U.S. Manufacturing Energy Usage Continues to Increase: EIA

U.S. manufacturing energy usage continued to increase as indicated by the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey for 2022, according to a March 25 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Preliminary results from the survey show that total U.S. manufacturing energy usage rose by six percent between 2018 and 2022. The survey is conducted every four years and the most recent results show the third successive increase in energy usage in the manufacturing sector since the 2010 low. Natural gas usage in the manufacturing sector rose by more than all the other energy sources combined during 2022, compared to the previous survey results from 2018.

The survey provides statistics on the consumption of electricity and other types of fuel. It also provides data on the capability of manufacturers to substitute alternative fuels for those actually consumed, end uses, the extent to which energy-related technologies are being used by manufacturers and other related topics.

U.S. manufacturers utilize energy for a number of purposes, including as a fuel for generating power, heat and electricity, as well as a feedstock. The survey uses first use, which excludes volumes of energy that were generated from other energy inputs in order to bypass double counting.

During 2022, the manufacturing sector saw an increase in first use of electricity, natural gas and hydrocarbon gas liquids (excluding natural gasoline) compared to 2018. In contrast, first use of petroleum coke and steam or hot water declined during 2022 compared to 2018.

A significant change in the 2022 survey is the addition of hydrogen projections, which had previously been grouped with numerous other energy sources. The agency projects that the first use of hydrogen amounted to 170 trillion British thermal units during 2022. The use of hydrogen in the manufacturing sector is expected to increase, in line with development of federal policies and programs to increase the production of hydrogen using other processes and the expansion of hydrogen distribution networks within different regions of the U.S. A number of federal policies and programs have incentivised hydrogen production including; the introduction of the Hydrogen Shot, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.