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Energy Policies of IEA Countries: United Kingdom 2019 Review
…terms of actual emissions reductions and ambitions set out in five-year carbon budgets. The carbon price floor has supported coal-to-gas switching which, combined with a record investment in offshore wind and solar PV, is transforming the UK power sector. By 2030, wind and solar are expected to reach above 50%, more than in any other country. Solutions for flexible electricity markets and technologies need to be scaled up. Coal and nuclear power capacity is going to retire and new nuclear faces a weak outlook, the contribution of natural gas to meet peak demand is likely to increase…
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Energy Policies of IEA Countries: The United Kingdom 2006 Review
…the United Kingdom 2006, the second thematic review of an IEA country, addresses these challenges, focusing on energy investment, energy efficiency and the return of nuclear power to the political agenda. Almost all coal-fired and nuclear power capacity in the United Kingdom will be retired within the next 15 years. The review encourages the government to maintain its trust in the market mechanism for the delivery of required investment and security of supply. Nevertheless, it also identifies the need for the government to play a more active role in setting the framework. On the demand side, the IEA considers…
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Energy Policies of IEA Countries: United Kingdom 2002
…Energy Agency's 2002 review of the UK's energy policies and programmes. It finds that the UK energy sector has performed remarkably well during the 1990s. The gas and electricity markets opened up to competition. Real gas and electricity prices fell. Domestic natural gas replaced coal in the power industry, and carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution declined as a result. Increased oil and gas production on the UK continental shelf has contributed significantly to these developments. Central to the success of the energy sector however, was a readiness to adjust policies and regulatory measures when shortcomings became apparent…
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Energy Policies of IEA Countries: The United Kingdom 2012 Review
Energy Policy Review Energy Policies of IEA Countries: The United Kingdom 2012 The United Kingdom is preparing for a deep decarbonisation of its energy system. The country has decided to halve its greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2027 and to cut them by a total of 80% by 2050. For this to happen, significant private-sector investment in new energy infrastructure is needed. As it seeks concrete solutions to the low-carbon investment challenge, the United Kingdom is leading by example. The United Kingdom’s proposed Electricity Market Reform is a pioneering effort that will be closely observed by…
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Oil and Gas Emergency Policy: The United Kingdom 2010 update
Oil and Gas Emergency Policy: The United Kingdom 2010 update In 2007, the IEA published Oil Supply Security: Emergency Response of IEA Countries. This report provides an overview of the IEA oil emergency response system and a detailed look at the specific systems in each IEA country for responding to an oil supply crisis. The report represented the findings of a five-year review cycle of the emergency response mechanisms in IEA member countries. Since the 2007 publication, the IEA has started a new cycle of reviews which now includes reviewing gas emergency policies. Rather than waiting for the completion…
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United Kingdom 2024
Energy Policy Review Government action plays a pivotal role in ensuring secure and sustainable energy transitions and combatting the climate crisis. Energy policy is critical not just for the energy sector but also for meeting environmental, economic and social goals. Governments need to respond to their country’s specific needs, adapt to regional contexts and help address global challenges. In this context, the International Energy Agency (IEA) conducts Energy Policy Reviews to support governments in developing more impactful energy and climate policies. This Energy Policy Review was prepared in partnership between the Government of the United Kingdom and the IEA…
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Fuel economy in the United Kingdom
Market profile and analysis of fuel consumption trends Almost 2.7 million light-duty vehicles (LDVs) were sold in the United Kingdom in 2019, down 8% from 2017 levels. Average fuel consumption of new LDVs improved from 7.4 litres of gasoline equivalent per 100 kilometres (Lge/100 km) in 2005 to 5.7 Lge/100 km in 2016, but has since risen to 6.3 Lge/100 km in 2019, which is 12% below the global average. This recent hike is largely driven by a growing market for SUVs/pick-up trucks and a reversal in fuel economy improvements across LDV segements. The sales share…
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Changes in transport behaviour during the Covid-19 crisis
Covid-19 is changing our behaviour and transport energy use patterns The restrictions put in place to limit the diffusion and impacts of Covid-19 have had a widespread impact on people’s lives, and the way energy is used across entire economies.One of the biggest impacts has been the reduction in passenger transport demand, due to a combination of government lockdowns and fears of contracting and spreading the virus when using mass transport modes. While freight transport has also been reduced, the drivers of freight activity during the current crisis are complex, driven by both supply- and demand…
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United Kingdom's legislation on oil security
Introduction The United Kingdom (UK)’s response to oil supply shortages in emergency situations is primarily governed by the European Union (EU)’s Oil Stocking Directive (Directive 2009/119/EC) as implemented by the 1976 Energy Act (EA) and legally binding directions given to undertakings under the EA. The 2012 Oil Stocking Order (OSO) enacted by the UK Secretary of State pursuant to sections 6(6)(a), 17(2) and (3) EA and section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, contains more detailed, mostly procedural, provisions concerning UK stockholding obligations and emergency measures. Relevant domestic legislation Related domestic…