Energy consumption in the U.S. reached a record high of more than 101 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) in 2018, surpassing the previous high recorded in 2007, by less than 0.3%, the Energy Information Administration reports.
For nearly 70 years, the electric power sector, which both consumes and produces energy, has been responsible for some of the largest changes in U.S. energy consumption, Kallanish Energy reports.
In 2018, the electric power sector consumed 38 quads of energy and provided 13 quads of electricity retail sales to the residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors.
Most energy is lost
Nearly 67% of the energy the power sector consumes (25 quads in 2018) is lost before it reaches end users. Most of these losses occur at steam-electric power plants (conventional and nuclear) when heat energy is converted into mechanical energy to turn generators.
Other losses include the electricity used to operate power plants and the electricity lost in the transmission and distribution of electricity to end users.
Petroleum products, such as motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and hydrocarbon gas liquids, have remained the largest sources of primary energy consumed in the U.S. since 1950. Most petroleum is consumed for transportation (70% in 2018).
Natural gas consumption up substantially
Natural gas is the second-largest source of energy consumed in the U.S. Natural gas consumption has increased substantially since the mid-2000s, mostly as a result of increases in natural gas-fired electricity generation. In 1950, the industrial sector consumed the most natural gas (59%) in the U.S., and the electric power sector consumed only 11%.
In 2018, the U.S. electric power sector consumed more natural gas (35%) than the industrial sector (34%), according to EIA.
Coal consumption in the U.S. decreased for the fifth consecutive year in 2018, reaching 13.2 quads, the lowest level since 1975, and roughly half its peak in 2005.
Nearly all U.S. coal used to generate power
In 1950, nearly half of U.S. coal consumption was in the industrial sector (47%), and the transportation sector also consumed a significant share (13%).
However, since the 1960s, nearly all U.S. coal has been used to generate electricity. In 2018, the electric power sector accounted for 91% of U.S. coal consumption, according to EIA.
Renewable energy consumption in the U.S. has nearly tripled since 1950, reaching a record 11.5 quads in 2018. The types of U.S. renewable fuels have diversified since 1950, from wood and hydroelectric power to wind, biofuels, solar, biomass waste, and geothermal energy.
In 2018, the U.S. electric power sector consumed 56% of renewable energy.
The industrial sector is the second-largest end-use sector in the U.S., accounting for 26.3 quads in 2018. In 1950, the U.S. industrial sector consumed more coal than any other fuel (40%), but in 2018, coal accounted for just 4% of industrial use.
Natural gas is now the most-used fuel in the U.S. industrial sector, accounting for 40% of the industrial total.
This post appeared first on Kallanish Energy News.