When it comes to business energy consumption, not all industries are created equal. Some sectors naturally require more electricity and gas to operate due to the scale or nature of their processes. Understanding which industries consume the most energy is useful for benchmarking, identifying areas for efficiency improvements, and shaping corporate sustainability strategies.
Here are the top 10 energy-consuming industries in the UK, based on recent government and industry data.
Top 10 industries that use the most energy
1. Manufacturing
Annual usage estimate: ~80 TWh
The manufacturing sector is by far the UK’s largest industrial consumer of energy. From metal refining to chemical production and food processing, the need for high-temperature operations, heavy machinery and round-the-clock production drives substantial energy usage.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Process heat (ovens, furnaces, kilns)
- Heavy machinery and motors (drives, presses, CNC)
- Compressed air systems and steam
- Long operating hours / continuous production
2. Transport and logistics
Annual usage estimate: ~65 TWh (excluding consumer fuel)
Transport operators, logistics hubs, and freight services rely heavily on diesel, electricity, and aviation fuel. Energy use is high in warehousing, refrigeration, and vehicle fleets—especially HGVs and air freight.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Warehouse heating and lighting
- Refrigeration and cold-chain storage
- Fleet energy (especially HGV operations and depot activity)
- Materials handling (conveyors, forklifts, chargers)
3. Commercial and public services
Annual usage estimate: ~60 TWh
Offices, retail outlets, schools, hospitals and public buildings collectively account for a significant portion of national energy use. Heating, lighting, air conditioning, and IT equipment are major contributors.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Space heating and hot water (often the largest load)
- Lighting across offices, retail, schools, hospitals
- Cooling/ventilation (air conditioning, air handling)
- IT and small power (PCs, monitors, printers)
4. Construction
Annual usage estimate: ~20 TWh
From operating heavy machinery on-site to running lighting, compressors and temporary heating in remote areas, the construction sector depends heavily on electricity and diesel.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Diesel-powered plant and site machinery
- Temporary power, lighting, and welfare facilities
- Compressors, pumps, and power tools
- Temporary heating/drying (especially in colder months)
5. Agriculture and horticulture
Annual usage estimate: ~15 TWh
This sector’s energy use is driven by cold storage, greenhouse heating, irrigation, and mechanised farming. As the demand for locally grown produce rises, so too does the energy footprint of agricultural operations.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Greenhouse heating and environmental controls
- Cold storage and refrigeration
- Irrigation pumping and water management
- On-site processing and machinery
6. Food and beverage industry
Annual usage estimate: ~14 TWh
Producing, refrigerating, packaging and transporting food all demand significant energy. Factories, cold chains, and large-scale baking or brewing facilities are among the most intensive users.
Key drivers for energy use:
- Refrigeration and blast chilling/freezing
- Process heat (cooking, baking, pasteurisation)
- Steam and hot water for cleaning/CIP
- Packaging lines and continuous production runs
7. Mining and quarrying
Annual usage estimate: ~11 TWh
Extraction and processing of minerals and fossil fuels is energy-heavy. Large equipment, crushing, pumping and material handling all contribute to high usage levels.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Extraction equipment and haulage activity
- Crushing, screening, and milling
- Pumping and dewatering
- Materials handling and site lighting
8. Water supply and waste management
Annual usage estimate: ~9 TWh
Water treatment plants, sewage processing, and recycling facilities operate 24/7 and rely on large volumes of electricity to run pumps, centrifuges, and filtration systems.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Pumping (water supply and wastewater)
- Aeration and treatment processes
- Sludge processing, filtration, centrifuges
- 24/7 operation requirements
9. Chemical and pharmaceutical production
Annual usage estimate: ~8 TWh
These industries require complex and controlled manufacturing environments, including high-temperature processing, distillation, and chemical reactions—leading to consistently high energy demand.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Controlled processes (reaction, distillation, separation)
- Cleanroom/HVAC demands (where applicable)
- Steam, heat transfer systems, and drying
- Strict environmental and safety controls (ventilation/extraction)
10. IT and data centres
Annual usage estimate: ~7 TWh
With the growth of cloud computing and AI, data centres have become one of the fastest-growing energy consumers. Their need for continuous cooling and power makes them major electricity users.
Key drivers of energy use:
- Server and networking loads (continuous)
- Cooling and airflow management (CRAC/CHW systems)
- Power conditioning (UPS losses)
- High resilience requirements (redundancy, backup systems)
Where these figures come from (methodology)
The annual usage estimates on this page are intended as indicative, UK-level comparisons to show which sectors typically consume the most energy.
- Primary source types: UK national energy statistics (DESNZ), including Energy consumption in the UK (ECUK), which reports final energy consumption by sector.
- What “energy consumption” means here: final energy consumption is the energy used by businesses and other end users (after electricity generation and other transformation losses). This differs from primary energy consumption, which allocates electricity back to the fuels used to generate it.
- Industry classification: where industry splits are needed, UK Environmental Accounts datasets (ONS) provide energy use by industry (SIC 2007) and by fuel/source, which helps validate sector patterns (for example, electricity-heavy sectors versus process-heat sectors).
- Units and rounding: figures are shown in TWh per year and rounded (so totals may not add precisely).
- Important caveat: “High consumption” does not automatically mean “inefficient” — some industries are energy-intensive by nature (for example, process heat, refrigeration, continuous operations).
High energy consumption doesn’t necessarily equate to inefficiency—but it does present opportunities. Whether you’re in manufacturing or IT, switching to a more competitive business energy tariff can deliver significant cost savings. Businesses in high-usage sectors should regularly compare commercial energy deals to ensure they’re getting the best rates.