Category Archives: Energy Saving

Where Does The UK Get Its Energy From ?

The UK is consuming less energy than it did in 1998 and more of the energy we are consuming is coming from renewable sources.

However, at the same time, the decline in North Sea oil and gas production has meant the UK has become increasingly dependent on imports of energy.

But just how dependent are we? How do we compare to our European neighbours? And what are we importing and where is it coming from?

UK energy: consumption down and renewable energy up

There was a 17% fall in the amount of energy used by the UK between 1998 and 2015.

This may be explained by:

  • the increased use of energy-efficient technologies by households and firms
  • government policies designed to reduce energy consumption
  • a decline of UK manufacturing, especially in energy-intensive industries

Reliance on imported energy rises back up to 1970 levels

Despite the overall fall in UK energy consumption and the increasing use of renewable and waste sources, the UK’s reliance on imported energy has returned to the levels last seen around the mid-to late-1970s.

In recent years our reliance on imported energy has been on an upward trend but it has now fallen from its recent peak in 2013.

All EU countries now import more energy than they export

All EU countries imported more energy than they exported in 2014. In terms of rankings, of the 28 EU countries the UK was the 12th most dependent on foreign sources of energy; less reliant than Germany and Italy but more reliant than Sweden and the Netherlands.

Furthermore, in 2014 the UK’s import dependency was below the EU average and the UK was the least dependent on foreign sources of energy out of the five EU countries who consumed the largest amounts of energy overall (namely Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK).

However, even though the UK’s reliance on imported energy is still below its EU neighbours, the UK is now more in line with them than it has been in recent history.

Since 1998 the UK has gone from being a net exporter to a net importer of energy while Germany, Spain, France and Italy have all consistently imported more energy than they exported.

From oil and natural gas from Norway to coal and diesel from Russia – just where do our energy imports come from?

In 2015 the UK’s main types of imported fuel were crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products (for example, petrol and diesel). We also imported electricity and coal and other types of solid fuel (like wood) in smaller amounts.

Electricity imports

It might seem strange but the UK does actually import electricity that is created elsewhere. Imports of electricity made up 1% of our fuel imports in 2015.

This electricity is imported via interconnectors and it comes mainly from France and the Netherlands.

Information via gov.uk

power-lines

AEG Creates Hybrid Energy Storage System

 

AEG Power Solutions, a global provider of power electronic systems and solutions for industrial power supplies and renewable energy applications, today announced it has developed a unique Hybrid Energy Storage System which combines standard battery storage with power-to-heat technology to reduce the total cost of energy storage operation.

The solution can be installed in any type of facility which uses thermal processes, including local heat networks in combination with an electrical distribution network.

With the Hybrid Energy Storage solution from AEG PS, the power conversion system (PCS) becomes the central key element operating the power management and controls both the battery as well as the heating system. The PCS and all equipment required for grid connection (e.g. transformer and switch gear) therefore are used for both the batteries and the heater. The platform allows for all typical applications of standard battery energy storage in particular, frequency regulation; bby combining both systems, the capacity of the thermal storage adds up to the battery storage capacity.

“Technically, in a stand-alone battery energy storage system, explains Andreas Becker, Product Manager at AEG Power Solutions, it’s necessary to keep a battery charge stable at the 50% level in order to provide grid frequency regulation. By combining it with a power to heat system, we allow extra energy to go to the thermal process. The battery can then operate at 100% capacity.”

This in fact leads to dividing the battery total capacity required by almost two. Taking into account that they represent usually around 70% of an energy storage installation, the economic benefit of the innovation is obvious and the payback period of the investment is approximately 3 years faster in a primary control power market.

AEG Power Solutions engineers the complete solution and provides the key components such as the power conversion hardware and the power management software.

AEG PS is an innovator in energy storage and management thanks to its many decades of experience in the world of UPS, power electronics, batteries as well as international grid connection compliance. This unique combination of know-how has been leveraged to design products and solutions for energy storage.

AEG

What Devices In Our Home Use The Most Energy

We found this list on-line today and it advises you which uses more energy in standby mode, a computer or a phone charger etc etc.  There is some supprises in the list.  This of cause is based on UK energy use and is in UK pounds.

The green electricity company has compiled a list of the worst household offenders and the results may come as a surprise to many of you.

Annual energy usage while on standby:

Wireless Router (e.g. BT Hub) – £21.92

Printer (Laser) – £18.26

Set-top (Satellite) – £18.26

Amplifier – £12.18

Compact Hi-Fi – £12.18

iPad charger – £12.18

Nintendo Wii – £12.18

Set-top box (Freeview) – £7.31

Alarm Clock – £6.09

Microsoft Xbox 360 – £6.09

Modem – £6.09

Sony PlayStation 3 – £6.09

Air freshener plug-in – £4.87

CD player / Tuner – £4.87

Television (Plasma) – £4.87

Video Player – £4.87

Inkjet printer – £4.26

Desktop PC – £3.65

Nintendo DS – £3.65

Oven (Electric) – £3.65

Microwave – £3.04

Television (CRT & LCD) – £3.04

Mobile phone charger – £2.44

PC monitor (CRT) – £2.44

Electric toothbrush – £1.22

Childs night light – £0.73