According to preliminary statistics released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), total energy production in the United States (US) increased in 2015 for the sixth year in a row, covering 91% of US energy primary consumption.
The production of liquid fuels and of gas liquids rose significantly during the year (+8% and +9%), while gas production increased by 5%, offsetting a 10% drop in coal consumption. Primary electricity production (nuclear generation and renewable generation) remained broadly stable, in spite of shifts in primary electricity sources: lower hydropower generation was offset by an increase in wind and solar generation in 2015.
Net energy imports continued to decline in 2015, for the tenth consecutive year: imports rose by 2%, while exports rose by 6%. Oil products accounted for 71% of US primary energy exports. Gas exports are progressing rapidly, coming on par with coal exports, which were twice higher than gas exports in 2008. Mexico accounting for nearly all of the increase in gas exports, while coal exports declined due to lower demand from China and Europe.
Where consumption is concerned, primary energy consumption dipped by 1% in 2015 (-13% in coal consumption partly offset by a 3% hike in gas demand and 1% in oil product consumption); the decline in coal consumption is related to the continuous trend of substitution of coal by gas in the power sector and in industry. Residential consumption dropped by 9%, while that of the commercial sector fell by 6%, due to milder winter temperatures (10% decrease in degree-days in 2015); the consumption of the power sector and of industry slightly decline, unlike transports (+2%).
The coal-to-gas switch in energy consumption for power generation contributed to reduce the US CO2 emissions from the energy sector by 2% in 2015.