The United Kingdom’s electricity use has been declining since peaking at 357 terawatt-hours in 2005. In 2023, the UK's electricity consumption fell to its lowest level this century, at 266 terawatt-hours. Electricity consumption in the UK typically follows a seasonal trend, peaking in the winter months. How electricity-intensive is the UK? Despite the continual decline in electricity consumption, the UK remains one of the largest electricity consumers in the world. In terms of per capita electricity consumption, however, the UK pales in comparison to other European countries such as Norway, Germany, and France. In 2022, it registered an average of 4,813 kilowatt-hours per person. The race towards a clean power mix In 2010, gas and coal accounted for roughly 75 percent of the UK's power mix. Since then, alongside the EU Renewables Directive, the UK agreed and created its own National Renewable Energy Plan, to increase the use of renewable sources and decrease its fossil fuel dependence. In the past decade, the share of energy consumption in the UK attributable to renewable energy increased slightly, although it was still a small percentage out of the total in 2022.

The United Kingdom’s demand for electricity has been declining since 2005, standing at 316.52 terawatt-hours in 2023. Some factors for this decreasing are declining population growth in the country, energy efficiency regulations, energy-efficient lighting, and changing consumer habits. Domestic electricity consumption in the UK Households are the largest electricity end-users in the UK. In fact, domestic consumption is the only sector that registered year-over-year growth over the past few years, reaching roughly 100 terawatt-hours in 2022. Nevertheless, the average domestic electricity consumption varied from region to region. Consumption was highest in the East, South East, and South West of England, each registering an average of more than 3,600 kilowatt-hours per household. Declining electricity generation in the UK Keeping up with the decline in demand, electricity generation in the UK has also been decreasing. In 2023, approximately 293 terawatt-hours were produced, the lowest output in at least three decades. Although electricity generation has been declining, renewable generation has increased significantly. As of 2023, renewables accounted for the largest electricity generation capacity in the UK, and that capacity is forecast to more than double by 2050. By 2025, the use of coal is expected to have been completely phased out.

The UK's energy use by industry (SIC 2007 group - around 130 categories), source (for example, industrial and domestic combustion, aircraft, road transport and so on - around 80 categories) and fuel (for example, anthracite, peat, natural gas and so on - around 20 categories), 1990 to 2022.

The UK's direct use of energy from fossil fuels and other sources (nuclear, net imports, renewables, biofuels and waste and reallocated use of energy by industry (SIC 2007 section - 21 categories), 1990 to 2022.

The UK's energy use from renewable and waste sources, by source (for example, hydroelectric power, wind, wave, solar, and so on) and industry (SIC 2007 section - 21 categories), 1990 to 2022.

Fossil fuels, such as natural gas and oil are forecasted to be the main primary energy in terms of demand in the United Kingdom. Primary energy demand of natural gas is projected to reach 63 million metric tons of oil equivalent in 2040. By comparison, renewables and waste sources primary energy demand is expected to increase and amount to 26 million metric tons of oil equivalent in 2040.

Primary energy consumption in the United Kingdom amounted to roughly seven exajoules in 2023. Overall, oil and natural gas were by far the most consumed fuels in the country. By comparison, consumption of primary energy from renewables stood at 1.38 exajoules that year, up from 1.36 the year prior.

Estimates of total final energy consumption by sector.

Energy consumption from domestic, transport and industrial source broken down by key energy type (coal, gas, petroleum products, manufactured fuels, renewables and electricity). Data is measured in Gwh

Ktoe - Kilotonnes of Oil Equivalent.
GWh - Gigawatt Hours.

Visit the DECC website

In the next two decades, natural gas and petroleum products are expected to be the main sources of final energy consumption in the United Kingdom. By 2040, natural gas demand is forecast to reach 44 million metric tons of oil equivalent, up from 39.7 in 2022. The final consumption of electricity in the UK is expected to grow by over 30 percent between 2022 and 2040, whereas the final consumption of energy from renewable sources is forecast to grow until 2030 but then decrease.

