Essential Shifts in Our Renewable Energy Approach

2022 highlighted the vulnerability of the European energy market and underscored our excessive dependence on gas. Fossil fuels, especially natural gas, remain vital for providing consistent Base Load power—essential for maintaining our electricity supply.

We find ourselves engulfed in a global energy crisis primarily due to our persistent use of fossil fuels. Without a Base Load-capable renewable energy system, eliminating fossil fuels is an unachievable goal.

Nevertheless, there is still time. The year 2023 offers a new chance to redesign our energy strategy to address the infrastructural deficiencies currently exploited by gas. Overcoming our dependency on fossil fuels is critical for achieving net-zero objectives and alleviating the impacts of global warming.

Current State of Renewable Energy

A critical evaluation of our current energy mix and a strategy to diversify are necessary as global warming persists. As of the third quarter of 2022, renewables accounted for about 36 percent of our electricity production, predominantly from wind and solar. Despite having over 20 GW of wind and 5 GW of solar capacity, we are far from meeting our net-zero targets for 2035.

Our renewable strategy heavily relies on intermittent sources like wind and solar. Despite our substantial capacity, our dependence on weather conditions remains a challenge. Notably, a ‘wind drought’ occurred from November 27th to December 18th, 2022, during which gas and coal usage peaked at 25 GW on the coldest days.

During this period, nuclear energy provided minimal support, starting at just 3.9 GW and only peaking at 5.9 GW eighteen days later. This lack of foresight, coupled with the need to import five-to-seven GW of power to avoid outages, demonstrates the challenges of relying on inconsistent wind power.

Looking Forward

Thus far, few effective plans have been presented to improve our energy situation. The UK’s recent budget announcement emphasized commitments to carbon capture, nuclear, and offshore wind technologies, with proposals to significantly increase offshore wind and solar capacities and expand nuclear power.

However, the intermittency issue persists. Nuclear energy cannot be easily adjusted to complement wind and solar, necessitating a substantial increase in new plants, which are costly and slow to construct and come with significant environmental concerns regarding waste.

The UK government’s goal is to decarbonize the energy sector by 2035, but a credible action plan remains unseen.

There have been minor indications of a resurgence in onshore wind initiatives, hindered since 2015 by stringent approval processes. Presently, only 11 percent of local authorities in England have designated zones for renewable developments. Removing these restrictive measures could enhance renewable capacity, yet the challenge of clean Base Load power remains unsolved.

Urgent Need for Diverse Solutions

To date, the UK’s strategy has not delivered a scalable solution for achieving its renewable goals. We continue to overly depend on wind and solar, echoing a futile strategy. Our reliance on liquefied natural gas imports to satisfy energy needs continues as we overestimate our unreliable wind capacity. It’s crucial to explore additional renewable sources to bridge the gaps left by gas and transition away from fossil fuels.

Emerging technologies like hydrogen and tidal power have shown significant advancements, suggesting viable alternatives to achieving Net Zero by 2035. Despite the promising capabilities of tidal energy as a consistent and perpetual energy source, it remains underfunded and underdiscussed by policymakers.

No Quick Fixes

There is no universal solution to the energy crisis, and overcoming climate change will not happen overnight. However, if we prioritize and invest in a variety of renewable options like tidal energy now, we might stand a chance to meet our ambitious net-zero goals.

We are missing a significant opportunity with tidal energy available at our doorstep. It’s imperative to diversify our energy portfolio and promote investments in sustainable alternatives immediately. Time is of the essence, and the stakes are high.

For a list of the sources used in this article, please contact the editor.