On February 22nd, the United Kingdom's Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published a variety of publications. These publications provide specifics about the energy output during the third quarter of 2017.
The research demonstrates that the use of renewable sources of energy in the United Kingdom has been steadily increasing.
The amount of power generates from renewable sources in 2009 was 25,244 gigawatt hours. Since then, it has expanded by 230%. Hence, the total amount of power generation in 2016 was 83,255 GWh.
It does not seem like there will be any kind of slowdown in growth. In point of fact, it seems like 2017 was one of the best years ever!
Which of the Following is the Largest Renewable Energy Source in the UK?
Some of the largest renewable energy sources and their details are as follows:
Wind Energy
Wind energy, both offshore and onshore, is the most important source of renewable energy in the United Kingdom. It outperforms the other forms of renewable energy in the UK by a margin of 13.8% of total power production.
Moreover, it outperforms the combined output of coal, oil, and other forms of energy by a margin of 6.5%.
Scotland is the most advanced region in the United Kingdom in terms of the development of renewable energy. The use of coal for the production of electricity has been steadily decreasing despite the expansion of renewable energy sources.
2006 had a consumption of 57,438,000 tonnes, whereas 2016 saw a consumption of just 12,058,000 tonnes.
The Quickening Adoption of Solar Energy in the UK
Over the course of the previous nine years, solar electricity in the UK has seen an incredible transformation. Going from producing a meager 20 GWh in 2009 to 10,420 GWh in 2016, it has seen significant expansion.
Solar photovoltaic panels have already produced 10,025 GWh of power in the first three quarters of 2017. This accounted for 4.2% of the total electricity output in the United Kingdom.
We are continually constructing more solar photovoltaic systems in the UK. Hence, it is quite probable that the expansion of the use of solar energy will continue in years to come.
Public Opinion in the United Kingdom Regarding Renewable Energy and Climate Change
Since March 2012, the BEIS has been conducting a poll every three months to get feedback on their primary concerns. The results of the most current study in December 2017, indicate that:
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79% of those who participated in the survey are in favor of renewable energy.
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71% of those who responded expressed worry about the changing climate.
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Only 21% of those polls in 2017 believe that climate change is one of the top three difficulties that the United Kingdom is now experiencing, which is an increase from the 10% who held this opinion in 2012.
Even if the total is higher, we still have a long way to go until we reach our goal. You can help battle climate change by doing something as simple as installing double-paned windows in your home. Alternatively, it may involve putting in a heat pump that converts air to water.
Advantages of Renewable Energy For the UK
Before starting to use fossil fuels, it's important to consider the benefits of switching to renewable energy. The use of renewable energy has various significant advantages, including the following:
No depletion Days Anymore
Simply said, a renewable energy source will not run out anytime soon, as implied by the term. The sun will continue to rise every day for the next 4.5–5.5 billion years. It is safe to say that the sun is a renewable energy source!
This distinction between renewables and fossil fuels may be the most crucial.
Reliable and Sustainable Solutions
While governments always fight for control of fossil resources, renewable energy sources may be taken over without any bloodshed.
In other words, the utilization of renewable energy sources is immune to the effects of trade regulations, political instability, territorial disputes, and market upheaval.
Despite the inequitable distribution of renewable energy sources, they may be used as a stable source of power supply.
Renewable Energy is Less Harmful to the Environment
Renewable energy sources are eco-friendly since they use natural processes to produce electricity. Even while employing renewable energy sources may result in some emissions, this is offset by the overall low levels of carbon and GHG emissions that result from their usage.
So, if we switch to renewable energy, we can avoid disastrous environmental problems like global warming, climate change, and poor air quality.
Using renewable energy sources may improve community wellness
Better air and soil quality may be achieved by decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Because of this, society as a whole will enjoy better health and a higher quality of life.
More importantly, a healthier population will result in annual savings for both individuals and governments due to lower healthcare costs.
Researchers have worked to develop cleaner, more efficient fossil fuel technology. Renewable energy sources, despite this, are far less harmful to the environment than their conventional counterparts.
Economic opportunities are possible by the development of renewable technologies
The use of renewable technology may have a positive effect on the economy in addition to the environment.
The importance of this cannot be overstated, particularly in less fortunate areas. That's because it's a brand-new, secure employment market that's emerging, which may help lift people out of poverty.
Renewable employment has the potential to alleviate poverty across the world if sufficient resources are allocated to the cause. The phenomenon of rural-urban migration may also be thwarted by this.
In exchange for the renewable power they produce on their farms, governments may compensate them fairly. Numerous renewable energy employment has been in the aftermath of government funding in developed nations like the UK.
Take Away
The widespread usage of fossil fuels has resulted in abnormally high temperatures, increased air pollution, and tremendous health problems. This is a problem in and of itself.
However, if we continue to consume fossil fuels carelessly, we will eventually deplete these supplies as well. In order to reverse the present trajectory and create a better world for future generations, we must switch!
Governments are considering relying on renewable energy sources to provide electricity. Because of this, renewable energy sources are increasingly in use in all nations to provide power.
To that end, the governments of certain developed nations, like the United Kingdom, have set a target date of 2050 for all municipal renewable energy use. As it stands, renewable sources provide for around 43% of the UK's power needs.
There are numerous challenges to achieving a completely renewable energy supply, but there are also many benefits to employing renewable technology.
The benefits of switching to renewable energy sources much exceed the potential drawbacks. Establishing a network of renewable technologies may have a larger upfront cost, but it will more than pay for itself over time.
With all the positive spinoffs that come from switching to renewable energy, putting off the transition is not a good idea. If you wish to switch to a renewable energy source, contact Utility4Business now!