U.S. energy production fell 5% in 2020: EIA

Charts of natural gas production and consumption according to the U.S. EIA.

The U.S. saw a 5% decrease in primary energy production in 2020 from the previous year, according to preliminary statistics released from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The report showed the U.S. produced a total nearly 96 quadrillion Btu in 2020, the second highest on record despite the decline from the previous year.

Although total energy production fell, the breakdown of energy produced by segment was uneven in 2020. Production of natural gas liquids increased 7% while renewable production rose 2%. Dry natural gas and nuclear electric power production fell 2% each while oil production fell 8% and coal production fell 24% in 2020. Despite the modest decline in gas production, the total of 34.7 quadrillion Btu was the second highest since the EIA started keeping records in 1949.

Renewable energy produced in 2020 totaled 11.8 quadrillion Btus in 2020, about 12.3% of the total energy produced. That is up from 11.4% in 2019.

Meanwhile, energy consumption in the U.S. reached 93 quadrillion Btu, down 7% from the previous year. Renewable energy consumption increased 2% while natural gas and electric power consumption each fell 2% in 2020.

U.S. primary energy exports totaled 23 quadrillion Btu, the second consecutive year that the country exceeded energy imports, which were 20 quadrillion Btu. Net energy exports totaled 3.4 quadrillion Btu, the largest margin on record.

For more information see the Monthly Energy Review.