About the GB energy sector

Currently GB produces much of its electricity from oil, coal and gas–– in 2014 the UK sourced around two thirds of its electricity from fossil fuels. According to figures from the government’s Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in the third quarter of 2014 coal accounted for 20.1% of electricity supplied in the UK. Gas generated about a quarter (38.6%) of the country’s electricity last year, and nuclear 20.8% and renewables (wind, hydro and bioenergy) accounted for 17.8%.

UK electricity mix

Data sourced from DECC (August 2014)

As with many things, this is the result of constant evolution, but the overarching trend since 1990 has been a decline in the use of coal and oil and the rise of gas and, in more recent years, renewables. While it is impossible to accurately predict how the UK energy supply will look in the future policy developments that have taken place over the last decade or so give a pretty good indication of the direction of travel.

By 2020, the EU aims to generate 20% of its energy from renewable sources. As part of this effort, the UK must increase the proportion of its total energy coming from renewables to 15%––this equates to around a third of electricity in Britain coming from renewable sources by 2020.

To meet this overarching goal back in 2008 the government introduced the Climate Change Act, which commits the country to an 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2050, relative to 1990. It is this overarching aim, along with concerns over energy security and long-term affordability, that is currently determining the government’s energy policy direction.