In 2011, 87.5% of the primary energy consumed in the UK was derived from fossil fuels – oil, natural gas and coal. Although this figure is a record low, it proves that we are still largely dependent on non-renewable supplies of energy. The fuel that was consumed the most in 2011 was natural gas (77 million tonnes), closely followed by oil and then coal. This may be considered as a threat to energy security as we are heavily relying on limited supplies that will eventually run out. This supply did however meet the nation’s demand of 212.3 million tonnes of total energy, showing it to be reliable for the moment.
The UK trade balance seems to swing from deficit to surplus and back again. The rising North Sea oil and gas production pushed the UK into oil surplus during the 1980s and 1990s. This rate of production was able to meet the UK average consumption levels, which is 1.74 million barrels per day. This suggests the UK was energy secure, because it had a readily available supply of energy that was reliable for that year. However, the oil and gas surplus has now disappeared, increasing the trade deficit – making energy supplies less affordable and subsequently reducing energy security. Also, the sheer level of oil consumption, relative to the supply left in the world, causes concern over the country’s energy security. On average, each person in the UK uses 10 kilograms of oil equivalent energy every day. This implies energy insecurity, as the country is not saving fuel for future generations.
Renewable energy production has increased in recent years due to new UK and EU targets for reductions of carbon emissions. However this is a small amount – in 2011 only 9.4% of electricity generated in the UK was provided by renewable energy sources. This percentage needs to be largely increased for the UK to be energy secure, because a diversification in energy types would ensure self-sufficiency for the UK when oil and gas supplies run out. Hydroelectric power used to be the largest producer of renewable energy in the UK, but this has now been surpassed by wind power schemes. Solar power and wave power are also relied on in the UK.
It is essential to look at where the energy supply in the UK comes from and the risks that this may have on energy security. Almost all UK oil and gas production occurs under the seas surrounding the UK, from the seabed known as the UK Continental Shift. Production of oil in the UK peaked in 1999, and gas in 2000 and so the UK has shifted from being once self-sufficient to relying increasingly on imports of oil and gas. Also, the closing down of nuclear power stations has shifted this dependence on imports even more. In 2009, 32% of total gas supply was provided by imported gas. Of these gas imports, about 58% came from Norway, 25% were liquefied natural gas from various different countries, 16% came from the Netherlands, and 2% came via the Belgian interconnector pipeline. The majority of the UK’s crude oil imports (almost 70%) are from Norway.
The UK’s increasing reliance on imported oil and gas opens it to the energy security risks linked to global supply constraints. One of these risks is the political instability of areas with concentrated energy sources, such as the Middle East, and this can lead to disruption of supplies. Also, there is growing global demand for energy, which means the UK faces competition in securing reliable supplies from overseas. The source countries will often face setbacks, for example the 2011 “Arab Spring” saw a decrease in oil and gas investment in Libya, Yemen and Syria. International supplies are also increasingly scarce, and are being sourced from increasingly hostile geographic areas.
Greater dependence on imported supplies also threatens the UK’s energy security as the prices of global supplies are soaring. This leaves the UK with a deficit of almost £10 billion. As the prices become more unaffordable, the UK becomes more energy insecure, as our economic growth cannot keep pace with increasing demand.
At present, energy production levels meet the nation’s demand (even if there is some dependence on imported supplies). However, there are concerns that energy security will decrease over time, as demand increases. In the future, UK fossil fuel supplies will run out, and we need to have a supply of energy that is still able to meet our needs. At the moment, the percentage of renewable energy is too low to do so – making the country energy insecure for the future. Relying too heavily on imported energy can cause political disputes, such as the Russia and Ukraine disagreement over gas prices in 2006.
In conclusion, the UK is partially energy secure, because presently, we have access to enough supplies to meet our demand. Also, the UK has proven to survive through short-term shocks such as sharp rises in fossil fuel prices and accidental damage. The UK is not fully energy secure though. The supply system is not resilient enough to survive inevitable long-term changes such as the decline in global reserves of gas and oil, the increasing prices or the need to decarbonise the energy system. The UK has become too reliant on international supplies, as their own run out. And relying on international supplies means potential risks to energy security. For the UK to be more energy secure, we must invest in more renewable energy supplies, such as installing more wind farms. This will rebuild the country’s own reliable supply, and decrease dependence on imports.
