In a notable shift, the UK saw a reduction in both energy consumption and emissions in 2023, contrasting the global trend of increasing fossil fuel use.
Key Highlights
- Energy Usage Decline: The UK’s primary energy consumption fell by 4.4% in 2023, down to 6.95 exajoules from 7.27 exajoules in 2022. This is the lowest since 2013.
- Carbon Emissions: Carbon emissions dropped to 327.3 million tonnes in 2023, a 4.1% decrease from 2022’s 341.1 million tonnes. This is the second-lowest figure since 2013, following the pandemic year of 2020.
- Electricity Generation: There was an 11.3% drop in electricity generation, with 285.6 TWh produced in 2023, down from 322 TWh in 2022.
Energy Consumption Breakdown
- Oil and Gas: Oil usage saw a slight increase, providing 2.69 exajoules of energy, up from 2.65 exajoules in 2022. However, natural gas usage declined to 2.29 exajoules from 2.55 exajoules.
- Production Declines: UK oil production was down by 11.6%, with 715,000 barrels per day (bpd) compared to 809,000 bpd in 2022. Natural gas production also fell, with 34.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) produced, a 9.6% decrease from 38.1 bcm in 2022.
Renewables on the Rise
- Wind and Solar Growth: The UK saw significant boosts in wind and solar capacity. Wind capacity increased by 5.1% to 30.2 GW in 2023, up from 28.7 GW in 2022. Solar capacity grew by 6.9%, reaching 15.6 GW compared to 14.6 GW in 2022.
- Renewable Generation: Wind and solar’s share of power generation rose, with wind providing 82 GW of electricity in 2023, up from 80.3 GW in 2022. Solar generated 13.8 TWh in 2023, compared to 13.3 TWh in 2022.
Global Context
- Worldwide Energy Consumption: Global energy consumption rose by 2% in 2023, exceeding pre-COVID levels of 2019 by over 5%. Fossil fuel usage increased by 1.5%, leading to a 2.1% rise in CO2 emissions, reaching 40 gigatonnes.
- Renewable Energy: Globally, renewable energy sources saw record generation, driven by wind and solar. The capacity of these renewables grew by 67% compared to the previous year.
Conclusion
The UK’s drop in energy consumption and emissions in 2023 is a significant achievement, especially when viewed against the backdrop of global increases in fossil fuel use and carbon emissions. The growth in renewable energy capacity, particularly wind and solar, highlights a positive shift towards more sustainable energy sources. However, there remains a mixed picture with declines in hydropower and other renewables, indicating areas that still need attention and improvement.
