Energy consumption has become a global concern as population growth, the energy needs of developing countries, climate change and global legislation will all result in a substantial increase in demand - International Energy Agency expects global energy demand to grow by 45% by 2030.
In 2007 the total of 75GW UK electricity was derived from the following fuel types:
- Gas - 44%
- Coal - 34%
- Nuclear - 15%
- Oil - 3%
- Renewable technologies - 4%
Source: AMA Research’ Nuclear Energy Construction Programme –UK 2008-2018 published July 2008
Oil and gas production will peak in the next few years and year on year this supply will diminish. 80% of the UK gas supply will be imported by 2020.
Due to decommissioning of old nuclear and closure of coal plants in response to the EU’ Large Plant Combustion Directive, the UK will need to replace around 25GW of its existing generating capacity by 2025. This represents circa 30% gap in our current generating capacity. This excludes the additional capacity for the increase in demand over the next fifteen years currently estimated at 1GW per annum.
Hence, the future needs energy model will be viewed in terms of low carbon, affordable cost and security of fuel supply. None of the available technologies satisfy all of these three issues.
Therefore, the replacement of power generating capacity will derive from a diversity of new technologies (wind, carbon coal capture, more efficient nuclear reactors and the myriad of low carbon technologies) – all of which will result in a need to upgrade existing transmission grid.
At Davis Langdon our joined up strategic thinking underpins our service to the energy sector and in doing so delivers bespoke solutions. We believe this is critical to closing the future energy gap.
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