gas Nuclear Renewable Non-Renewable
100% 6.7% 38.3% 30.0% 16.6% 7.7% 0.7%
Sources:
Energy production and consumption in 2013 Energy consumption in the EU down to its early 1990s level Eurostat News Release.
Department of Energy and Climate Change (2013-07-25). "Energy consumption in the UK". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
"Statistics at DECC - Department of Energy & Climate Change - GOV.UK". Decc.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
http://stats.berr.gov.uk/energystats/dukes08.pdf
UK Fossil Fuel Use Data
From the primary production data the total fossil fuel use of 1990, 2010, 2013 can be compared
Fossil Fuels
1990 = 74.05%, 2010 = 74.2%, 2013 = 75%.
Therefore fossil fuel use in the UK has been increasing.
UK Nuclear Energy Use Data
From the primary production data the total nuclear energy use of 1990, 2010, 2013 can be compared
Nuclear
1990 = 19%, 2010 = 17.6%. 2013 = 16.6%
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_the_United_Kingdom#Decommissioning
Therefore nuclear fuel use in the UK has been decreasing and will actually be phased out by 2035.
UK Renewable Energy Use Data
From the primary production data the total renewable energy use of 1990, 2010, 2013 can be compared
Renewable fuel use
1990 = 2.6%, 2010 = 8%, 2013 = 7.7%
Sources:
Department of Energy and Climate Change (2013-07-25). "Energy consumption in the UK". GOV.UK.
"Statistics at DECC - Department of Energy & Climate Change - GOV.UK". Decc.gov.uk.
http://stats.berr.gov.uk/energystats/dukes08.pdf
Energy production and consumption in 2013 Energy consumption in the EU down to its early 1990s level
Eurostat News Release.
Therefore renewable fuel use had increased but is currently decreasing in the UK.
Imports of Energy Data
Total Imports
In 2011 the UK imported 39% of its energy needs.
Source: Energy imports and exports Standard Note: SN/SG/4046 Last updated: 30 August 2013
Author: Paul Bolton Social & General Statistics
In 2011, 41% of oil supplies and 26% of gas supplies came from imports.
If continued to 2020, the UK could be importing nearly 50% of its oil and 55% or more of its gas.
Source: Energy from Waste a Guide to the debate February 2014. DEFRA
Imports by Fuel Type
Solid Fuels
In 2012 net coal imports made up 13.3% of UK primary energy supply.
In 2012 the UK’s largest single sources of coal /solid fuel imports were Russia (40%), Columbia (26%) and the US (24%).
Source: Energy imports and exports Standard Note: SN/SG/4046 Last updated: 30 August 2013
Author: Paul Bolton Social & General Statistics
Oil
In 2006 the UK became a net importer of petroleum and has remained a net importer.
In 2012 50% of the 55 million tonnes of crude oil imported to the UK came from Norway.
The next largest single sources were Nigeria (12%), Russia (11%) and Algeria (6%).
Source: Energy imports and exports Standard Note: SN/SG/4046 Last updated: 30 August 2013
Author: Paul Bolton Social & General Statistics
Gas
Direct sources of imported gas have increased in the UK in recent years.
In 2012 55% of the UK gas imports came from Norway.
In 2012 15% of the UK gas imports came from the Netherlands and 27% from Qatar.
Source: Energy imports and exports Standard Note: SN/SG/4046 Last updated: 30 August 2013
Author: Paul Bolton Social & General Statistics
Electricity
The UK has been a net importer of electricity with France since 1986.
The UK also imports electricity from the Netherlands.
Source: Energy imports and exports Standard Note: SN/SG/4046 Last updated: 30 August 2013
Author: Paul Bolton Social & General Statistics
Therefore the UK is a net importer of fossil fuels and energy
Conclusions
The UK must stop importing fossil fuels and energy.
The UK must reduce and then remove its dependency on fossil fuel use.
The UK must re-structure its whole energy system to serve only the UK by 2020 up to 2050 using only renewable energy sources.
The UK must decentralize its energy generation to a household generation level to allow the general public to meet their own consumption requirements.
The UK must radically increase its renewable energy generation levels to allow for an increasing population, increasing consumption and decreasing solid, fossil and nuclear energy generation.
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
08/05/2015
14/10/2020
940 words over 3 pages