From the mid 1990s renewable energy began to contribute to the electricity generated in the United Kingdom, adding to a small hydroelectricity generating capacity. Renewable energy sources provided for 6.7 per cent of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom in 2009,[1] rising to 9.6% in the second quarter of 2011.[2]
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By mid-2011, the installed capacity of wind power in the United Kingdom was over 5.7 gigawatts[3] and the UK is ranked as the world’s eighth largest producer of wind power. Wind power is expected to continue growing in the UK for the foreseeable future, RenewableUK estimates that more than 2 GW of capacity will be deployed per year for the next five years.[4] Within the UK, wind power is the second largest source of renewable energy after biomass.[1]
2010 saw the completion of some significant projects in the UK wind industry with the Gunfleet Sands, Robin Rigg[5] and Thanet[6] offshore wind farms coming on stream. Over 1.1 GW of new wind power capacity was brought online during 2010, a 3% increase on 2009. There was a 38% drop in onshore installations to 503 MW compared with 815 MW in 2009 but there was a 230% increase in offshore installations with 653 MW installed (compared with 285 MW in 2009).
Due to the island location of the UK, the country has great potential for generating electricity from wave power and tidal power.
To date, wave and tidal power have received very little money for development and consequently have not yet been exploited on a significant commercial basis due to doubts over their economic viability in the UK.[7] Funding for the UK's first wave farm was announced by the Scottish Executive in February 2007. It will be the world's largest, with a capacity of 3 MW generated by four Pelamis machines and a cost of over 4 million pounds.[8]
| Technology | 2011 estimate | 2040 central projection |
|---|---|---|
| River hydro (best locations) | 6.9 | 5 |
| Onshore wind | 8.3 | 5.5 |
| Nuclear | 9.6 | 6 |
| CCGT with carbon capture | 10.0 | 10 |
| Wood CFBC | 10.3 | 7.5 |
| Geothermal | 15.9 | 9 |
| Offshore wind | 16.9 | 8.5 |
| Energy crops | 17.1 | 11 |
| Tidal stream | 29.3 | 13 |
| Solar PV | 34.3 | 8 |
| Tidal barrage | 51.8 | 22 |
Gas from sewage and landfill (biogas) has already been exploited in some areas. In 2004 it provided 129.3 GW·h (up 690% from 1990 levels), and was the UK's leading renewable energy source, representing 39.4% of all renewable energy produced (including hydro).[10]
Other biofuels can provide a close-to-carbon-neutral energy source, if locally grown. In South America and Asia, the production of biofuels for export has in some cases resulted in significant ecological damage, including the clearing of rainforest. In 2004 biofuels provided 105.9 GW·h, 38% of it wood. This represented an increase of 500% from 1990.[11]
In some countries the installation of solar electricity has already received considerable Government support. At the end of 2006 the UK's installed capacity of 13 MWp (Megawatts peak) represented just 0.3% of the European total of 3.4 GWp. By way of comparison, due to their plans to phase out nuclear energy there is a growing (though heavily subsidised) capacity in Germany, where 3.0 GWp had been installed by the end of 2006 (90% of all European capacity).[12]
Investigations into the exploitation of Geothermal power in the United Kingdom, prompted by the 1973 oil crisis, were abandoned as fuel prices fell. Only one scheme is operational, in Southampton. In 2004 it was announced that a further scheme would be built to heat the UK's first geothermal energy model village near Eastgate, County Durham.[13]
Microgeneration technologies are seen as having considerable potential by the Government. However the microgeneration strategy they launched in March 2006[14] was seen as a disappointment by many commentators.[15] Microgeneration involves the local production of electricity by homes and businesses from low-energy sources including small scale wind turbines, ground source heat pumps and solar electricity installations. The Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006[16] is expected to boost the number of microgeneration installations,[17] however funding for grants under the Low Carbon Building Programme is proving insufficient to meet demand[18] with funds for March 2007 being spent in 75 minutes.[19] As of 1 April 2010 FiTs (Feed-in-Tariffs, aka "Clean Energy Cashback") are being introduced which support microgeneration.
Sustainable community energy systems, pioneered by Woking Borough Council, provide an integrated approach to using cogeneration, renewables and other technologies to provide sustainable energy supplies to an urban community. It is expected that the same approach will be developed in other towns and cities, including London.[20] Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company based in Inverness are active in developing community-owned and led initiatives in Scotland.[21]
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