Fuel mix

Since 2007 we’ve invested more than €9 billion in wind (onshore and offshore), solar, biomass, and other renewables. Renewables, which are increasingly self-financing, will continue to be a key focus going forward. We plan to invest €1.3 billion in renewables in 2014. For further information see our pages on our energy mix and carbon reduction.

Our investment into renewable energy technology means we’re one of the leading green generators in the UK, with wind farms located from Cambridgeshire to Kintyre. We also own and operate one of the UK’s largest dedicated biomass power stations at Lockerbie.

The table below gives a breakdown of our fuel mix – the fuels we use to produce electricity for all our Residential, Small Business and Corporate customers. Figures are for the period 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014.

Domestic and Small Business*

E.ON Energy Solutions Limited is part of the E.ON SE group.

E.ON Energy Solutions Limited Electricity source
  E.ON Energy Solutions Limited Fuel Mix (%) E.ON UK Overall Average (%) UK Average (%)
Coal 46.7 42 34.0
Gas 27.1 24.3 25.6
Nuclear  8.4 7.6 21.6
Renewable  12 20.9 16.7
Other  5.8 5.2 2.1
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

E.ON Energy Solutions Limited Environmental Impact
  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
(g/kWh)		 High Level Radioactive Waste
(g/kWh)
Coal 425 0.000
Gas  108 0.000 
Nuclear  0  0.001
Renewable 0  0.000 
Other  45 0.000 
Total 578 0.001

Corporate*

E.ON UK PLC is part of the E.ON SE group.

E.ON UK PLC Electricity source
  E.ON UK PLC Fuel Mix (%) E.ON UK Overall Average (%) UK Average (%)
Coal 36.5 42 34.0
Gas  21.2 24.3 25.6
Nuclear  6.6 7.6 21.6
Renewable  31.2 20.9 16.7
Other  4.5 5.2 2.1
Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

 

E.ON UK PLC Environmental Impact
  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
(g/kWh)		 High Level Radioactive Waste
(g/kWh)
Coal 332 0.000
Gas  85 0.000
Nuclear  0  0.001
Renewable  0  0.000
Other  35 0.000
Total 452 0.001


*Data year: 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014

 

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is energy that occurs naturally and continuously in the environment and is naturally replenished.

The different types of renewable energy are:

Wind 
Solar (sun) 
Biomass (organic matter such as plants) 
Wave and tidal (sea) 
Hydroelectric (flowing water in rivers) 
Geothermal (energy stored within the earth)

Why have you put these figures on your literature and website?

There is a requirement for all licensed electricity suppliers to provide information about the energy sources that have been used to generate the electricity we supply.

Are we running out of natural resources?

The earth’s natural resources will run out if we carry on using them continuously as we do at the moment. This is why E.ON invests in renewable energy and promotes fuel efficiency.

What do these figures relate to?

The E.ON Energy Solutions Limited figures show the mix of electricity used to supply the power to our residential and small business customers.

The E.ON UK PLC figures show the mix of electricity used to supply the power to our industrial & commercial customers.

The E.ON UK overall figures show the mix of electricity used to supply power to all of our customers, including residential, small business and industrial and commercial customers.

The UK average figures show the mix of electricity used by all licensed suppliers to all of their customers.

Have any targets been set by the Government?

The Government has set long-term targets for greenhouse gas emissions, including a 60% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
It also has targets in terms of the amount of renewable generation which should be built each year. The target for this year is 10% of electricity to be generated from renewables.


What have E.ON done about making their fuel mix more sustainable?

- invested in more efficient forms of electricity generation
- upgraded many of our stations and closed older coal plants
- started work, with partners, on building the London Array, the world’s largest offshore wind farm
- almost completed work on the Isle of Grain gas-fired CHP, which is one of the world’s most efficient power stations
- become the first company to test a Pelamis P2 wave power device in UK waters
- invested heavily in green generation.
- We’re also currently involved with research into more advanced methods to reduce carbon emissions.