The Department of Trade and Industry published Energy Trends and Quarterly Energy Prices publications this week. Energy Trends covers statistics on energy production and consumption, in total and by fuel, and provides an analysis of the year-on-year changes. The September edition of Energy Trends also includes articles on: “Renewable energy in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England in 2004” and “CHP in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England in 2004”. Quarterly Energy Prices covers prices to domestic and industrial consumers, prices of oil products and comparisons of international fuel prices.
The publications show:
• Indigenous production of primary fuels was 55.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent in the second quarter of 2005, 7.5% lower than in the second quarter of 2004.
• Final energy consumption in the second quarter of 2005 was 0.2% lower than in the second quarter of 2004.
On seasonally adjusted and temperature corrected annualised rates:
• Total inland consumption on a primary fuel input basis was 228.0 million tonnes of oil equivalent in the second quarter of 2005, 3.4% lower than the same quarter in 2004.
• Between the second quarters of 2004 and 2005 coal and other solid fuel consumption fell by 0.5%.
• Oil consumption fell by 6.3%.
• Gas consumption fell by 4.3%.
• Primary electricity consumption increased by 6.7%.
Figures on fuel used for electricity generation show:
• Fuel used by generators in the second quarter of 2005 was, in total, 5.4% up on the second quarter of 2004. Allowing for statistical calendar differences, fuel use was 0.4% lower.
• Coal use during the quarter was 6.3% higher than a year earlier, while gas use was up by 1.3% and nuclear sources by 6.4%. Allowing for calendar differences coal use was 0.5% up, gas use 4.5% down and nuclear 0.6% up.
• Total electricity supplied by all generators in second quarter of 2005 was 7.2% higher than a year earlier (1.4% up allowing for calendar differences).
• Final consumption of electricity rose by 8.2%, but only 2.4% after allowing for calendar differences.
A special feature in the September 2005 Energy Trends looks at renewable energy in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England in 2004. The article covers all renewables including those that are not eligible for the Renewables Obligation. It updates a similar article that was published in September 2004. The main features of the latest statistics are:
• Scotland has greater renewables generating capacity than England, but England generates more electricity from renewables than Scotland.
• This is because biofuels based capacity (the most common source in England) is used more intensively than hydro (which predominates in Scotland).
• In Wales wind generated 79% more electricity than hydro. In 2004 Scotland generated 46% more electricity from wind than Wales did.
• In England the region with the largest generation and capacity is the East and this is almost entirely biofuels. The North East and London generate least, but if allowance is made for the smaller size of the North East in economic activity terms, it is second only to the East.
Another special feature in the September 2005 Energy Trends looks at CHP in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England in 2004. It updates a similar article that was published in September 2004. The main features of the latest statistics are:
• The largest contribution to electricity generation from CHP in 2004 came from Yorkshire and the Humber mainly because of the opening of the new large plant at Immingham. Next largest are the North West and the South East.
• In terms of economic activity (as measured by Gross Value Added) Yorkshire and the Humber and the North East have the greatest regional shares of CHP electricity generation capacity with more than twice the density of Scotland in third position.
• In terms of the share of heat generation from CHP, Scotland and the North West predominate. It is in these two regions that there is a significant presence of steam turbine CHP plant.
• Apart from in Wales, where the number of schemes remained static, there was a net increase in the number of schemes in each area. However, in the East of England, East Midlands, North West and West Midlands net capacity fell slightly because new and refurbished schemes were smaller than closing schemes.
