Energy Trends For 2012

2011 saw rising gas prices in the UK. Between Q3 2010 and Q3 2011, domestic gas prices rose 9.2% and industrial gas prices¹ rose 17.9% in real terms.² The US became a net exporter of gas for the first time, and the UK imported more gas for the first time.3 With energy demands high and prices rising for a staple source of energy, this summary aims to highlight some potential energy trends in the US and UK in 2012.

Growing Consumption and the Changing Energy Mix: An overall trend which we expect to continue is the growing demand for more energy. In the UK, for example, published figures show that energy consumption in 2010 was 5% higher than in 2009 and total energy use has increased from 1970 by an overall approximate figure of 4%. The mix of fuels has changed in make-up since 1970, with a trend toward decreasing solid fuel and electricity.⁴ Renewable energy use in 2011 made up 9% of electricity generation.⁵ The change in energy mix for the UK is also driven by