Covid-19 Impact on the UK’s Energy Consumption

The global pandemic has changed the way many of us have lived our lives. For many, that has included spending more time at home, which has led us to use more energy.

Ashley Edison has charted this increase in energy consumption:

The UK is one such example of a country consuming more electricity as a result of Covid-19. More people are working from home, children are home-schooled; thus, they're using more electronic equipment, using more heat, and lights are more frequently used. 

During the first quarter of 2020 in the UK, when their first lockdown was stated, domestic energy consumption increased by 4.5% compared to the same period in 2019 – likely due to people working from home from March. 

Additionally, due to spending more time at home, more people are watching TV. Streaming doubled as 12 million people subscribed to new streaming services. 

Due to the increase in demand for electricity, the way the UK grid is balanced in supply and demand must be reconsidered.

The margin between what's generated and what's being demanded is decreasing, and there's more risk of voltage brownouts and outages. 

Power Generators and distribution suppliers will need to remodel and make sure they have the capacity and the infrastructure to meet these new requirements.