Green Energy in the United Kingdom - Assignment Example

Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Abstract 2 Introduction 3 Understanding Green Energy 3 Energy Sources in The UK. 4 Green Energy in the United Kingdom 5 Methodology 6 Analysis 6 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 8 Appendix 1 9 Can Green Energy Save The Environment In UK? Abstract It cannot be said that there is consensus on whether green energy is the ultimate solution in saving the ecosystem as far as energy solution provisions are concerned. However, it has been established that green energy provides a better and safer source of energy than most conventional sources. Several advantages have been cited in relation to this form of energy from emission of less harmful substances like carbon dioxide to their economic viability as well as the ease to harness them. Largely, green energy may be seen to give some sort of solution to this question. In the United Kingdom, efforts to utilize renewable energies have been greatly enhanced through polices and intermediary actions both by the government and the private sector. Although how far green energy may go in saving the environment may not be a question with a direct answer, this study will try to weigh some arguments that have been put forward in relation to green energy with a view of giving an opinion as to whether green energy can save the environment in UK. Introduction The use of green energy has been greatly advocated in the wake of several hazards that are associated with other sources of energy. Given the challenges presented by other sources of energy, green energy has been preferred and developed in several ways. In the United Kingdom, the need for cleaner renewable energy has seen the rise of companies that endeavor to give green energy solutions. Several strides have been made over time towards popularizing green energy although there are still a set of challenges that face this sector. By engaging in a discussion about the whole idea of green energy,, the developments that have been and the challenges that continue to face this form of energy, we may be able to understand whether it might be the ultimate solution to energy queries in the future. This topic becomes interesting to discuss in that energy matters remain central points of focus in almost all nations of the world. For the sake of this study, we will focus our discussion into answering the question of whether green energy can indeed save the environment in the United Kingdom. Understanding Green Energy Human activities are driven by some form of energy and this can be demonstrated by our body which requires some energy to function accordingly. Similarly, the machinery that man uses from the simple home appliances to the heavy sophisticated industrial machines needs electricity or energy of some form in order to run appropriately. This energy may be from sources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. However these sources of energy, now being referred to as traditional sources of energy, have been seen to present a combination of challenges to the living organisms, especially in regard to environmental hazards and general environment pollution. In this respect, there has emerged what has come to be known as renewable energy, which is energy produced out of the natural sources like sunlight, wind, tide and rain. In other words, this form of energy is achieved by harnessing natural resources. Solar, wind and bio mass energies have become the most popular and perhaps the major sources of this renewable energy. It differs from the other sources of energy like fossils in a number of ways. First, green energy is viewed as easy to tap. Unlike fuel that is sought from petroleum minerals, green energy may require just a bit of innovation to be able to tap and harness. This can be viewed from the technicality required in provision of hydro electricity. Solar energy for instance has been used widely especially in rural areas in places where hydro electricity has not been distributed. Wind energy is also another common type of green or renewable energy where wind moving at a given speed is taped and used for provision of energy for various uses. With this background in mind, we may look at energy provision and distribution in the UK and the developments that have been experienced in this sector. This will give us an insight into whether there are advantages of using green energy over other sources of energy and whether there is any possibility that green energy may save the environment in any way. Energy Sources in The UK. Environmental may be best addressed by looking at the background of what exactly causes changes and hazards to the environment. In this respect, understanding some of the energy sources common in the United Kingdom may help us derive into a conclusion as to how or even whether green energy provides any solution to the environmental effects provided by common energy sources. For a long time and more so in the 1940s coal made the bulk of the energy provider in the United Kingdom. It counted for about 90% of the total energy generated (DECC 2009). However, over time there was the emergence and development of nuclear power stations and by the late 1990s a substantial amount of energy in the UK came from nuclear energy, providing about 26% of the total national requirement. In addition, there was the emergence of energy sought from gases and a combination of these and other factors such as the privatization of that National Coal Board saw the use of coal as a favored source of energy fall to about 44% by 2004 (BWEA, 2009). Although nuclear power stations in the UK have been seen as providers of large amounts of energy, they have severally been looked at as disastrous and in effective to some extent being said to produce way below their capability. Generally, nuclear energy doesn’t emit carbon dioxide. However, the process of constructing, mining, waste handling and disposal at the nuclear plant does generate some carbon emissions whose contribution to the whole environmental pollution cannot be ignored (RAB, 2008) Natural gas has also been used in the United Kingdom and it is reported that by 2010, the nation had moved very close to being gas sufficient but this fell to an extent that the country moved to