The new Labour government has pledged to make Britain a green energy superpower; however, several obstacles will have to be overcome to reach net zero, including the cost and changes to infrastructure.
National Grid improvements
To complete the energy transition, the National Grid and its infrastructure are going to require significant investment and improvement. This means a complete overhaul of the power network, which includes new pylons being installed across the country and new undersea cables and transmission lines. If this doesn’t happen, the UK will be unable to go ahead with vehicle and transport electrification, as the grid is already at capacity.
According to the BBC, both Northern and the Republic of Ireland are going to miss the renewable energy target of 2030 due to planning delays and a shortage of grid connections.
Wind or solar
While increasing numbers of homeowners have opted to install solar panels, solar energy still only accounts for a small percentage of renewable energy. Most renewable energy comes from wind farms; however, as these are mainly based in the north and offshore, the electricity has to be moved through transmission lines to the south where demand is highest. This is a problem, as these lines are already congested. It is only by producing more solar power that this situation can be overcome.
Thankfully, there are many options, and it is becoming easier to use a solar panel system to generate your own electricity. If you are thinking about installing solar panels, renewable energy companies such as GSM can explain what is involved.
Subsidies are needed
Where the government previously offered generous subsidies to encourage people to install solar panels, these ended in 2016. Unsurprisingly, the result was fewer homeowners and businesses taking them up. To increase the amount of solar energy significantly, more subsidies will be needed to reduce the upfront cost of installing a solar panel system.
China holds the cards
Finally, as China produces the bulk of the world’s solar panels, it has its grip firmly on the UK’s energy transition.
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