UK Energy Consumption and Security

• Energy plays an important part in every aspect of our daily lives, either directly or indirectly.
• Without energy, our homes would have no heating or lighting, and communication systems would not function.
• Our access to food, water, and consumer products is dependent on a reliable energy supply.

Energy Consumption in the UK (1990-2021)

• UK total energy mix, 2020 : Oil (40%), Natural Gas (36%), Renewables (15%), Nuclear Energy (6%), Coal (3%).
• UK electricity energy mix, 2020 : Gas (40%), Renewables (39%), Nuclear (15%), Oil (4%), Coal (2%).
• Total energy consumption in the UK fell drastically due to the impact of the Covid pandemic in 2020.
• This was due to many businesses activities and schools being forced to close during lockdown and travel restrictions that were put in place.
• Overall energy consumption, when adjusted for temperature, was down by 13% in 2020 compared with 2019.

Energy Security

• Energy security is having an uninterrupted and affordable energy supply which is able to sustain people's lives and daily activities.
• Energy security is important because it helps to ensure economic and political stability.
• It has an important link to food supply and economic development.
• Disruptions to energy supply and increasing energy prices can have a serious effect on living standards.

The 4 'A's of Energy Security

• Availability
• Accessibility
• Acceptability (safety and environmental concerns)
• Affordability

Factors Affecting Energy Security

• Physical environment: Some areas have the geological and physical conditions necessary for the development of energy resources.
• Costs: Economic and political factors can affect the price of energy.
• Technology: Technological developments can create new energy sources or make existing energy sources more efficient.
• Political factors: Energy resources are globally traded, affecting energy supply due to international conflicts and environmental concerns.

Balance between Import and Export of Energy in the UK (1970-2020)

• Shows heavy reliance on energy imports.
• Significant oil and gas production in the North Sea decreases.

Electricity Capacity in the UK (2004-2022)

• Includes trends in total electricity capacity and electricity demand.

Wind and Solar Share of Electricity Generation in Europe (2021)

• Denmark has 28.7%
• Ireland has 25.2%
• Portugal has 31.5%
• Greece has 43%
• Netherland has 32.9%

Renewable Energy

• Renewable energy comes from sources that won't run out, including: the wind, the sun, the waves and tides, natural underground heat, energy crops, wood and waste.

Renewable Energy Sources in the UK, 2021

• Wind (28%)
• Bioenergy (61%)
• Heat pumps (4%)
• Solar and geothermal (5%)
• Hydro (2%)
• Total renewable energy used was 24.36 million tonnes of oil equivalent

Types of Renewable Energy

• Wind energy
• Biomass energy
• Hydroelectric energy
• Geothermal energy: Geothermal power stations use heat from deep underground to generate electricity.
• Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity for vehicles
• Solar energy: The sun's heat and light is harvested by solar panels and used to heat water.
• Tidal energy: Marine turbines can use the movement of the sea as the tide goes in and out to generate electric power.
• Wave energy: The energy in waves can be used to generate electricity.

Advantages of Renewable Energy Sources

• Will not run out and are seen as sustainable.
• May be less affected by international disputes.
• Cause very little air pollution and consequently do not affect air quality or add significantly to climate change issues.
• The development of renewable technology can create job opportunities.
• Renewable technology requires less costly maintenance than fossil fuel power stations.
• Increasing the use of renewable energy can reduce the fluctuation in energy prices and increase energy security.

Disadvantages of Renewable Energy

• Some renewable energy sources are dependent on weather conditions.
• Some renewable technologies are less efficient in terms of producing electricity than traditional methods.
• The initial cost of large-scale renewable projects can be high.
• Some types of renewable energy developments require a lot of space and may have environmental impacts.
• The manufacture and recycling of some renewable components may create environmental issues.

The Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary Tidal Gateway Project

• In North West England.
• The scheme is a multi-project which will generate electricity and also provide a transport link between Lancashire and the Furness Peninsula.
• Consists of generating renewable energy and creating a transport link or shorter crossing for travel between Heysham and the West Cumbrian by 75%.
• A £10 billion tidal gateway project will generate renewable energy for 2 million homes using 130 turbines.
• There will be around 9 million journeys over the road crossings annually reducing traffic on the M6
• Save 750,000 litres of fuel each year and provide cost savings of over £200 million for local people and businesses.
• Up to 13000 jobs will be created and the improved access to the Lake District will boost the local tourist industry.

Projected Effects of the Project

• Saving £250 million a year by improving transport links.
• Saving £370 million a year by generating emission-free energy.
• New industry will generate £20 billion over 20 years.
• £400 million a year from economic growth.
• The creation of 13000 jobs.
• Saving £100 million a year by protecting the environment against future flooding and storm damage.

Why Don't We Use Tidal Power More?

• Tidal patterns and ocean currents are more predictable and more powerful than winds so they can generate more energy, but tidal power is expensive (up to ten times the cost of onshore wind energy).
• The engineering is complex and maintaining machinery that can survive in seawater can be very expensive.
• There is also the cost of dealing with environmental issues, some of which are not fully understood.

The Energy Trilemma

• Energy security
• Affordability
• Environmental Concerns

Environmental Concerns of using Tidal Power

• Morecambe Bay is an internationally important site for wintering wildfowl.
• It may be possible to design the barrage to allow the tides to flow in and out more naturally to protects the birds, but this would add to the already high cost.

Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary Project : Waste of Money

• This project will be both uneconomic and environmentally damaging.
• Estimated £10 billion cost would be better spent on existing road and rail networks.
• It will make the economic situation in Barrow-in-Furness worse as people leave the area to work in Morecambe or Lancaster.

Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary Project : Blessing or Curse?

• It is not just about generating energy: it will also create new transport links to Cumbria and bring skills-based training and employment to places like Barrow-in-Furness.
• The barrage will protect against the effects of climate change by reducing tidal surges and flood risks.
• Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Estuary are areas of high biodiversity which support a wide range of species and include Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and the area is surrounded by Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).