Energy industry UK electricity use falls – as rest of EU rises Slowing economy, mild weather and energy-efficient appliances among possible reasons for decline An employee walks past branding at the National Grid control centre in Wokingham. Photograph: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg/ Getty ImagesThe UK was the only country in the EU to reduce its electricity consumption last year, with power use growing or stable across the rest of the bloc’s 28 member states. Overall, electricity demand has fallen by 9% in the UK in the past seven years, the sharpest decline in the union. Perhaps UK shops are better at stocking energy-efficient appliances or UK consumers are shopping for energy-efficient products.”Simon Evans, the policy editor at analysts CarbonBrief, said: “This is one of the least-reported and most significant stories in the UK power sector. Together, wind, solar and biomass accounted for 20.9% of the union’s electricity mix in 2017, up from 9.7% in 2010.

Source: The Guardian January 30, 2018 09:16 UTC