Over sixty per cent of the UK's electricity is produced by coal and gas powered electricity plants. These power stations generate millions of tons of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide which are known to cause climate change.
The rest of the electricity used in the UK comes mostly from nuclear power stations. These do not pollute the atmosphere, but there are hazardous waste products that are difficult to dispose of safely. With the decreasing stocks and rising prices of fossil fuels like gas an oil, environmentalists fear that even more nuclear power stations will be built, and so the race is on to find safer, more sustainable ways to generate electricity.
Green electricity is electricity that comes from sources which have only minimal impacts on the environment. Constant sources of energy like the wind, sun and waves are known as renewable energy. Renewable energy sources can be used to produce green electricity.
Wind turbines are increasingly popular in the UK, and some of the energy for the national grid comes from wind turbines. The turbines are quieter and more efficient since improvements have been made to the design. Some people think they spoil the landscape, and the placement of some so called windfarms in areas of natural beauty has caused controversy.
There is a potential solution to the perceived disfigurement of our countryside which is to build windfarms out at sea. If this can be made to be cost effective, wind could become the UK's solution to future electricity supplies.
Solar power is an energy source that we could use to generate electricity, even in the UK. Currently, solar panels are so expensive they are not widely used, but as demand increases and more are produced, the prices will hopefully come down. Solar power could one day be the world's number one source of electricity. A big advantage of solar panels is that they can be used even in remote locations which are not on the national grid.
Hydroelectric plants harness the natural energy of water running downhill to power turbines which generate electricity. There are a number of large hydroelectric plants in the UK, but there are opportunities for low impact, small scale hydroelectric turbines in many locations up and down the country.
Wave power is something of a holy grail for green electricity in the UK. Research is underway to find methods or harnessing the energy that is in the waves all around our coastline. If an efficient effective way can be found, then wave power could be a great source of green electricity in the future.
As consumers' interest in green electricity grows, energy providers are looking for ways to make energy production more environmentally friendly. Even big providers like British Gas, who supply massive amounts of electricity, are offering carbon neutral dual fuel deals. This means that the carbon dioxide generated in producing your electricity is offset by British Gas's investment in projects to develop green electricity. Choosing carbon neutral products like this is a great way to support green electricity production and prevent climate change.
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