Renewable power production, achieving Net-Zero in the UK

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<p>However, the future plans state the current 43 gigawatts (GW) of installed renewable capacity will be increased to 130 GW in the near future. Of which the government’s Climate Change Committee wants 65 GW to be supplied by offshore wind by 2035. This is to be produced by new turbines being erected in the North Sea that has almost double the energy yield of earlier turbines.<br />
The problem is not producing the power but distributing it through the National Grid system. At present the infrastructure would be overwhelmed at times of excess power, and many billions need to be spent on the infrastructure to cope. This is already a problem in parts of the UK where at times, huge amounts of renewable energy are wasted due to the inability of the Grid to deal with it.<br />
The secondary problem, but just as vital is known as ‘Dunkelflaute’ a German word used in the renewables sector that relates to a period in which little or no energy can be generated with wind and solar power because there is neither wind nor sunlight. In general, this situation will arise during a mild winter when the demand for power is at its greatest. This was true in the UK during December 2022 with cold, cloudy, still weather. The power produced by wind fell to just 4% which culminated in Gas power plants running at 100% to keep up, and although not used some coal stations were placed on standby.<br />
According to the Netherlands Delft University of Technology what is required is a strategic back-up plan as the phenomena of high-pressure weather systems usually lasts from 50-100 hours, but they can be much longer during especially mild winters.<br />
There are many possible solutions for example using Natural gas and/or imported LNG. The cost of gas has increased dramatically over the past 12 months due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine making this less attractive. Although the gas option would be used in reducing volumes and with increasing dependence on carbon capture.<br />
The technology of carbon capture is also moving swiftly, American company NET Power is developing a new gas power plant for the UK which they advertise as having life cycle emissions that are 90 percent below today’s combined cycle natural gas systems and in line with renewables. It would seem, although diminishing the UK’s reliance on gas it will remain for the foreseeable future.<br />
Another option is to use the excess renewable electricity that would otherwise be wasted, to produce green hydrogen via electrolysis when demand is at its lowest. The hydrogen which can be stored for long periods and then supplied to power plants equipped with hydrogen turbines when needed. Although electrolysis is at present expensive it is estimated the costs will fall considerably as has been the case with, solar, wind, and battery technologies over the past ten years.<br />
Yet another option is to use nuclear power as a winter back-up. Kirsty Gogan, founder and Co-CEO of TerraPraxis and a member of the UK Government’s Nuclear Innovation Research and Advisory Board (NIRAB). says “the best commercial sense for nuclear reactors in Britain may be to run them day and night for 80pc of the time to make ‘pink’ hydrogen, switching to baseload power for the grid for the other 20pc when needed.”<br />
The challenges and available options that face the UK are mirrored throughout many European states, however, it’s important to note that achieving power generation towards net zero is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The Chosen options and timelines will alter based on regional challenges and available resources encountered by each state. Of course, technological advancements and their costs will play a fundamental role in achieving net zero. But above all, it needs to be led by politicians with the drive and foresight to make it happen and a willingness to include global cooperation, and where possible, collaboration.`);

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<h1>Renewable power production, achieving Net-Zero in the UK</h1>
<p>Achieving Net-Zero has become a major issue for governments throughout the world. Despite the challenges there have been some huge advances but is enough being done to meet the target dates set by governments.<br />
According to The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit ‘eciu.net’, which produces the ‘Net Zero Scorecard’ of the 193 countries that are members of the UN, 24 have targets set in law, 46 are in a policy document, 11 have declared a pledge, and 46 have proposals in, discussion.<br />
In the UK whose target which is in law, is 2050. Wind farms produced over 32% of the total electricity over the first three months of this year and for the first time ever over 25% for the whole of last year. The National Grid said, in March this year total renewables accounted for 46% of the UK’s total power. Considering where the UK was in 2013 <span>these figures are a remarkable success. But what are the future plans?</span></p>

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