An energy system based on renewable sources is
the future. So how fast can we get there at a reasonable cost? What are the
barriers? These debates have come to the forefront of UK politics with the Paris
climate change agreement and the focus on cost control from government.
The renewable energy sector contributed 25.3% of
the UK electricity generation in the second quarter of 2015 up from just 4% in
2008. The south west is seeing some of the most pronounced gains, due to our
excellent wind and solar resources. The dramatic growth in renewables in the
south west is testament to the dynamic companies and entrepreneurs who have
driven the sector. The south west has
also seen an explosion of community energy groups developing their own local
energy resources for the benefits of their community.
The key challenge for renewable energy in the UK
is drastic reductions in support from the government – at the same time as they
are propping up fossil fuel and nuclear generators. The new subsidy system for small
scale renewables (Feed-in Tariff or FIT) has a system of caps on deployment and
less budget.
However, outside the UK there is a rapid global
shift towards renewables. We are close to grid parity in some technologies –
the point at which renewable energy does not require subsidy support in order
to be viable. This has largely been driven by reductions in cost, for example
solar PV prices are 80% lower than in 2008.
The other key barrier to development of new
renewable energy projects in the south west is the lack of capacity on the
electricity distribution network (grid), particularly for larger projects (more
than 50kW – approx. 182 solar PV panels). Installations need a connection in order to
export their electricity to the grid and gain an income. Household
installations are still viable in most cases.
There are solutions to challenges posed by the
limits on the grid including: flexible grid connection agreements - used to
limit the amount of electricity exported to the grid at certain times; energy
storage alongside renewables to reduce peak output; and demand side response -
where consumers adjust the amount of electricity they use at particular times
in response to a signal (e.g. a price reduction) from a supplier.
