Is The UK Renewable Ready? The UK's Journey To Green Power

The government wants to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but to do this we will need to make a switch toward using more renewable energy sources. These are already being used to heat homes in the UK, with 40% of the UKs electricity being made up of solar, wind, biomass and hydropower. 

Fossil fuels have negative effects on the environment, highlighting the importance of meeting the government's 2050 net zero goals. The target should be doable, however Chris Stark, Chief Executive of the Committee on Climate Change says “It would be an enormous mistake to wait until the next general election to introduce new ambitious policy”. Doing this could reduce the chances of us reaching the UK’s goals in the next 25 years.

The government's renewable energy review 

The government’s investment into UK green power production will help to offset carbon emissions, while setting plans for the future that don’t involve the public making wholescale changes to living and shopping habits. 

The government's current plans should lead to the UK meeting their net zero goals, however there’s still room to reduce carbon emissions and the amount of energy we use further. To learn more about the government's sustainability aims, read our blog.

The plan for ‘green revolution’ includes:

• Advancing offshore wind

• Driving the growth of low carbon hydrogen production 

• Delivering new and advanced nuclear power  

What is the future of the energy grid?

The UK’s energy grid previously only relied on a small number of power stations, however it is now becoming more diverse. This is due to our electricity system being powered by more renewables, meaning that if something goes wrong with one part of the system it’s much less of a threat to the overall energy security. 

Most of the power used to heat our homes and fuel our cars will come from wind and solar power in the future. Tidal, hydro and geothermal power will also be used but in much smaller amounts. 

Predictions also suggest that the grid will become smart enough to match supply and demand of electricity to help keep the cost of energy bills down. This will hopefully also help to reduce the impact of the cost of living crisis on the public and businesses.

How can air source heat pumps help the UK meet their goals?

Air source heat pumps are a great way to tackle environmental issues we’re facing as a globe, not just as a country. Air source heat pumps are a notable alternative to traditional boilers and have minimal effects on the planet.

Heat pumps can also be paired with various heat emitters like underfloor heating, radiators and fan coil units, highlighting why they’re such a great alternative to boilers.

The government has also introduced the BUS scheme (boiler upgrade scheme) that helps people afford the costs associated with the purchase and installation of a heat pump. With this scheme people could receive up to £5,000 to help them implement them. 

Other schemes available include:

• Warmer Homes Scotland 

• Home Energy Scotland Loan

• Nest Scheme, Wales 

To discover more about how the schemes could help you, read our blog. 

Furthermore, the war in Ukraine is reshaping the future of global energy, with sustainable energy sources more in demand than ever and a peak in the demand of fossil fuels predicted to happen before the end of the 2020s. 

This will be a historic shift and one that heat pumps can help drive. Encouraging the installation of heat pumps will help reduce the need for fossil fuels like oil and increase the demand for sustainable energy sources.

How can you help the UK’s journey toward carbon neutrality? 

To help the UK’s journey toward carbon neutrality there are a few things you can do:

• Contact local authorities about how your community could be doing more to help the environment

• Make a conscious effort to live sustainably - read our blog on how to make your home more energy efficient to see how you can make sustainable changes

• Utilise the BUS scheme to fit a heat pump

New IEA analysis shows that current trends in the growth of the global fleet of electric cars will avoid the need for 5mm barrels of oil a day by 2030. If strong government policies are put into place then these could encourage more people to purchase electric vehicles and help reduce the need for 5mm barrels of oil.

Despite the lack of government encouragement of moving toward electric vehicles, it doesn’t need to stop people from investing in them themselves. The importance of moving toward sustainable sources over oil is obvious and on its own is enough to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles, however there’s still a need for government intervention.

By doing the things listed above you can help make a positive impact on our planet by reducing carbon emissions and helping to meet net zero aims.

Get in touch with Enula today to see how we can help you make changes that will drive the UK’s green power journey.