The chart illustrates information from a 2011 report about energy consumption in the UK since 1978, with projections until 2038.
Overall, energy consumption by petrol and oil, coal, natural gas, nuclear, and solar and wind is expected to increase over the period, whereas the opposite is true for hydropower. Additionally, petrol and oil has been the most consumed type of fuel by 2023, and it is projected to maintain its dominance until 2038.
Petrol and oil started at 35, making it the highest figure in 1978, followed by natural gas at 20 and coal at 15. There were mild fluctuations in petrol and oil until 2003, before continuous growth until 2023, reaching 45. A further consistent rise is projected for petrol and oil to 50 by 2038. Meanwhile, a similar pattern was seen in both coal and natural gas until 2003. After fluctuations, natural gas will remain stable, whereas coal will experience a sharp rise to 30, compared to natural gas at 25 in 2038.
In contrast, nuclear, solar and wind, and hydropower began at 2.5. Solar and wind and hydropower oscillated until 2013. At the same time, nuclear climbed steadily before remaining stable until 2023. A further period of stability will be seen in nuclear until 2033 before a slight rise from 7 to 8 in 2038. Solar and wind and hydropower, after rising and falling, stayed stable until 2023. The period of stability will continue for hydropower, while solar and wind will undergo a negligible increase from 5 to 6 by 2038.