importation. Wind and solar energy have also gained popularity and are used to add up to the national grid. Green Energy in the United Kingdom Like any other part of the world, the United Kingdom has adopted the use of green energy as part of efforts to contribute to the continued attempts of reducing reliance in fossil fuels and by extension reducing the eminent danger these energy sources pose to the environment. Parts of these efforts have been in policy implementation and encouraging innovations that enhance the use of green energy. Among these policies is the reduction of subsidiaries for renewable energy technologies. These subsidies have been set in such a way that there was consumer consideration in terms of the prices at which they get renewable energy while making sure that there is a sustainable level of profits for the investors. This means that there is a balance in encouraging the use of green and renewable energy. In effect, this can be seen as a commitment by the government to ensure that there is wide adaptation of green energy as way of preserving the ecosystem Methodology By analyzing response given to some sample questions (see Appendix 1), we may be able to understand the general opinions as to whether green energy may contribute to saving the environment. These questions have greatly enhanced this study by providing information on consumer feelings and attitudes Analysis The table presents a set of questions that used to collect data helpful in determining how green energy would go in saving the environments. The selected age group cuts across a section of respondents who have some knowledge into environment matters either from learning in school or by first hand experience gained through observation of various environment-degrading activities. Some crucial questions have been highlighted and may be extremely informative to this study. Respondents have been used to cite the most likely grown power source for the UK, and whether green energy is entirely useful in saving the environment. Another critical question that has been outlined in this questionnaire is importance of using green energy. This would give the ultimate answer as to whether green energy safer for the environment. The chart below shows the consumption different energies by sale rations in 2008 Source: Department of Energy and Climate Change (2009) Conclusion There is no doubt that renewable energy is preferable and more acceptable as a step in conserving the environment. The chart above shows an increase in the use of bio energy that is largely a deviation from other source of energy such as hydro energy. From the whole discussion on renewable energy, it is evident that there has been an increase in use of renewable energies. This could further be used support the idea that there has been more awareness of the negative effects of traditional sources of energy and thus the shift that is being experienced to renewable energies. It has also been established that the government of the United Kingdom has been keen In implementation of polices that include banning of cigarettes smoking and subsidizing the production of green energy. Bibliography British Wind Energy Association, (2009), Powering A Green Economy: Wind, Wave & Tidal’s Contribution To Britain’s Industrial Future viewed 08 April, 2012 from http://www.bwea.com/pdf/publications/Powering%20a%20Green%20Economy.pdf Department of Energy and Climate Change (2009), Progress Report on the Implementation of the Government Response to the Biomass Task Force Report, viewed 08 April, 2012 from http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/explained/biomass/response/ page28196.html National Grid (2009), Operating the Electricity Transmission Networks in 2020: Initial Consultation viewed 08 April, 2012 from http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Operating+in+2020/2020+Consultation. Renewables Advisory Board (2008), 2020 Vision – How the UK can meet its target of 15% renewable energy, viewed 08 April, 2012 from http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/cons_res/rescon_support/rescon_ support.aspx Appendix 1 Question Answer Comments Age A. 16-22 B. 23-30 C. 31-45 D. Over 45 q Important in giving an informed opinion Gender A. Male B. Female Both gender share some uses of electricity and energy while a few differences still occur Occupation A. Working B. Student C. Not working This may greatly determined how different people use energy in their daily activities 4. What is the main power source of electricity in the UK do you think? A. Natural gas B. Coal C. Nuclear energy Determines how alternative sources of energy will influences energy production 5. If it possible, do you think you can use less electricity? A. Yes B. No Explains the measures that can be taken 6. Do you do anything to protect the environment? A. Yes B. No Helps to understand other measures that people take to conserve the ecosystem 7. Do you think that green energy is important? A. Yes B. No (why?) The ultimate determinant of the need to have or discard green energy 8. Which energy is not green energy? A. Nuclear energy B. Wind power C. Tidal energy Responds understanding of green energy may can be outlined 9. How many years do you think green energy usage will take to increase to more than 50% of total energy usage in the world A. 0—5 years B. 5—10 years C. 10—20 years D. more than 20 years E. never This is basically a measure of the attitude of green energy production overtime 10. Which is the most likely to be used in the UK? A. Wind power B. hydropower C. Other D. I don’t know May give an insight into what form of energy may be harnessed more than the rest 11. Do you think green energy companies can create more jobs than traditional energy companies? A. Yes B. No C. Not sure (why?) This again would help to cite the attitude of the respondents towards companies that provide green energy 12. Do you think green energy is totally positive for the environment? A. Yes B. No (why?) This helps to give the view of the respondents in regard to green energy and ability to save the ecosystem 13. What is the most important purpose for using green energy? A. Save money B. Stop pollution C. Convenient D. other(specify) The respondents tell why the think there is need to advocate for the use of green energy Read More