By Rebecca Shields
Your commercial awareness dose
Back in September Boris Johnson’s speech to the UN on the UK’s green energy plans was paid little attention. This was mainly due to the total media dominance of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, with vaccines being distributed and a general feeling that a return to normality is not too far away, other issues are picking up momentum again. This includes arguably the biggest issue outside of the pandemic, climate change and the pursuit of renewable energies. In his speech, Johnson stated that he planned to turn the UK into the “Saudi Arabia of wind power.” With the news that the world’s largest wind farm is to be built in 2023 off the coast of Yorkshire, it seems this goal could be achievable.
The comparison to Saudi Arabia is interesting as they are the world leader in the production of oil. With 90 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s exports and 75 per cent of their government revenue coming from their oil industry. Totalling 45 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product. Offshore wind is yet to produce these kinds of numbers for the UK however this could soon change. Currently, the UK is the world leader in offshore wind energy, producing more energy from wind power than coal. In Scotland, they are able to power every home and business with renewable energies alone, making fossil fuels obsolete.
Elsewhere in the world renewable energies are a primary focus. Iceland is the world leader, with almost 100 per cent of electricity consumed from renewable energy sources. They also use geothermal energy to heat 9 out of 10 houses and for other services such as melting snow from pavements and food production. Norway also produces 98 per cent of the energy they consume from renewable sources. Whilst wind and thermal energy are used there, hydropower is the most popular source.
The other main contenders for the top spot in renewable energy production are Germany and China, both leaders in their respective fields. Germany is number one for Solar energy production, whilst China leads in onshore wind energy production. China has stated they are aiming for carbon neutrality by 2060, with a heavy focus on further developing their offshore wind sources, leading experts to predict China will become the world leader of all wind energy in the next 10 years.
The UK government is determined to prove this prediction wrong. It has been confirmed that in 2023 work will start on the world’s largest floating wind farm, Dogger Bank. This wind farm will not only produce wind energy but will also utilise hydrogen and carbon capture technology. The use of hydrogen as an energy source could bolster the UK’s ambitious aims. Hydrogen capture has some of the lowest carbon emissions, as it only produces water. It can be converted cheaply from natural gas. ‘Blue’ hydrogen can reach the high temperatures needed for power stations and furnaces. Solving the issue of having to use fossil fuels as a backup when renewable energy sources, such as wind power, fail to work due to poor weather conditions.
This technology is being used in Norway and an initiative called Zero Carbon Humber is set to bring this renewable energy source to the UK. The Prime Minister has stated that he wants to use this technology to power transportation devices that cannot be moved by electric batteries. These initiatives combined with the UK’s plans to further expand its use of offshore wind could lead them to become the “Saudi Arabia of wind” as Mr Johnson predicted. However, with other countries such as China, already leading in onshore wind and rapidly developing their offshore wind sources, it may mean that the UK could see wind power becoming its main economic export without being the world leader in it. As most of these renewable-energy plans are still in their earlier stages, only time will tell if they come to fruition.
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