With the recent closure of various power generation facilities, such as those for coal or nuclear power, and without ongoing plans or construction for new power generations to fill UK needs, a signification energy supply gap is predicted. The report, Engineering the UK Electricity Gap, which revealed this startling gap was put forth by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, also referring to ongoing efforts as unrealistic to fully address the UK needs. To be noted is that there is still the possibility that Amber Rudd will put off the shutdown of coal within the upcoming consultation. Yet even if this is done the report heavily suggests that the shortfall will only be properly addressed through incentivised demand reduction alongside the encouragement of further investments in renewables or energy storage. When advocating for the increased use of renewable forms of power generation the report uses solar power as a key example. With increased investment in recent years, the technology provides around a 10% cost reduction per year, and would continue to do so within the next decade, establishing itself as the potential source of up to 20% of the worlds entire energy demand by 2027. Though it should be noted that this estimate is a far higher rate of potential solar adoption than the rate at which the International Energy Agency advocates solar within the high renewable scenario.
ACE 1st Feb 2016 read more »