The consumption of solid fossil fuels in the UK construction sector showed notable fluctuations over the past decade. In 2013, it stood at 159.8 Terajoules, rising sharply to 185.51 Terajoules in 2014, a 16.09% year-on-year increase. However, this was followed by a significant drop, reaching 158.86 Terajoules in 2015 and continuing its downward trajectory to 132.03 Terajoules in 2016. From 2017 onward, the consumption stabilized somewhat, decreasing gradually to 129.14 Terajoules in 2018 and remaining flat in 2019. By 2023, the value further declined to 121.5 Terajoules, reflecting a consistent reduction over the years.
Considering the more recent trends, the year-on-year variation from 2022 to 2023 and 2021 to 2022 were -1.45% and -1.46% respectively. On average, there was an annual decrease of -1.21% CAGR over the last five years.
Looking ahead, the forecast indicates a continued decline in solid fossil fuels consumption, with an expected average annual decrease of -1.26% over the next five years, leading to a volume of 112.17 Terajoules by 2028.
Future trends to watch for include:
• Increasing adoption of renewable energy sources in the construction sector.
• Regulatory pressures and advancements in green technologies possibly accelerating the decline in fossil fuel usage.
• Economic factors and infrastructure projects that could influence energy consumption patterns.