Where Does the UK’s Energy Come From?

We live in an age of complacency. Lights are flicked on and off - televisions cranked up loud - game consoles played late into the night. But most of us don’t stop to think: where does our energy actually come from?

Energy is not the same as electricity

Before we go any further, let’s confront the term ‘energy’. In the UK, we have two main energy sources: electricity (accounting for 23% of all energy used), and gas (coming in at 68%). Oil has a part to play too - as does wood and house coal - but electricity and gas are the two main contributors to powering and heating our homes.

The UK’s energy, and where it comes from

When it comes to power generation, every country is different. In the UK, our ‘energy mix’ - the multiple sources that create energy - is varied. It includes renewables, nuclear, natural gas, and coal-fired power stations. But what is the most prevalent form of energy generation?

Gas is fairly straightforward: it comes from the ground, passes through a treatment phase, and enters our homes. Oil and coal are naturally occurring materials, too. But electricity is a different story altogether - it needs to actually be generated.

Looking at the UK’s electricity generation, it is easy to get blindsided by media coverage of controversial methods. Yes, we have ‘green energy’ targets to meet (by 2020, Britain is expected to generate 15% of our energy via renewable means). And yes, not every fracking site or wind farm is met with open arms, even if Osborne says 'fracking is clean energy'. But, while these projects occupy plenty of column inches, they represent just a proportion of the UK’s energy mix today.

In reality, we are still very reliant on ‘traditional’ methods of generating electricity. 31% of our electricity still comes from coal-fired power stations - although many of these are expected to close over the coming years as strict EU air quality legislation comes into force. Nuclear energy accounts for 18% of our electricity generation, while 19.4% of the UK’s electricity was generated by renewables in the first quarter of 2014 (note here this is the percentage of electricity, not energy. In contrast, renewables accounted for 5.2% of all energy generation in 2013).

The history of energy: some fascinating facts

To understand where our energy comes from today, it helps to cast a glance back in time. Did you know that...

• Despite a population increase of 6.5 million, we consume less energy today than we did in 1970 - because we understand how to be efficient

• In 1970, we used 57 million tonnes of coal-related energy. Today that figure is less than 3 million tonnes.

• In 1970, coal accounted for two-thirds of the UK’s energy mix. Today, it’s less than half.

• 13 million tonnes of oil were used in 1970. That’s in contrast to 780,000 tonnes in 2012.

• For more fascinating facts, read this article: All That Gas! 10 Natural Gas Facts.

So next time you make a cup of tea or step foot inside your warm, centrally-heated home, spare a thought for where that energy came from. How was it generated? And what methods will sustain our future energy usage?