Britain's Electricity Use in 2020 and Future Outlook:
1. 2020 Electricity Use:
- Lowest since 1983, down 6% from 2019
- Per capita use at its lowest in over 50 years
- Decline partly due to COVID-19, but continuing a decade-long trend
2. Energy Mix in 2020:
- Wind generated over 25% of electricity
- Coal-free for more than 5,000 hours (over half the year)
- Cleanest electricity generation on record
- Reduced generation from gas and nuclear
3. Decade-long Shift:
- Significant move from coal to gas and renewables
4. Future Demand Increase:
- Electrification of transport and heating will drive demand up
- Electric cars and taxis alone could add 70+ terawatt hours annually
- Heat pump adoption (target: 600,000/year by 2028) will further increase demand
5. Challenges:
- Managing peak demand to avoid network overload
- Seasonal variation in heating demand
- Need for energy storage and demand management solutions
6. Opportunities:
- Incentivizing off-peak electricity use
- Developing long-term energy storage
- Innovations in thermal energy storage and active buildings
7. Key Takeaway:
- 2020 likely marks the lowest point of electricity use for the foreseeable future
- Increasing electricity demand is linked to reduced fossil fuel use, seen as a positive development
This summary highlights the current state of Britain's electricity use, the ongoing transition in the energy mix, and the anticipated increase in demand due to electrification of transport and heating. It also outlines the challenges and opportunities associated with managing this increased demand in the future.