Lower energy consumption in Q3 2012

Observed energy consumption fell in Q3 2012 by 4.0% compared to Q3 2011.

Consumption of oil, natural gas and coal fell by 3.2%, 9.4% and 30.6% respectively in Q3 2012 compared to Q3 2011. The large fall in consumption of coal can be explained by a fall in domestic electricity production, for which coal is a dominant fuel. Consumption of renewable energy rose by 5.6% due to increased consumption of wind power and biofuels.

In the first nine months of 2012, net imports of electricity were significantly larger than during the same period in 2011. The change in net imports of electricity reflects the levels in the Nordic hydropower aquifers, which were considerably higher than usual for the period, resulting in low prices on the wholesale market as well as a significant reduction in electricity production in Danish power plants will an attendant drop in fuel consumption.

Observed energy consumption for the first nine months of 2012 fell by 6.1% compared to the first nine months of 2011. Adjusted for fuel consumption linked to foreign trade in electricity, energy consumption fell by 2.7% in the first nine months of 2012 compared with the same period in 2011.

Primary energy production was 2.4% lower in Q3 2012 than in Q3 2011. Production of crude oil and natural gas fell by 2.0% and 8.2% respectively.
Primary energy production was 5.1% lower for the first nine months of 2012 than for the first nine months of 2011.

Energy production and consumption 1-3 Quarter 2011 and 2012

Ali A. Zarnaghi
Fuldmægtig
Center for Klima og Energiøkonomi
Tlf.: 33 92 68 40
aaz@ens.dk