Electricity Consumption

The doubling of electricity's share of Kansas energy use is indicative of the emerging importance of electricity to Kansas in the past 40 years (Figure 1). Kansas electricity consumption has quadrupled since 1960 from 7 billion kWh to 32.3 billion kWh in 1997² (Figure 4). This increase in electricity demand was met almost entirely by coal and nuclear power. During the 1970's, a number of large coal plants came on-line to meet demand (Table 2), causing coal's share to grow from 12% of total energy consumed in 1970 to 20% by 1980. The Wolf Creek Nuclear came on-line in 1985 and now supplies 8% of the State's energy and 25% of its electricity.

The emergence of these new power plants caused a shift in the mix of fuels used to generate electricity from mostly oil and natural gas in 1960 to 68% coal and 25% nuclear today (Figure 5). Another affect of this growth was an improvement in the overall energy efficiency of electricity generation (Figure 6). The conversion efficiency of Kansas electricity generation improved from less than 29% to nearly 32.5%. Possible reasons for this improvement include new power plants that use more efficient technologies, and replacing small, less-efficient oil and natural gas power plants, have higher capacity factors (percentage of time operating at maximum). In addition improvement in power plant control systems and other performance enhancements in the 1980-90's have improved power plants operating efficiency.

Forecast – Natural gas is fueling 98% of the 20,000 Mega Watts (Mw) of new powers plants that have come on line during 2000. An additional 70,000 Mw of gas-fired electrical generation is expected to come on line in the next 30 months³. In 2000, from the best data available, electricity demand for natural gas grew twice as fast as forecasted⁴. The accelerating growth in America’s and Kansas’ use of kilowatts is spurred by the new economy and the Internet (Figure 3). The increase in computer usage and the Internet has contributed an estimated 10-13% of total U.S. electric power demand. The dot-com revolution is powered by fossil fuels⁵. There are no new nuclear, no new coal, or no new hydroelectric power plants of any consequence being built in U.S.

The U.S. is expected to require an additional 300 gigawatts of new capacity over the next two decades to meet expected growth in electric power demands⁶. Of this new capacity, 90 percent is projected to be combined-cycle or combustion turbine technology fueled by natural gas. Before electric industry restructuring, additions to baseload capacity were limited primarily to pulverized-coal steam units. Today, natural gas-fired power plants provide lower capital costs, short lead times, improved efficiencies, and reduced environmental opposition, which offset the higher fuel costs compared to coal. The forecasted increase of 300 gigawatts by 2020 will translate to construction of approximately 1000 new gas-fired power plants and increased natural gas production by almost 6 trillion cubic feet.

A current need is to significantly increase investment not only in power generation, but also in transmission networks, distribution systems, and control systems to provide reliable high quality electric power⁷. During the last decade, transmission capacity has improved, but has not kept up with increased demand. Improved interconnections between electric power grids are creating large regional markets for electric power. As a result, the Kansas electrical system is increasingly integrated into a larger region of the U.S. This increases the stability of local electric systems to withstand short-term and catastrophic problems. However, it increases the exposure of Kansas to long-term systemic problems that may be the result of policies that developed outside the state. An extreme example is the winter 2000-01 power shortage in California, which is pulling power from adjoining states. As a result of improved electric power grid interconnections, states such as Oregon and Washington are faced with managing the impact of California’s energy policies.

Figure 4 - Kansas electricity consumption has quadrupled since 1960, the conversion efficiency of Kansas electricity generation has improved from less than 29% to nearly 32.5%.

Figure 5 - Over two-thirds of Kansas electricity in 1998 was generated from coal, while nuclear power fueled 25% and natural gas picked up much of the balance.

Figure 6 - The conversion efficiency of Kansas electricity has improved significantly since 1980 due to new power plants coming on-line, the retirement of older generating facilities, and the improved operation of baseload power plants. Source: Energy Information Administration

Primary Energy Consumption

Kansas primary energy consumption increased 72% from 1960 to 1997. Most of this growth took place from 1960-1980 when it grew 63%. The 17 years after this saw less than 5% growth (Figure 3 above). Coal and nuclear energy filled most of the new demand with coal consumption increasing from 675,000 short tons in 1960 to 10.4 million short tons in 1997, an increase of 1,400%⁸ and nuclear power emerging in 1985 (See Figure 7). Natural gas consumption grew rapidly in the 1960's and remained steady until the early 1980's when Federal price controls restricted the use of natural gas for electricity generation, causing consumption to drop off sharply. Petroleum consumption has not changed dramatically since 1960, but has seen several fluctuations throughout this period. Of the petroleum products, gasoline, distillate fuel (diesel) and LPG use increased by 44%, 250%, and 170% respectively since 1960, while residual fuel and kerosene use declined⁹.

Kansans’ consume around 1,100 trillion BTU of energy annually. The average use of energy per Kansan in 1997 was 397 million BTU, 13 percent above the US average rate of 351 million BTU. Fossil fuels supply over 90% of this. Petroleum accounts for a third of this energy with natural gas and coal providing around 30% each (Figure 8). Nuclear power, which fuels the Wolf Creek nuclear generating station, accounts for 8% of the total, while biomass comprises 1%. Hydroelectric and other sources of energy (e.g., wind and solar) comprise less than 1% of Kansas’ energy consumption.

Petroleum consumption in Kansas is at 193,000 barrels per day, of which transportation fuels, gasoline, and distillate (diesel) have the largest shares (Figure 9). Given the rural nature of the state, liquid petroleum gases (LPG), primarily propane, are used extensively for rural heating and industrial purposes. Energy consumption by sector shows that industrial and transportation sectors are the two biggest consumers (Figure 10).

In all, Kansas is capable of producing 60% of the energy it consumes. Twice as much natural gas is produced in Kansas than is consumed. All of the uranium, most of the coal, and 40% of the petroleum consumed must be produced out of the state. As of 1997, assuming Kansas consumed its own energy first, around 40% of the energy consumed in the state was produced elsewhere (Figure 11). The single largest source is the coal produced in Wyoming and burned in our power plants. The majority of energy imported into Kansas is offset by export of natural gas. While consumption continues to increase, Kansas has become more energy efficient in the last 20 years in terms of the State economy (Figure 12). In 1998, 70% less energy was required per dollar of gross state product than it was in 1977. As energy consumption has leveled off after 1980, the State economy has continued to grow.

Figure 7 - Since 1960, natural gas consumption has risen and decreased, and consumption of coal and nuclear power has dramatically increased.

Figure 8 - Kansas relies primarily on petroleum, natural gas, and coal in almost equal shares to meet its own energy requirements. Most of the power generated at electric utilities in Kansas comes from coal and nuclear power. Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/sep/ks/frame.html.

Figure 9 - Kansas consumes 193,000 barrels of petroleum per day. Consumption is primarily motor gasoline and distillate (diesel) for transportation fuels. Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/sep/ks/frame.html.

Figure 10 - The industrial and transportation sectors are the largest consumers in Kansas. Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/sep/ks/frame.html.

Figure 11 - Over 40% of the energy consumed in Kansas comes from other states.

Figure 12 - The Kansas economy has become more efficient in its use of energy since the late 1970's. In 1998, 70% less energy was required per dollar of gross state product than in 1977.

Updated January 2001
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