2. The energy cost of fuels

In the UK, the energy industries are the largest consumers of energy, using 30% of the present total. New sources of energy are likely to be even more demanding of fuels. In this article, the second in the series on Energy Budgets, the authors analyse the energy supply industries in the UK and examine implications for the future. They recommend that more attention be paid to materials recycling and to the development of renewable energy sources to avoid continuing inflation of energy use.