In the next two decades, natural gas and petroleum products are expected to be the main sources of final energy consumption in the United Kingdom. By 2040, natural gas demand is forecast to reach 43 million metric tons of oil equivalent, up from 36.3 in 2023. The final consumption of electricity in the UK is expected to grow by 50 percent between 2023 and 2040, whereas the final consumption of energy from renewable sources is forecast to grow until 2030 but then decrease.

Global energy consumption has increased dramatically in recent years and is projected to continue to increase until 2045. Only hydropower and renewable energy consumption are expected to increase between 2045 and 2050 and reach 30 percent of the global energy consumption. Energy consumption by country The distribution of energy consumption globally is disproportionately high among some countries. China, the United States, and India were by far the largest consumers of primary energy globally. On a per capita basis, it was Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Iceland to have the highest per capita energy consumption. Renewable energy consumption Over the last two decades, renewable energy consumption has increased to reach over 90 exajoules in 2023. Among all countries globally, China had the largest installed renewable energy capacity as of that year, followed by the United States.

The UK's reallocated energy use and energy intensity - the level of usage per unit of economic output, by industry (SIC 2007 group - around 130 categories), 1990 to 2022.

United Kingdom UK: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data was reported at 29.752 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.958 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data is updated yearly, averaging 2.300 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 56 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.308 % in 2010 and a record low of 0.000 % in 1966. United Kingdom UK: Electricity Production From Natural Gas Sources: % of Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Energy Production and Consumption. Sources of electricity refer to the inputs used to generate electricity. Gas refers to natural gas but excludes natural gas liquids.; ; IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA 2014 (http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), subject to https://www.iea.org/t&c/termsandconditions/; Weighted average; Electricity production shares may not sum to 100 percent because other sources of generated electricity (such as geothermal, solar, and wind) are not shown. Restricted use: Please contact the International Energy Agency for third-party use of these data.

United Kingdom Energy Consumption: Chemicals data was reported at 3,524.340 TOE th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3,292.310 TOE th for 2016. United Kingdom Energy Consumption: Chemicals data is updated yearly, averaging 5,490.090 TOE th from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7,627.740 TOE th in 2000 and a record low of 3,292.310 TOE th in 2016. United Kingdom Energy Consumption: Chemicals data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.RB007: Energy Consumption: by Industrial Consuming Group (Annual).

Forecast: Fossil Energy Final Consumption in Textile and Leather Sector in the UK 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

China is the largest consumer of primary energy in the world, having used some 170.7 exajoules in 2023. This is a lot more than what the United States consumed, which comes in second place. The majority of primary energy fuels worldwide are still derived from fossil fuels, such as oil and coal. China's energy mix China’s primary energy mix has shifted from a dominant use of coal to an increase in natural gas and renewable sources. Since 2013, the renewables share in total energy consumption has grown by around eight percentage points. Overall, global primary energy consumption has increased over the last decade, and it is expected to experience the largest growth in emerging economies like the BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India, and China. What is primary energy? Primary energy is the energy inherent in natural resources such as crude oil, coal, and wind before further transformation. For example, crude oil can be refined into secondary fuels, such as gasoline or diesel, while wind is harnessed for electricity - itself a secondary energy source. A country’s total primary energy supply is a measure of the country’s primary energy sources. Meanwhile, end use energy is the energy directly consumed by the user and includes primary fuels such as natural gas, as well as secondary sources, like electricity and gasoline.

United Kingdom Energy Consumption: Construction data was reported at 725.200 TOE th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 685.060 TOE th for 2016. United Kingdom Energy Consumption: Construction data is updated yearly, averaging 726.190 TOE th from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 28 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,150.000 TOE th in 1992 and a record low of 528.150 TOE th in 2007. United Kingdom Energy Consumption: Construction data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.RB007: Energy Consumption: by Industrial Consuming Group (Annual).