• Question: How many years do you think it will be until the UK is powered 100% by renewable energy resources?

    Asked by anon-247941 to Jennifer on 11 Mar 2020.
    • Photo: Jennifer Carroll

      Jennifer Carroll answered on 11 Mar 2020:

      100% renewable I’m not sure… It would take investment in something like tidal power (there has been talk for the better part of 100 years about a tidal barrage off the coast of Wales) which you can rely on 100% of the time. Solar and wind can’t replace out base load capacity (the minimum amount of electricity the UK uses in a standard day, not accounting for peaks) without better batteries and storage. But batteries have their own environmental impact as they use lots of rare earth metals that are mined in far off lands, usually with questionable working conditions.

      I worked on a project recently for EDF Energy looking at creating green hydrogen from electricity generated by their nuclear fleet. Something like this could be used for ‘storage’ or excess electricity. But it is better suited to wind and solar, rather than nuclear which is a great base load energy source.

      At the end of the day we have signed up to being net zero carbon by 2050. That deadline with suitable investment from government, will push developing technologies into maturity. But swapping petrol and diesel cars for electric cars isn’t the answer because where does that electricity come from?

      When I was working on the hydrogen project I discovered this company in Wales who are re imagining a hydrogen powered car and the way they have developed their business model is really interesting.The business model, like the car, is totally different to how we manufacture/buy cars today. https://www.riversimple.com/

Comments

  • Photo: Jennifer

    Jennifer commented on :

    That was a really good question!! It made me think, it’s not an easy one or else I guess we would already be there?!

    What do you think? Is renewable energy something you are interested in?

    • Photo: anon-247941

      anon-247941 commented on :

      I’m very interested in renewable energy – especially as the effects of climate change are worsening, however, I understand that we have to make a gradual change to a more environmentally-friendly approach as it could end up being damaging to other aspects of society. Thank you for sharing https://www.riversimple.com/ with me; I love the design of the cars and their ethos.