Where does the UKs Electricity come from?

It has been a hotly contested topic from the consumer all the way to the government, but we’re finally getting to the bottom of where our electricity comes from. For many years, we’ve known that the majority has come from abroad, and the latest statistics show that 57% of our electricity is imported for 40 countries worldwide.

What do individual countries give us?

We always knew that the majority was brought in from Asia and the Middle East but it’s interesting to note that South America, Russia, Canada and Australia are big players when it comes to nuclear energy. With Britain dependent on importing Uranium, we look to the latter two countries while the formers export their coal to us.

So, with places like Columbia, Poland, Indonesia and the USA taking care of our coal needs, we also need a natural gas supply. This comes from the Middle East, with Qatar being well-known for providing significant amounts.

Many people think that a country such as the United Kingdom would struggle to look after its own fuel needs, but producing only 43% is quite a shock. With a sector dominated by the ‘big six’ as they are known, it is unsure when we will be self-sufficient but dependency on others is something we cannot afford to do. So, what’s the next step?

How do we move forward in the energy scene?

Some people will have expected this sort of breakdown, but a lot of people won’t know that this was the case. Not only is our energy harming the plenty and our wallets in the home, it’s doing the same by having to travel far just to reach us. Will global demand likely to continue rising, the best solution seems to be make your own. Fortunately, in the United Kingdom, the scope for renewable energy that is ‘home-grown’ is huge.

Investments need to be made to kick-start the process of a cleaner and self-sufficient planet, but the way that can be done is by everyone standing up to the energy problem. Bills will rise, and while they may be cheaper than renewable energy now, over the long-term working with these clean energy companies will save a lot of money and help future generations.

With the current energy landscape of using fossil fuels, we’re all worried about what the future may bring but when this is combined with news of increasing reliance on others – who can set their own prices, and are in volatile areas – it’s time to dig a little deeper to understand how we can help. Green energy companies like Good Energy are working hard to get people on board, and are investing lots of money into changing the picture within the UK itself.

There’s been a lot of talk about the need to go green, but the continuous release of facts and figures makes it all seem so much more compelling. Our prices are rising enough as it is, and that’s through imported fuel, it’s time companies stood up and looked at how to help the UK, from the bottom to the top.

Tags: Renewable Energy

Category: Solar Energy, Technology