Energy in the United Kingdom

One such announcement was the Low Carbon Transition Plan launched by the Brown ministry in July 2009, which aimed to generate 30% electricity from renewable sources, and 40% from low-carbon content fuels by 2020.

[9] During the European financial crisis, Europe's consumption of electricity shrank by 5%, with primary production also facing a noticeable decline.

In 2022, the United Kingdom's total energy supply (TES) was primarily composed of natural gas, contributing 39.4%, followed by oil at 34.8%, nuclear power at 8.1%, and coal at 3.2%.

Biofuels and waste contributed 8.9%, while other renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydro collectively accounted for 5.6% of the energy mix.

[21] In 2021, oil products in the United Kingdom were primarily consumed by the transport sector, constituting 72.7% of usage.

[22] In October 2022, it was confirmed that UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, would be issuing hundreds of new oil and gas licenses.

[23] In the same month, Truss said she will not tax the profits of oil and gas corporations to pay for a freeze in energy bills.

[27] In 2021, coal consumption in the United Kingdom was primarily driven by the industrial sector, accounting for 72.9% of usage.

As renewable heat and fuel production in the United Kingdom are at extremely low bases, RenewableUK estimates that this will require 35–40% of the United Kingdom's electricity to be generated from renewable sources by that date,[40] to be met largely by 33–35 GW of installed wind capacity.

[44] In August and September 2021, the UK had to restart coal plants, amidst a lack of wind, as power imports from Europe were insufficient to satisfy demand.

[45][46] At the end of 2011, there were 230,000 solar power projects in the United Kingdom,[47] with a total installed generating capacity of 750 MW.

[49] Solar power use has increased very rapidly in recent years, albeit from a small base, as a result of reductions in the cost of photovoltaic (PV) panels, and the introduction of a Feed-in tariff (FIT) subsidy in April 2010.

In South America and Asia, the production of biofuels for export has in some cases resulted in significant ecological damage, including the clearing of rainforest.

[52] The UK is importing large quantities of wood pellets from the United States, replacing coal at several generating stations.

[53] Investigations into the exploitation of Geothermal power in the United Kingdom, prompted by the 1973 oil crisis, were abandoned as fuel prices fell.

In 2004, it was announced that a further scheme would be built to heat the UK's first geothermal energy model village near Eastgate, County Durham.

Starting in 1993, and continuing through the 1990s, a combination of factors led to a so-called Dash for Gas, during which the use of coal was scaled back in favour of gas-fuelled generation.

[62][63] On 21 April 2017, Britain went a full day without using coal power for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, according to the National Grid.

[69] In 2022, renewable sources contributed 41.9% to the United Kingdom's total electricity generation, marking a substantial 1,452% increase from 2000 to 2022.

[70] While in some ways limited by which powers are devolved, the four nations of the United Kingdom have different energy mixes and ambitions.

It has a quarter of the EU's estimated offshore wind potential,[72] and is at the forefront of testing various marine energy systems.

While it heats about 50% of all houses in Denmark, Finland, Poland, Sweden and Slovakia, it currently only plays a small role in the United Kingdom.

Its research includes renewable, conventional, nuclear and fusion electricity supply as well as energy efficiency, fuel poverty and other topics.

Prior to this, an experimental fusion reactor (the Joint European Torus) had been built at Culham in Oxfordshire.

The 1973 oil crisis resulted in the UK government taking a strategic role in managing energy demand.

In early 1974 a new Department of Energy was established by Edward Heath's government and was retained under Harold Wilson's premiership following the February 1974 election.

[78] In 1977 Tony Benn was appointed Energy Secretary and, in December 1977, a further four-year programme was announced including continuation of the Save It campaign.

[78] In May 1979 the Conservatives under Margaret Thatcher were elected and with their commitment to the role of free markets, some of the Labour party's initiatives were wound down.

Its introduction corresponded with growing scientific concerns about global warming and a Cabinet seminar in 1989 where a strong case was presented in support of energy efficiency.

Scotland also aims to repair 250,000 hectares (620,000 acres; 2,500 km2) of degraded peatlands, which store a total of 1.7 gigatonnes of CO2.