Why does hydro appear to be going down

[M]

Looking at this report, and hydro seems to be getting less. Trying to play mental number games, but can't think what would cause this.

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/publications/energy-in-brief/2286-uk-energy-in-brief-2011.pdf

Edit: Oops, pages 33 and 34. Sorry.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Mart.

[clivejo]

The measure is the oil equivalent.

Id reckon its because we are getting better at squeezing every last watt from the fuel we burn.  For example, look how a modern condensing oil boiler out performs a regular oil boiler.  Then compared against other renewable energies hydro has stayed pretty much the same.

Seems a very strange way to measure !!

[M]

Clive, exactly what I thought (assumed), then I looked at page 34 which is in TWh, and something seems to go wrong.

Did anyone pinch a hydro reservoir in 2010, imagine the conversation down the pub. "Psst, want to buy a lake?"

Confused of Cardiff

Mart.

[JohnS]

The simplest explanation is probably reduced rainfall.

Looking at the met office website http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/anomacts/

this appears to be the case, assuming most hydro is isn Scotland.

[clivejo]

I really hate the way they twist results by using some obscure measure.  Take the following document, page 128, Table 5A: Estimated carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation
2008 to 2010.

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/publications/dukes/2312-dukes-2011--full-document-excluding-cover-pages.pdf

On first glance, it looks like CO2 levels are staying the same.  Until you read the measure is "tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh electricity supplied".  

[renewablejohn]

Major part of it will be this plant being repaired

http://www.power-technology.com/projects/glendoehydropowerpla/

Should be back on stream in 2012