Sustainable Energy Resources in the United Kingdom
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. Another consideration is that fossil fuels are a valuable resource for future generations and should not be wasted by being burnt!
Changing our energy sources wll 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.
United Kingdom energy consumption
( as of July 2011 - 2010 data) Click here for details
What is sustainable energy?
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 used. This energy is generally used to heat water or to operate a turbine to produce electricity.
By definition, sustainable energy is renewable energy. Of course this excludes the use of fossil fuels. 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 nitrogen 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 emissions cause ill health, produce a dirty environment, and contributes to climate change and global warming.
The UK needs to make a real effort to reduce electricity consumption. But the UK population uses a lot of electricity! Should we limit people's use of electricity? If so then how do we do this? Pricing policies are not equable, lower income groups need electricity as much as everybody else!
Serious attempts to use electricity more efficiently go hand in hand with developing new renewable energy resources.
The feed-in tariff controversy
The primary way for the UK to meet the European Union legislation for 15% of it's electricity to come from renewable resources is by generating the electricity using wind turbines. The UK government introduced a range of payments for companies and individuals who feed electricity into the national grid. The current controversy is that these payments have been reduced because of the difficult UK financial situation. But a lot of money has been invested installing solar panels and wind turbines. These investments may now lose money!
Latest news
5-2-2012 More than 100 Conservative MPs have written to David Cameron calling on him to slash subsidies for onshore wind turbines. The MPs also want planning rules changed to make it easier for local people to object to their construction.
Copyright BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16893598
11-11-2011 Friends of the Earth are threatening to sue the UK governmnet if they reduce feed in tariffs rates earlier than planned.
Copyright BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15658275
9-11-2011 Carl Steele jailed for 15 months for illegal dumping of approximately one million tyres.
Copyright BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-15640095
9-11-2011 Oil prices could keep rising and could reach $212 a barrel by 2035. This is because the world is becoming dependent on a fixed supply of oil that is being used up at an increasing rate.
Copyright BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15658275
19-10-2011 The UK government is to develop new technology for carbon capture and storage (CCS) following a trial project at Longannet in Scotland.
Source: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn_1184/pn_1184.aspx