The UK has suffered a second fall in renewable energy production this year, raising concern about the annual £1 billion support the industry receives from taxpayers. The drop in electricity generated from wind, hydro and other clean sources in the first half of 2010 could also be a setback to the coalition Government’s promise that the UK could help lead a “third industrial revolution” and create a low-carbon economy.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change commented that lower than expected wind speeds and rainfall led to a 12% fall in renewable electricity generated between April and June, compared to the same period in 2009. This setback follows a smaller but still notable decline between January and March, again compared to last year. With a sharp drop in output from nuclear power stations as well, greenhouse gas emissions from each unit of electricity generated will inevitably have risen, at a time when the UK has pledged to cut such pollution, and is pressing other countries to do the same.
The renewable energy figures are likely to prompt criticism of the Government’s energy policies from all sides. Supporters want ministers to increase funding for green industry so more wind farms are built, therefore reducing the risk of seasonal setbacks. However, critics say the Government should instead increase support for energy efficiency, nuclear power or cleaner forms of burning fossil fuels.
Robert Gross, director of the Centre for Energy Policy and Technology at Imperial College London, said it was too soon to react to the drop in renewables, pointing out that other electricity sources were also vulnerable to short-term problems, such as fluctuations in supply and prices of fossil fuels and technology shutdowns at nuclear reactors. Risks are not likely to arise until renewable sources make up more than 25-35% of electricity supply, then the UK will need back up from one or more options, such as new gas plants, better connections to mainland Europe and better technology to store surplus energy for peak times.
Louise Hutchins, climate campaigner for Greenpeace said, “At the moment renewable energy is a very small share in electricity and small fluctuations in weather can have an impact on the percentage of supply. When we have a lot more renewable energy there will be a lot more stability.”
