Breakdown of UK Consumption of Business Electricity in Industries

Every country’s population continues to increase, and the UK is no exception. With more people comes greater demand for commodities. While some goods and services remain stable in supply, there are some that will dwindle in supply as more people require to use them. The energy sector, for example, will start feeling the impact of population growth, especially when the source of fuel is not sustainable.
 
Between 2015 and 2016, UK energy consumption grew by 1.6%. Although something that contributed to this increase is the lower temperature, it is also a telling indication that the demand for energy is increasing. A quarter of the total UK electricity consumption goes on domestic use, while business electricity is consumed by industries, transportation, and other commercial services. Here is a breakdown of the top 10 sectors which use up a large portion of business energy:
 
1.   Private office buildings
2.   Chemical manufacturing plants
3.   Hotels and other hospitality businesses
4.   Food manufacturing and processing
5.   Hospitals and health services
6.   Non-metal and mineral manufacturing plants
7.   Metal manufacturing
8.   Manufacturing plants of rubber and plastic
9.   Small stores and shops
10. Manufacturing companies producing paper products.

There is no surprise that private companies and office buildings take the top spot. Most of these companies use energy for heating and cooling year-round. Some businesses involved in worldwide trade may also have 24/7 operations.
 
 
Business consumption by location
 
Aside from the breakdown of the most significant industry consumption, energy use in the UK also varies by region. Since population plays a vital part in the demand for energy, where there is a more significant population, there is naturally a higher demand for electricity. South East England consumes the most power while Scotland and the North West have almost similar average energy consumption.
 
Reasons for variations of energy use per sector
 
Back in the 1970s, the UK was still heavily using coal as a source of power for many industries. Since then, much has changed, and the UK is now using a variety of fuel sources, including other more environment-friendly sources. But the continuing rise in population is still a cause for concern because it is pushing the demand upward. If the sources of fossil fuel eventually start to diminish, the UK will need to rely on more sustainable sources of energy.
 
Aside from population growth, energy consumption from one industry to another varies because of several factors. Weather, for example, is a primary reason for the increase and decrease of energy use. The colder the weather, the more electricity each industry uses. Similarly, if the climate is too hot, companies also use more power for cooling.
 
Companies today are encouraged to employ ways to save electricity. Not only does it minimise the operational costs, but it also helps reduce the impact of large industries on environmental degradation. In the end, it is the large industries which use up most of the fossil fuel mined today. The more fuel burned, the higher the number of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. With greener practices, companies can do their part in preserving the Earth.
 
 
Image: Pixabay.com
Source: https://www.gazprom-energy.co.uk/blog/which-businesses-use-the-most-energy/