Video: Why 2018 is the most Important Year for Renewable Energy?

Why 2018 is the most important year yet for renewable energy in the UK? from GoContractor on Vimeo.

This video discusses the increase of UK renewable energy over time, the estimated increase in the years to come and the changes occurring over the years since coal was the main source of energy.

Coal production in the UK reached its peak in 1913, hiring over a million workers and was the primary source of energy used in the country. This ended in the late 1960s and had a lot to do with the cheaper prices offered in other countries.

The main sources of energy used in the UK and dated October 2018 are:

  1. Fossil Fuels: 68.2%
  2. Renewable Energy: 16.4%
  3. Nuclear Energy: 15.4%

As the world leader in wind power, the capacity and estimated growth of this source of UK renewable energy by 2020 is an amazing amount that is mentioned in this video.

It goes on to discuss the fact that solar power is becoming a cheaper form of renewable energy in the UK, but 2017 was the second year that solar power installation halved in the country.

Solar power has been voted the most popular energy source in the UK, it is therefore sad to see the UK government not take advantage of the huge potential of solar (James Watson, Chief Executive, SolarPowerEurope).

The global benefits of increasing renewable energy should always be remembered, no matter what the costs involved are:

  • A clean source of energy, not causing air and water pollution that affects the public.
  • A source of energy which will never run out.
  • A reduction in global warming.
  • A more labour-intensive industry that should result in more jobs, e.g. installing solar panels.

These are some of the most well-known benefits understood by everyone and figures from 2017 have shown that only 1% of the population are ‘strongly opposed’ and 4% ‘opposed’ to UK renewable energy.

 

Jenny Snook

Jenny Snook is content executive at GoContractor with the job of researching the latest health and safety trends in the heavy industry. Her past-experience includes the research of large museum collections such as the Louth County Museum, many from the industrial age.