Difference between revisions of "Renewable Energy"
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| + | Renewable energy is ''GREAT'' - it's zero-carbon and provided free of charge by Mother Nature! However, the UK doesn't produce very much … although the media tend to use the term 'energy' and 'electricity' interchangeably, they're not. Electricity is the smallest of three broad categories of energy production/supply and renewables contribute around 25% to ''electricity'' generation - as shown in the latest (2018) official figures published by the [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/818151/Energy_Flow_Chart_2018.pdf Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy]<br> | ||
| + | [[File:Energy Flow Chart 2018.png|thumb]] | ||
| + | Here's the breakdown: | ||
| + | * Gas - largely used for heating - 44 units | ||
| + | * Electricity - many uses - 30 units, of which | ||
| + | ** 7 units from hydro, wind and solar PV | ||
| + | ** Bio-fuels (4 units) | ||
| + | ** Balance from gas, nuclear, coal | ||
| + | * Petroleum products - largely used for transport - 77 units | ||
| + | |||
| + | Electricity ''can'' be used for heating (e.g. heat pumps) and electricity ''can'' be used for transport (electric trains, electric cars); the figures above show there is a '''huge''' shortfall. Presently our National (electricity) Grid compensates for renewables' [[intermittency]] to balance supply and demand by managing output from Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations (the work-horses of UK electricity generation) and the relatively few still operating coal-fired power stations | ||
# [[Solar Power]] | # [[Solar Power]] | ||
# [[Wind Power]] | # [[Wind Power]] | ||
# [[Tidal Power]] | # [[Tidal Power]] | ||
Revision as of 11:25, 22 November 2019
Renewable energy is GREAT - it's zero-carbon and provided free of charge by Mother Nature! However, the UK doesn't produce very much … although the media tend to use the term 'energy' and 'electricity' interchangeably, they're not. Electricity is the smallest of three broad categories of energy production/supply and renewables contribute around 25% to electricity generation - as shown in the latest (2018) official figures published by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Here's the breakdown:
- Gas - largely used for heating - 44 units
- Electricity - many uses - 30 units, of which
- 7 units from hydro, wind and solar PV
- Bio-fuels (4 units)
- Balance from gas, nuclear, coal
- Petroleum products - largely used for transport - 77 units
Electricity can be used for heating (e.g. heat pumps) and electricity can be used for transport (electric trains, electric cars); the figures above show there is a huge shortfall. Presently our National (electricity) Grid compensates for renewables' intermittency to balance supply and demand by managing output from Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations (the work-horses of UK electricity generation) and the relatively few still operating coal-fired power stations