Major trends in 2005 showed a higher gas-coal price differential increasing the commercial attractiveness of coal for electricity generation, and decreasing the amount of electricity generated from gas by 2% to 39% of electricity generation. Coal consumption by major power producers rose by 3.5% in 2005 with 33.5% of total electricity supplied, up from 31% in 2004.
However, an increased demand for fossil fuels which increased the emissions of carbon dioxide by 0.25% over the year.
In 2005 Combined Heat and Power (CHP) capacity increased by 108 MW or 2% with a total electrical capacity of 5,792 MW. There were 29 new schemes but 22 ceased to operate. Electrical output from CHP rose by 8%, to exceed the 30,000 GWh mark for the first time.
Renewable sources increased to 4.2% of total UK electricity generation, up from 3.6% in 2004. Installed generating capacity of renewable sources rose by 20% in 2004, mainly as a result of a 67% increase in wind capacity and an 10% increase in the capacity of sites fuelled by biofuels and wastes.
Total electricity demand in the UK in 2005 was 407 TWh, an increase of 2% on 2004, with the industrial sector the largest consumer with 119 TWh, although the domestic sector was a close second at 117 TWh.
The full report is available at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/dukes/page29812.html
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