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Why Do We Need Renewables?
Electrical energy is essential to billions of people around
the world. We are reliant on it for crucial things from light
to read by, to water for a shower; and power for computers
and factories.
The conventional sources of power come from burning of fossil
fuels such as coal, gas, oil or from nuclear fuels. There
are fears of fossil fuel shortages, evidence that fossil fuels
are creating climate change and concerns about nuclear power.
So generation from an alternative clean energy source is of
growing importance.
To reflect these needs, government legislation aims to have
15% of the UK's electricity generated by renewable sources
by 2015 and is aspiring to 20% by 2020.
What is Global Climate Change?
Our climate has warmed by about 0.7°C over the last 300 years,
with about 0.5°C of warming occurring over the last 100 years.
It is accepted that much of this change is due to an increase
in the emissions of greenhouse gases, which are created through
burning fossil fuels.
Scientific models predict that the average global temperature
will rise by a further 3°C by the next century unless change
takes place now.
With a rising in global temperatures, the ice caps in the
Arctic and Antarctic waters have already begun melting, which
is leading to sea level rises.
The resultant effect on human life and the natural environment
could be devastating, with rising sea levels likely to submerge
whole islands in the Pacific, flood low lying areas in many
countries and inevitably push entire species to extinction.
The extraction and use of fossil fuels are responsible for
many of the world's environmental problems. Much air and water
pollution, soil erosion and climate change is energy related.
To address these issues, a shift to methods of producing heat
and electricity that do not compromise the environment and
the needs of future generations is a global priority.
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Why Wind Energy?
New legislation has set targets on the generation of electricity
from renewables at 15% by 2015.
Wind energy is one of the most appropriate technologies to help
meet these targets, as it is the cleanest and lowest cost form in
the market place.
As the UK is the windiest country in Europe, wind energy is the
natural selection for producing clean sustainable energy.
Typically, a windcluster with 10 turbines will generate enough electricity
for 8,000-10,000 homes, and will save around 35,000 tonnes of harmful
greenhouse gases when compared to a coal fired power station.
Other sources of renewable energy can be used to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, however wind energy is by far the lowest cost source.
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For more information
For those interested in the broader issues of energy
and the environment, visit our education
page for details of interesting places to visit
in the UK.
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