Residents of the UK have been struggling under the effects of an energy crisis since 2021. These challenges have clearly been compounded by conflict in the middle east and resulting restrictions on shipping and trade. The shock of this has revealed the urgent need for energy independence and security – a resilient, reliable, and low cost energy supply. High cost could be remedied to some extent by divorcing the price of electricity from the cost of gas. This is a transition from a gas reliant grid to a cleaner, greener, home-grown renewable energy supply that needs to be effected with urgency.
The increasing impact of renewable energy in the the UK is clear to see. Record wind output this year has already helped to mitigate against increasing gas prices. At the start of this month, April, solar farms generated 14.4GW, surpassing the previous high of 14GW achieved in July last year. The electricity system operator is understood to be preparing to run the grid without any gas for short periods as soon as this summer, in a first for the UK energy system.
Driving an electric car using smart tariffs can save as much as £1,000 a year based on recent petrol prices. Both individuals and our society more widely need incentivisation and real help to make the necessary changes to energy provison and demand that will offer lower costs, stability and resilience into the future.
At the same time, the Government’s recently published Land Use Framework report shows that currently around 70% of land in the UK is used for agriculture, largely livestock. Using high-resolution modelling, it finds that England has enough land to meet all of its objectives, if it is used efficiently. According to the framework, just 1-2% of England’s land will need to be taken up by renewables, such as solar and onshore wind, by 2050.
The report recognises that we need to generate more electricity to meet the growing demand from EVs, heat pumps etc, but in spite of this solar and wind will continue to take up a small proportion of land. It also notes that development of wind and solar infrastructure in rural areas should give local communities the “opportunity to benefit from local clean energy”.
UK land area divided up by purpose (left). About 70% is devoted to agriculture, mainly livestock and livestock feed and pasture. The right-hand side of the chart, using the same scale, shows how much land is used overseas to produce food for the UK. Credit: National Food Strategy (2021)
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