Alternative Energy
This report considers how worried consumers are about climate
change and whether they agree with the need to develop alternative
energy sources. It also looks in more detail at people's attitude
to these sources as well as detailing the role that they are
currently playing in UK generation.
The face of energy generation in the UK is set to change over
the next few years due to the need to replace obsolete plant, to
meet greenhouse gas emission and other environmental targets and to
provide security of energy supplies.
Currently, the vast majority of UK energy is produced from coal
(29% according to Fuel Mix Disclosure 1/4/10-31/3/11) and natural
gas (44%). The former is associated with high greenhouse emissions
and the latter with supply issues. Recent developments in
technology to free 'tight gas' (i.e. that embedded in rocks) may
mean that there could be more gas reserves than previously thought.
Furthermore, in December 2011 the EU Energy Roadmap 2050 stated
that "natural gas is an essential complement to renewable
energy in the transformation of the global energy system".
Nevertheless, this report considers the alternatives to coal and
gas - nuclear power and renewable energy.
To download a table of contents for this report, click here.
To buy the Alternative Energy report, click here.