A Closer Look at the Growing Demand for Renewable Energy Use in the UK

There is still hope for the planet's situation. Despite the energy issues faced in some nations, a lot of countries are slowly shifting towards the use of cleaner and more eco-friendly energy sources. Some of these countries include Sweden, Iceland, Costa Rica, Germany, Uruguay, Denmark, and the USA.

Over the years, the demand for renewable energy has also drastically increased in the UK. In fact, a report from The Guardian says that the amount of renewable energy source capacity has surprisingly overtaken fossil fuels.
The UK's energy industry is expected to make use of more sustainable energy resources in the next few years. Below are some of the most commonly used renewable energy sources in the UK.

Wind Power

Great Britain is dubbed as the leader in offshore wind energy production in the world. Offshore wind farms power billions of homes in the country. It’s considered as a cheaper alternative to nuclear and gas power plants. The government has invested a large sum of money to support this flourishing energy sector. In fact, the government will subsidize the construction of new offshore wind farms. Aside from offshore wind turbines, the UK also has plenty of onshore wind farms.

Solar Energy

Aside from wind energy, the UK also makes use of solar energy to power millions of households. Solar energy is a very clean source of power. There are plenty of solar Cheshire companies, and others, that install photovoltaic cells both for residential and commercial properties in the British territories. Solar panels installed in the specified area convert light energy into electricity.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy or biomass refers to energy sourced from organic matter which includes plants, food waste, and agricultural waste. It comes from fuel sources such as chips, barks, wood pellets, and industry residues. They can also be sourced from biogases and biodiesels. Compared to fossil fuels, biomass releases a smaller amount of carbon dioxide in the air, making it a sustainable fuel to use to power households.

Nuclear Energy

The UK has 15 fully functional nuclear reactors. Currently, the county sources 21 per cent of its annual energy resources from nuclear power. However, by 2025, half of the nuclear capacity of the UK will retire to pave the way for newer and better reactors. The government has approved the construction of a 3.2 GW nuclear power plant in Somerset. By 2027, the reactor will start producing electricity for about 6 million homes.

The growing popularity of renewable energy sources can be attributed to the country’s exceptional energy policy framework. The policy provides financial aid for the discovery and development of renewable energy sources. It also aims to resolve issues concerning renewable energy delivery and to develop emerging technologies that harness cleaner energy sources continuously.

Hopefully, the rest of the world will also start helping out in solving the worrying energy and pollution crisis. Opting for cleaner energy, after all, will not only help minimise pollution but also greatly contribute to the economy. Creating structured policies and guidelines may be useful in promoting the use of clean and sustainable energy sources.