UK’s Third Largest Electricity Firm
Reader’s Digest UK magazine, which is distributed to 500,000 readers, was bought by private equity firm Better Capital on Friday. The magazine is a source of news and information for the electrical power generation industry.
It covers traditional power generation topics from generation to delivery, and includes articles on gas, coal, oil, nuclear, and renewables.
Renewables
The UK is set to cut greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds since 1990, thanks to a steep decline in the use of coal for electricity generation. This has been achieved through a combination of a drop in the demand for electricity, lower emissions from power stations and a large increase in renewables.
Wind, biomass and solar power were the main contributors to this reduction. These have already overtaken fossil fuels as the biggest source of electricity in 2020.
The switch from coal to renewables has been accompanied by the rapid expansion of grid scale battery storage. These batteries can store power on a large scale to help manage the unpredictable fluctuations in wind and solar.
Nuclear
As global climate change targets require accelerating a transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy, nuclear technology offers an important low-carbon alternative. Under the right circumstances, the large light-water reactors that dominate nuclear power today can be remarkably effective at replacing fossil fuels on electricity grids.
Besides producing electricity, nuclear fission also powers space exploration, sterilizes medical equipment, provides potable water through desalination and supplies radioisotopes for cancer treatment. It also boosts international development by helping developing countries meet their sustainable development goals.
Offshore Wind
In the UK, offshore wind is one of the largest infrastructural success stories. It’s a thriving sector that is transforming the country’s electricity supply, providing power for millions of homes.
The country has ambitious targets, and is currently generating about 10% of its electricity from offshore wind. By 2030 a planned fourfold increase will produce enough to power more than 7.5 million homes.
Among the key challenges are cost, the need for grid investment and the impact of currency fluctuations on schemes. The Government has announced a series of policies to support the industry, but Dr Gordon Edge, head of policy and regulation at renewables organisation RenewableUK, explains that these will only deliver sustainable growth if they are balanced and long-term.
It’s not just cost that’s a challenge; lightning strikes can destroy turbines, and there are other safety issues to consider. Abi Millar explores the ways in which companies and researchers are tackling these risks.
