Total 2015 U.S. energy production was 89 quadrillion BTUs, 91% of consumption

The United States total energy production saw an increase for the sixth consecutive year. Data collected from EIA’s Monthly Energy Review stated that energy production in the U.S. totaled 89 quadrillion British Thermal Units. The total amount of energy produced in the U.S. in 2015 corresponded to roughly 91% of the United States total energy consumption.

The increase from liquid fuels more than negated the decline in production of coal. Crude oil increased 8%, while natural gas plant liquids increase by 9%. Production in natural gas saw an increase as well at 5%.

United States total Energy Production

Production of nuclear electric power along with renewable energy saw very little change in 2015.

71% of U.S. primary energy exports were petroleum products in 2015. The U.S. also saw a decline in primary energy net imports for the 10th consecutive year. In 2015 the U.S. saw a slight rise in imports of 2% but that was offset by the 6% increase in exports.

Coal falling behind natural gas

Almost a decade after the U.S. exported more than twice as much coal as natural gas, the United States has seen that number fall dramatically. In 2015 natural gas exports were outpaced by coal by 0.1 quadrillion Btu’s. The balance of power with energy exports is expected to change drastically in the near future as the United States is expected to continue its transition from a net importer to a net exporter of natural gas by summer of 2017.

U.S. Trade of Selected Energy CommoditiesThe total primary energy consumption in the United States fell by 1% in both 2014 and 2015. The use of coal energy during the same time period also decreased by 13%. Liquid fuels helped offset the decrease in coal consumption by an increase of 3% in natural gas and 1% petroleum consumption.

Residential and commercial energy consumption decreased by 9% and 6% respectively. This can be attributed to the milder winter in 2015, according to the EIA. Heating degree days which are used as a measure to calculate temperature-related demand fell by 10%. While the transportation sector increased by 2% the electric power and industrial sectors saw similar declines to 2014.


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