Rising energy prices have been affecting the UK ever since Russia’s freeze of oil and gas trade has created shortages across all of Europe. This uncertainty of energy’s availability has massively raised prices from 19.6p per unit in 2019 to 34p per unit now in May 2023. These prices are not quite representative too as government caps have limited the price to the consumer. This is also compounded by the issues and doubts of using non-renewable energy in to the future. The UK – with its limited oil and gas storage facilities – has been one of the most badly effected counties in Europe. With raw gas and oil reserves at an all time low, prices are only going to go up from now. So why is it that the UK still does not have a reasonable plan for energy supplies in to the future?
There seems to be many doubts about what is the right direction to go when it comes to deciding what source to use. There are plenty of talks about the potential of nuclear energy, and while its does have the advantage of being quite similar in its use to fossil fuel plants, and being reliable 365 days a year, there are some questions about how to deal with the nuclear waste created by it. The nuclear waste created by these plants need to be stored and disposed of and this often involves it being put into the holes at the bottom of the ocean created by oil and natural gas extraction. Further to this there are some public concerns about the safety of nuclear plants, due to prior accidents and the general sentiment that nuclear power is unsafe. So, while nuclear power can be useful it should not be relied on as a primary energy source due to the large quantities of waste it produces. Where it can be useful is as a backup supply for extreme cases where the renewables are not enough. Though there is also an argument that fossil fuels could be utilised for this.
Solar is another potential option however it does have its limitations in the UK especially in winter where generation will be significantly reduced. While solar works in some places, the UK’s general lack of sunshine does not make it cost effective here. The cost of solar power per GW (Gigawatt) installed is much greater that other sources at 10 pounds per GW vs 2 pounds per GW with wind power. This demonstrates the impracticality of solar power and shows the much higher initial outlay. While it can be useful on a domestic level due to the compactness and quietness of the solar cells, on a grid-based scale solar farms take up more space per power generation capacity than wind power. My opinion is that they are also unsightly in comparison to wind turbines.
The use of wind power is oftentimes overlooked in the greater energy picture. It already contributes to over 21% of the UKs energy consumption. This is somewhat hard to believe given how few you see around, but then there is a key consideration. Wind power can be place on offshore sites which enables it to be out of sight and not disrupt the population with noise or disturb the aesthetics of the countryside. It also allows for a larger quantity of wind power sites to be installed. Though just like everything there is a cost, and this time it is a financial one. Offshore wind sites can have an install cost of up to 20% higher than onshore wind and also needs more equipment and time to carry out. Onshore wind power is therefore the clear solution in the short term. However due to local planning rules many places are having wind power sites delayed by simple appeals by small numbers of residents from the surrounding areas. These appeals can cause delays by nearly a year and in other cases have the projects cancelled all together. at a time when it is critical that we take action to prevent against climate change but also now secure a more reliable source. The fact that the oil supplies from Russia have been cut off have only compounded the fact that the raw resources are running out too. Therefore, there must be a bit of acceptance that we will have to change things to secure a supply of energy into the future. The fundamental key with this is managing it without compromising people’s lives.
Overall, changes will need to be made soon when it comes to how we source our energy. Out of the renewable sources, wind will probably end up being the most common in the UK due to its lower cost, and the ability to manufacture wind turbines on a large scale (as they do not need are advanced technology as solar panels). Though for still and sunny summer days the inclusion of solar into the grid will help to balance things out. Finally, for the very few occasions where the renewables are not enough, we can have nuclear plants to step in. Or for even more convenience for seamless switchover, we should keep a few natural gas power plants as they can be turned on and off much more quickly than nuclear. And at the level we would use them at these natural gas resources would last much longer.