The UK has made a commitment to cut carbon emissions to zero by the year 2050, in response to global measures to combat climate change. A large part of the plans to implement this involve switching as much as possible from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. The UK already has the world’s largest offshore wind power capacity, and plans are underway to increase this over the coming years.
Increases in wind and solar power capacity helped the country achieve 47% of its total energy mix being generated from renewable sources within the first quarter of 2020. Investment in wind farms and other renewable energy infrastructure is planned to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the global drive to cut carbon emissions and slow the progress of climate change.
Matthew Stone, US Cleantech’s CEO, facilitates the commercialisation of clean technology projects around the world. US Cleantech conducts research into clean technologies that can help protect the environment and ensure the world’s energy needs can be met as sustainably as possible.
The embedded infographic details some of the key statistics for renewable energy production in the UK for the second quarter of 2020.
Investment in Clean Wind Energy
One of the primary drivers of carbon emission reduction in the UK is increased investment in clean wind energy. New plans were set in motion by the Prime Minister in October 2020 to this effect.
£160 million of government funding has been made available for investment in infrastructure and upgrading ports to increase the wind power capacity of the UK. Currently, wind power meets approximately 10% of the total energy demand of the UK. Increasing capacity will widen the share of wind in the total energy mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels across many commercial areas of industry as well as for residential use.
The investment will create and support over 60,000 jobs both directly and indirectly and help smaller energy suppliers compete with bigger energy companies. Based on current electricity usage, it is predicted that every home in the UK could be powered by wind energy as soon as 2030.
UK Wind Farms
The first wind farms in the UK were introduced in 1991, by an enterprising farmer named Martin Edwards and his brother. The initial ten-turbine commercial wind farm was the result of an accidental comment made by Edwards’ mother following a storm, in which their property had been damaged. She spoke of how useful it would be if the power of the wind could be harnessed for use rather than left to wreak havoc.
The Edwards brothers spent four years convincing the local community, researching wind turbines in Denmark, and negotiating with the council before erecting their turbines. Over the years as technology has advanced, the original ten turbines have been replaced with four super-efficient turbines, and wind farms have sprung up across the UK on land and in the sea.
Climate Change Commitments
The UK has made strong commitments to combatting climate change and introduced a series of ambitious but attainable targets in pursuit of this. These include signing the Paris Agreement, which requires signatories to commit to cutting emissions, and introducing its own laws to cut emissions by at least 80% by 2050. Introducing more renewables not only protects the environment; it also protects our electricity supply as power comes from more diverse sources.
The short video attachment contains a definition of renewable energy.