THE RISE OF THE RENEWABLES
Energy production from sustainable sources such as wind and sunlight are at record levels
THE UK’s renewable energy production is at an all-time high, latest government figures have shown.
Renewable energy sources provide energy without the need to burn fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels releases the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, which warms the earth and contributes to global warming.
Figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) reveal that in 2016 the UK produced 17.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent by using renewable energy sources. That’s a huge increase from the 1 million tonnes of oil equivalent produced in 1990. “Oil equivalent” is a measurement based on how much oil you would have to burn to produce the same amount of energy. Wind turbines have seen one of the greatest increases in renewable energy production. They work by using energy from the wind to turn propellers around a rotor which spins a generator within the turbine to create electricity. In 1990, the equivalent of just 1,000 tonnes of oil was generated in the UK through wind turbines. By 2016 though, the figure had jumped to 3.2 million.
Plant biomass has also risen in popularity as a renewable energy source.
Biomass is a term for burning organic matter. While it does release carbon emissions, it is classed as a renewable source of energy because plants can easily be regrown.
In 1990, some 72,000 tonnes of oil equivalent plant biomass energy was produced in the UK, a figure that rose to 5 million by 2016.
Domestic wood can also be used as a renewable energy source, for example when burning wood in fireplaces to heat a home.
In 1990 some 174,000 tonnes of oil equivalent was generated from domestic wood. That amount soared to 2 million tonnes by 2016.
The carbon dioxide emitted when wood is burned is the same amount that was absorbed during the time it was growing, making it a sustainable energy source provided trees are regrown.
Solar panels can also be used in buildings or rather on buildings - to convert light into electricity.
Their popularity continues to grow as 947,000 tonnes were generated in 2016, a massive increase from the 6,000 tonnes in 1990.
Liquid biofuels are a fairly recent renewable energy source - they were not used at all in 1990. Liquid biofuels are produced from organic material including plant and animal waste. By 2016, 1 million tonnes of oil equivalent was being used alongside petrol and diesel to lower greenhouse gas emissions. A BEIS spokesperson said: ““The UK is a world leader in tackling climate change and our Clean Growth Strategy will ensure the UK benefits from the move towards a low carbon economy. “Since 2010, the UK has invested more than £52 billion in renewable energy and in October, we confirmed that up to £557 million would be made available for future clean power auctions.”