Energy Costs Comparison

Different energy sources are measured in different units: litres, therms, BTU, kWh, units, cubic metres and many more. This makes it very difficult to compare the actual costs for powering a heating system between differing energy sources.

For this reason, standardised units and costs are needed. At NEP we have done these calculations for the main fuel types. In making these calculations particular sources of data and assumptions have been used; these have been referenced. The prices change constantly, and while we will endeavour to keep this data up-to-date, we recommend the reference sites also be checked for the latest fuel prices.

The amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with each fuel is also listed, to aid energy source selection on environmental grounds. These factors are taken from the latest DEFRA’s GHG fuel conversion factors for company reporting; these do not include indirect emissions from fuel supply chain.

As of August '09 our carbon factors, and in some cases calorific values have been updated in line with the most up to date 2009 DEFRA guidelines for company greenhouse gas reporting. Where appropriate we use gross calorific value (gross CV) to convert from volume or weight units to kWh and then net calorific value (net CV) figures to convert from kWh to CO2. This ensures that combustion efficiency losses due to laten heat of evaporation are only accounted for once. CO2 emissions factors have been replaced with Greenhouse gas emissions factors in CO2 equivalent to represent CO2, CH4 and N20 emissions associated with fuel combustion.

It should be noted that different, out of date, carbon emissions factors are currently used in analysing carbon target compliance in SAP2005, Building Regulations Part L and often local planning policy (see http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/CO2EmissionFigures2001.pdf), and were used in previous versions of this comparison tool. These factors no longer accurately represent actual CO2 emissions and are not used in the Government’s Act on CO2 calculator, or for any other official carbon accounting purposes. The SAP 2009 figures are currently out to consultation and are likely to be brought into line with the EU accepted figures used in the DEFRA guidelines. It is important to check which dataset you are required to use.

Please note that historical data on past energy costs for the fuel types listed below can be made available upon request to laura.m@nottenergy.com

Information accurate as of 25 August 2009.

Fuel	Fuel price (p per unit)	Unit	Pence per kWh (after boiler efficiency)	Energy content (kWh per unit)	CO2eq emissions per kWh*
Electricity Standard Rate¹	12.82	kWh	12.82 (100%)	1.00	0.541
Electricity Online Rate¹	11.41	kWh	11.41 (100%)	1.00	0.541
Mains Gas Standard Rate²	3.87	kWh	4.30 (90%)	14.67	0.204
Mains Gas Online Rate²	3.52	kWh	3.91 (90%)	14.67	0.204
Kerosene³	39.00	Litre	3.38 (90%)	12.83	0.260
Gas oil³	49.90	Litre	4.38 (90%)	12.65	0.291
LPG⁴	38.90	Litre	6.19 (90%)	6.98	0.226
Butane⁵	106.32	Litre	14.82 (90%)	7.97	0.226
Propane⁵	56.21	Litre	8.83 (90%)	7.07	0.226
Seasoned Wood⁶	12.27	Kg	3.83 (85%)	3.77	0.025
Pellets⁷	26.33	Kg	6.02 (90%)	4.86	0.025
Smokeless fuel⁸	39.10	Kg	7.78 (75%)	6.70	0.357
Coal⁸	26.45	Kg	4.16 (75%)	8.47	0.357
GSHP⁹	11.41	kWh	3.57 (320%)	1.00	0.169
ASHP⁹	11.41	kWh	4.56 (250%)	1.00	0.216

Energy Cost Comparison for past 3 months for East Midlands
Fuel	20/05/2009	23/06/2009	25/07/2009	% change
Electricity Standard Rate¹	12.82	12.82	12.82	+0.00
Electricity Online Rate¹	11.41	11.38	11.41	+0.03
Mains Gas Standard Rate²	3.89	3.89	3.87	-0.51
Mains Gas Online Rate²	3.52	3.52	3.52	+0.00
Kerosene³	35.52	38.72	39.00	+9.79
Gas oil³	43.76	46.48	49.90	+14.03
LPG⁴	38.90	38.90	38.90	+0.00
Butane⁵	90.54	90.54	106.32	+17.43
Propane⁵	56.21	56.21	56.21	+0.00
Seasoned Wood⁶	12.27	12.27	12.27	+0.00
Pellets⁷	26.33	26.33	26.33	+0.00
Smokeless fuel⁸	40.75	40.75	39.10	-4.05
Coal⁸	28.05	28.05	26.45	-5.70
GSHP⁹	11.41	11.38	11.41	+0.03
ASHP⁹	11.41	11.38	11.41	+0.03

*CO2 emissions (kg of CO2 per kWh) – These factors are based on DEFRA’s latest GHG fuel conversion factors, available here

Visit our Tools page to calculate the financial, carbon and energy savings from installing renewable energy technologies.

REFERENCES:

1. Electricity – Based on an average of the 6 major electricity suppliers’ standard prepayment, credit and direct debit tariffs, including standing charges and VAT, but not Economy 7. Taken from consumer focus

1. Electricity – Based on an average of the 6 major electricity suppliers’ online prepayment, credit and direct debit tariffs, including standing charges and VAT, but not Economy 7. Taken from consumer focus

2. Gas – Based on an average of the 6 major gas suppliers’ standard prepayment, credit and direct debit tariffs, including standing charges and VAT. Taken from consumer focus

2. Gas – Based on an average of the 6 major gas suppliers’ online prepayment, credit and direct debit tariffs, including standing charges and VAT. Taken from consumer focus

3. Kerosene and gas oil – Based on price from www.boilerjuice.com

4. LPG – Based on Calor Gas prices – Call 0800 626 626

5. Butane & Propane – Based on prices from: www.flogas.co.uk

Note: The bottled gas market is very competitive and prices vary. It is recommended that you contact as many suppliers as possible in your area for the best price.

We have used the CO2eq factor of LPG, as both propane and butane are components of LPG and there is currently no specific GHG conversion factor for these

6. Seasoned Wood – Based on prices from here

We have used the CO2 factor as there is currently no specific GHG CO2eq conversion factor for this.

7. Wood Pellets – Based on prices from Strawsons Energy, Retford, Nottinghamshire: http://www.strawsonsenergy.co.uk

8. Smokeless fuel and coal – Based on prices from www.coaldelivery.co.uk/index.html

We have used the CO2eq factor of coal, as the components of smokeless fuels are coal-based and there is currently no specific GHG conversion factor for this.

9. GSHP (Ground Source Heat Pump) and ASHP (Air Source Heat Pump) – Based on best electricity price. Taken from SAP 2005, available at: http://projects.bre.co.uk/sap2005/

RESOURCES:

Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) Energy Statistics:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/source/source.aspx

Current Electricity and gas prices across power companies:

Consumer focus

Boiler efficiency database

http://www.sedbuk.com

Energy properties of fuels:

http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file19273.xls

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquified_petroleum_gas

http://www.aie.org.au/melb/material/resource/fuels.htm

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/