What are the top 5 energy sources of the future?
Renewable energy has been a hot topic in parliament and in media discussions for some time, intensifying in recent years as we approach the Net Zero deadline here in the UK, leading to the widespread availability of government funding and renewable initiatives in order to fight climate change, significantly lower carbon emissions and boost the UK’s energy security.
So, what are the top 5 energy sources of the future, and what do we expect the renewable ener gy sector to look like over the next couple of years?
Top 5 energy sources of the future
Solar power: the efficiency of solar power has dramatically increased in recent years, with monocrystalline panels standing as the most efficient panels available on the market at around 23%. Their availability and typical affordability makes them an easily available and therefore increasingly popular renewable energy source for individual and domestic use.
On and offshore wind: according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recently released paper ‘Energy Trends June 2024’ which looks at energy trends from the first quarter of 2024, renewable generation increased by 3.7% in Q1 of 2024 to 39.2 TWh with most of the increase being in onshore wind. The paper goes on to explain that renewable electricity generation reached 50.9% of total generation in the first quarter of the year, where wind contributed more electricity than gas generation for the second consecutive quarter. As such, on and offshore wind power is considered to be an incredibly strong renewable energy source, with on and offshore wind projects rapidly gathering both public confidence and backing as we move ever closer to Net Zero targets.
Green hydrogen: ever since the cost of living crisis hit the UK a couple of years ago, energy prices increased to record highs and the UK’s future energy security was brought into question, hydrogen and green hydrogen have become incredibly popular projects for both private and government investment; our newest Labour government, for example, pledging to invest $500 million into green hydrogen initiatives. Current hydrogen-related challenges to widespread commercial and domestic adoption, however, include transportation and cost.
Waste to Energy solutions: although Energy from Waste plants and incinerators have recently come under fire, Waste to Energy solutions, including anaerobic digestion plants, are efficient and cost effective local waste management, odour management and renewable energy solutions for farms, farmers and local communities; recycling waste and turning it into environmentally friendly biogas that can be sold into the National Grid and used to heat & power local homes and businesses. What’s more, Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) technology fitted to anaerobic digestion plants provides, not only an additional income stream to AD plant owners as the captured carbon can be sold onto industries, but also another layer of efficiency and carbon emission reduction.
Nuclear energy: although a controversial topic, nuclear energy has received a huge amount of attention over the last couple of years, with every political party here in the UK pledging to invest heavily in nuclear power plants and nuclear projects, with many hoping to get the first nuclear plants operational by the 2040s. And, albeit still some years away and with a number of challenges lying ahead, it does seem as though nuclear energy could hold a prominent position in the UK’s energy future.
To find out more about our renewable energy construction services, please click here or contact us to discuss your project.
