Energy resources in the UK
The mixture of primary energy sources used is called the The balance of the different types of energy which a country uses.. The energy mix of the UK consists mostly of gas, coal and nuclear fuel. The last oil-fired power station in the UK closed in 2015.
The growth of renewable energy
The UK has been reliant on Natural, finite fuel formed from the remains of living organisms, eg oil, coal and natural gas. for many years. Global supplies of fossil fuels were once thought to be running out. However, as technology improves, new supplies can be discovered and accessed more easily. There are huge, barely tapped reserves in South America, Africa and the Arctic.
It is estimated that gas will last another 50 years and coal another 112 years. Around 40% of the UK's gas supply currently comes from domestic supplies (the North Sea). According to the Global Sustainability Institute, it has been estimated that UK supplies of fossil fuels could run out within just 5 years.
Energy sources that are replenished and not exhausted, eg solar power. fuels make up less than 10% of the UK’s energy mix. The government needs to increase this figure to 15% by 2020 to meet its A group of European countries initially formed to remove trade barriers and reduce potential for war within Europe. Citizens of member states have the right to move freely to any other member state to work. target. The UK has a lot of potential for generating renewable energy:
- Over 50% of all renewable energy generated in the UK comes from Land which contains a large group of wind turbines.. Most of this is from onshore Revolving machine with blades that are turned by wind, water or steam. Turbines in a power station turn the generators., but the number of offshore turbines is increasing.
- The amount of UK electricity generated through Energy generated from fast-flowing water. has remained the same since 2012. This will not increase unless new A large concrete wall built to trap water in a reservoir. are built.
- Less than 0.01% of UK energy is generated through tidal power. The UK is an island nation and could generate around 20% of its electricity using waves and tides.
- Solar panels are becoming more common, particularly on people's homes. The UK government is hoping an increasing share of total electricity production could come from solar power in the future.
Issues associated with energy exploitation
There are economic and environmental issues that are associated with the When the natural environment is destroyed for its natural resources, eg deforestation as a result of cutting timber. of energy sources:
Economic
Generating electricity costs a lot of money. There are initial costs, such as building power stations, dams and wind farms. There are also maintenance and running costs, such as buying fuel, repairing damage to structures and disposing of In chemistry, these are by-products in a chemical reaction formed as well as the desired product. They are described as waste products if no use can be found for them. In general terms, they can be unwanted or unusable material, including household rubbish, hazardous materials (eg toxic waste) or bodily materials (eg urine or faeces).. The government must balance these costs with other important things that the country must buy. They must also decide whether to invest in A resource that cannot be replaced when it is used up, such as oil, natural gas or coal. or renewable options.
Environmental
Generating electricity has many environmental issues:
- Fossil fuel powered stations create Substances that are given off, especially in the form of gas., noise from trains transporting coal, and waste products like ash. They have also been linked to high levels of Energy carried by particles from a radioactive substance, or spreading out from a source..
- The uranium used in nuclear power plants is highly When unstable atoms give off particles that can be harmful to humans. and the waste products have to be kept away from people indefinitely.
- Renewable energies like wind and solar power can be considered When man-made waste or buildings spoil the natural beauty of an area.. Tidal power and HEP dams may affect Things that are associated with the sea. ecosystems.