UK energy flows 2010: sources, losses, exports and…

UK energy flows 2010: sources, losses, exports and consumption of energy

DECC energy flow graphic — DECC have released the latest version of their UK energy flows graphic. Inputs are on the left, losses at the bottom and consumption on the right. Click for full image. Illustration: Department of Energy and Climate Change

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has produced its latest visualisation of UK energy flows, in this case referring to 2010.

The graphic shows the sources (including imports) and end points of energy in the UK, including quantities lost along the way and exported overseas. Click here for the full-size chart (scroll down to page 2).

Energy equivalent to 314.7 million tonnes of oil was either produced indigenously or imported in 2010, of which around half was in the form of petroleum.

Natural gas was the second largest input, with 107.9 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), followed by coal, electricity and biofuels. Electricity in this case refers to nuclear, wind and hydroelectric energy, plus imported electricity.

Of these inputs, 93.3 Mtoe is either exported or sent for use in shipping following the first stages of processing.

50 Mtoe is lost through the transformation of inputs into useable power via power stations and other methods, and a further 18.3 Mtoe escapes from the system through distribution losses and wastage in the energy industry. An additional 9 Mtoe is lost through non-energy use.

159.1 Mtoe - 50.6% of total inputs - reaches the final consumption stage, with just over a third of this amount used for transport. 48.5 Mtoe goes on domestic use, 1.3 Mtoe on the iron and steel industry, 26.2 Mtoe on other industrial use and the remaining 18.4 Mtoe on other final consumers.

You find a range of UK energy data-sets at DECC's 'Energy Consumption in the United Kingdom' page, including the statistics illustrated in this graphic.

Download DECC's overall data tables using the link below.