6.1.4 Energy in the UK

Resource Management

• Despite increasing demand for electricity, UK energy consumption has fallen due to the decline of heavy industry and improved energy conservation.
• Low-energy appliances, better building, and more fuel-efficient cars have reduced energy use by 60% in industry and 12% in domestic use.

Historical Energy Use

• 1970s:
  • Oil and gas provided 91% of the UK's energy.
• 1980s:
  • Large gas reserves in the North Sea supplied 22% of energy by 1980.
• 1990s:
  • Increased use of nuclear energy.

Why Are We Using Less Fossil Fuels?

Use Less Fossil Fuels

• Declining Reserves:
  • North Sea oil and gas reserves are running out; production has declined since 2000.
• Cost and Environmental Impact:
  • UK coal reserves produce greenhouse gases and are costly to mine.
  • UK shut down its last coal mine in 2015.
  • High cost of North Sea oil production.
• Accidents:
  • Oil spills can leak toxic chemicals into water and soil.
• Greenhouse Gases:
  • Fossil fuels release gases contributing to global warming and climate change.

Why can't we just use renewable energy?

• Cost:
  • High cost of renewable energy technology.
• Reliability:
  • Current renewable sources are not reliable enough to replace fossil fuels completely.
• Research:
  • More research is needed to ensure renewable energy doesn't negatively impact ecosystems.
• Challenges:
  • Wind farms are noisy and considered unsightly.
  • Renewable energy sources like tidal energy need to avoid harming marine life.

Will fracking help?

• Future Potential:
  • Fracking considered to access large shale gas reserves in the UK.
• Process:
  • Drilling down and injecting high-pressure water to release gas.
• Concerns:
  • Water mixture pumped back can affect water supplies.
  • Methane, a greenhouse gas, is released during fracking.