THE GREEN ENERGY BLOG

Energy Choices In The 21st Century

Guest Post by Gillian Cook

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The increasing demand for energy is rarely out of the headlines, and it is accompanied by an often bewildering amount of information relating to green energy, and its merits and disadvantages compared with other sources.
Here in the UK the energy market is still dominated by production of electricity using fossil fuels, which raise concerns over carbon dioxide and sulphur emissions and the diminishing supplies of North Sea oil and natural gas which have been a mainstay since the 1970s. Demand for The fortunes of nuclear power have waxed and waned over the decades, and even though the government is committed to the construction of new nuclear power stations, their output only contributes around 6% of our total primary energy.
In the UK energy policy firmly prioritizes a cut in carbon dioxide emissions and the development of renewable sources of energy. However, increasing demand will mean that the UK is set to become a net energy importer. Renewable sources of energy account for the smallest proportion of the output, at less than 2%.
Wind power is the largest contributor to this sector and has expanded rapidly over the past decade, and is vulnerable to the variability of wind speeds, leading to a drop in productivity. Wind farms require reliable air currents to operate, and are often most effective when placed off-shore. Inland wind farms require planning permission and this is often difficult to obtain due to their size and bulk, which can lead to conflicts with local communities. However, wind turbines produce no harmful pollution whatsoever and installations often make a return on investment within months.
Gas from sewage and landfill, also known as Biogas, results from the decomposition of matter in landfill sites and can be compressed to power motor vehicles.
Enthusiasm for domestically-generated solar electricity is one way of reducing dependency on the national grid – as the technology is now both compact and affordable, and increasingly efficient in generating higher wattage. Solar energy experts Solar Contact can provide information on the likely return on investment, as well as the government grants that are available.
Solar power has the longest history of any renewable energy source – but its development often conflicted with cheap oil prices and was ignored. It was not until the energy crisis of the 1970s that new forms of electricity production saw renewed interest in the face of spiraling oil prices. This development saw individual homeowners installing both photovoltaic systems to generate power, and solar hot water systems. These systems naturally flourished in sunny climates but took a little longer to catch on in the UK, due to the low voltages that could be achieved with a primitive array.
The 21st century has been characterized by the search for cleaner, greener alternatives to traditional energy sources, as mineral resources become scarce and harder to access. The geopolitical situation and the strategic vulnerability of the Middle Eastern oilfields have also conspired to inflate prices. Renewed enthusiasm for nuclear power has been tempered by concerns over its vulnerability and this has led to a rethink by several countries. Increases in the efficiency and affordability of domestic solar cell technology now mean that private homeowners and businesses also benefit from clean energy.