Sustainable Energy Resources
The United Kingdom has to face the challenge of producing sufficient sustainable energy resources to meet the needs of the population until 2050. The UK also needs to reduce the amount of fossil fuels being burnt because of the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and because fossil fuels are a valuable resource for future generations.
Changing our energy sources will be a difficult and expensive process. Fossil fuels are relatively cheap and easy to use. Nuclear power is reliable but expensive and there is significant public opposition to it. There are real challenges in meeting the energy needs of the population from sustainable resources.
Sustainable energy is energy that can be produced without using resources that are not able to be renewed. For example, burning gas, coal or oil uses that amount of fossil fuel forever. However some renewable resources, such as hydro power and for all practical purposes solar energy, are examples of resources that are not consumed when the energy within them is harnessed to do work. This 'work' is generally heating water or operating a turbine to produce electricity.
By definition, sustainable energy is renewable energy. Of course this excludes the use of fossil fuels from being burnt to create energy. Whatever the reserves are globally, all countries will eventually come to the end of their fossil fuel reserves.
The definition of 'renewable energy' allows the generation of electricity from nuclear power although this still continues to be a controversial subject with many people!
The objective of using sustainable energy resources is to generate electricity for public consumption. In addition dams ensure that water supplies are available to the surrounding region as well as allowing hydro electricity to be generated.
Sustainable energy resources generally include resources such as: biofuels, solar power, wind power, wave power, tidal power and geothermal power.
Sustainable energy sources may also include technologies that improve energy efficiency.
The use of fossil fuels has had a consequence on the environment of planet Earth. Carbon dioxide (co2) and nitogen oxides (nox) and other substances are released into the atmosphere. Some of the consequences of doing this, such as smogs, are visible to us. In addition these substances cause ill health, produce a dirty environment, and makes a major contribution to Climate change and global warming.
A global economy built on sustainable energy requires all the nations of Earth to be involved in switching to renewable energy and to stop using fossil fuels. This will involve governments throughout the planet working together!
It also requires a serious drive to reduce electricity consumption. But electrical devices will still need electricity! Most households consume electricity and serious attempts to use electricity more efficiently go hand in hand with developing new renewable energy resources.
Latest news
30-Nov-2010 Department of Energy & Climate Change have released estimates of UK home insulation levels.
- 26.5 million homes in Great Britain.
- 23.2 million homes have lofts - 12.3 million homes have minimum of 125mm loft insulation
- 18.6 million have cavity walls - 10.3 million homes had cavity wall insulation
BBC accessed 18-Oct-2010