24th Sep 2015 11:22
LONDON (Alliance News) - Oil and gas production in the UK rose by more than 10% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2015 and more renewable energy is being used to generate electricity than ever before, according to the latest report from the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
The report said there was the equivalent of 31.7 tonnes of oil produced in the second quarter, representing an 11% rise from a year earlier.
That was boosted by oil production rising 14% year-on-year to 12.9 tonnes of oil equivalent after increased production from a number of fields that were undergoing maintenance last year; for similar reasons, gas production rose 12% year-on-year to 10.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent.
As a result, the UK imported 11% less oil in the quarter than a year ago and 13% less gas.
"This increase is mainly due to rises in oil and gas production, though this was partly due to less
maintenance activity than a year earlier. The rise also reflects increased renewables output
following more favourable weather conditions (including) higher wind speeds, rainfall and sun hours," the report said.
Notably, coal production was down 15% to only 1.6 million tonnes of oil equivalent as the commodity has come under extreme pressure as the dirtiest fossil fuel that is struggling to bat off the focus on low-carbon and renewable energy sources.
The UK also imported half as much of coal in the second quarter than a year ago.
In terms of electricity generation in the second quarter, renewable energy contributed more than it has ever before. Just over 25% of all electricity generated was from renewable energy, compared to only 16.7% a year earlier.
Solar was the largest growth area, generating more than double the amount of electricity than a year ago whilst electricity from offshore wind increased by more than 70% year-on-year. Onshore wind electricity generation rose 61.%, hydro power was up 27.7% and bio-energy rose more than 26%.
Oil was used to generate 2.6% of the UK's electricity compared to 2.5% a year earlier and gas was used to generate 30.2% of the country's electricity, which was flat year-on-year. Nuclear energy was used to generate 21.5% of the electricity, down from 22.2%.
Coal was used to generate 20.5% of electricity in the quarter, down from 28.2% a year ago.
In addition, the report said the amount of UK households switching energy supplier rose 9% year-on-year in the second quarter, based on information from the regulator Ofgem, with an average of 250,000 households switching electricity provider per month and 200,000 households switching gas suppliers per month.
On Wednesday, a report from independent energy market consultancy firm Cornwall Energy revealed the 'Big Six' energy firms in the UK have lost around 660,000 customers in the past year as smaller, independent suppliers become more popular and increase their market share.
The Big Six comprise of British Gas, which is owned by Centrica PLC, SSE PLC, ScottishPower, E.On, EDF Energy and nPower. There are more than 20 independent suppliers in the UK.
Its latest figures show independent suppliers in the UK now hold a collective market share of 13.4% and acquired more new energy accounts in the three months ended July 31 than they held in total four years ago.
By Joshua Warner; [email protected]; @JoshAlliance
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