Global warming
Population growth, fossil fuel burning, and deforestation are all factors which: have contributed in recent years to altering the mixture of gases emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere. Some of these gases, known as greenhouse gases, have become concentrated within the atmosphere leading to increases in the Earth's average temperature and causing our climate to change.
The UK, global warming and energy
The UK is responsible for the emission of 3% o£ global greenhouse gas emissions even though it only has 1% of the world's population.
UK energy industries are the largest single contributors to UK greenhouse gas emissions, contributing over a third (54 million tonnes) of the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted in the UK.
At the same time, the energy industry is relying on finite, diminishing and potentially insecure sources of fossil fuel such as coat, oil and gas. Currently around 80% of the UK’s electricity supply comes from these sources, with an additional 21.5% being generated by the nuclear power sector. Using alternative and renewable sources of energy will reduce this dependence on fossil fuels as well as helping the environment by cutting carbon dioxide emissions and bringing diversity and security of supply to the UK's energy infrastructure.
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is the term used to describe those energy flows that occur naturally mid repeatedly in the environment, e.g. from the sun the wind and the oceans, and from plants and the fall of water. It also refers to the energy available from the emerging clean technology of fuel cells, unless the electricity used to charge such fuel cells is sourced from conventional non-renewable sources.
Government targets
Climate change targets: In 2001, the UK Government formally signed up to the Kyoto Protocol. It is thus legally bound to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. The governments Climate Change Programme of 2000 further seeks to reduce emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. In its White Paper Our Energy Future - creating a low carbon economy published 24 February 2003; it is pledged to cut carbon dioxide emissions in this country by some 60% by 2050.
Renewable energy targets: In the Energy White Paper, the Government has set as an ‘inspirational’ target that by 2020, 20% of the UK’s electricity requirements should met by renewable energy. This should be achieved via intermediate targets of 5% by 20&5 and 10% by 2010. The Scottish Executive has set a higher target for Scotland of 18% by 2010 and 40% by 2020. Scotland already generates 11% of its electricity from hydroelectric schemes.
What role does renewable energy play now?
At the moment, 3.86% of the total amount of electricity generated in UK comes from: renewable sources. In April 2002, the Government introduced the Renewables Obligation that rails on all licensed electricity suppliers in England & Wales (in Scotland: Renewables Obligation Scotland) to supply a specified and growing proportion of their electricity sales from a choice of eligible renewable sources, and provides financial incentives for them to do so.