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Environment
23 April 2019
Natural gas accounts for 39 per cent of energy generation in the UKJason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images
By Sam WongThe UK now frequently goes for several days at a time without generating electricity from coal, leading to headlines celebrating record-breaking coal-free spells. But the truth is we are still heavily reliant on fossil fuels – and much more needs to be done to clean up our energy supply.
This #Coal-free run ended at 90 Hours 45 Minutes.
This is a modern record for Great Britain
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Generation during this time was met by: Gas 42%, Nuclear 23%, Wind 12%, Solar 11%, Imports 7%, Biomass 4%, Large Hydro 1%, Storage 0% pic.twitter.com/Ii5RCjqTZK
— UK Coal (@UK_Coal) April 22, 2019
Coal contributed 5 per cent of the UK’s energy generation in 2018, and is set to be phased out by 2025. Gas provides the biggest share of the UK’s energy at the moment, with 39 per cent, but must fall below 25 per cent of the total by 2030 if the country is to meet its legally binding climate goals.
Renewables accounted for a third of energy generated last year. According to an analysis by Carbon Brief, this should rise to half by 2025 as a result of falling prices for renewable energy. This is despite government policy becoming less favourable to renewables.
A report published by the European Commission this year found that the UK government gives £10.4 billion a year in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry – more than any other country in the European Union – and only £7.2 billion to renewables.
Projections from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy suggest the UK will fall short of its targets for decarbonising the economy over the next 13 years. The gap between the 2028-2032 carbon budget and expected emissions is between 6 and 20 per cent.
This is because while emissions from electricity generation are falling sharply, emissions from other sectors are remaining stable or increasing. Cuts will be needed across all sectors to stay within budget.
The Committee on Climate Change, which advises the UK government, is due to publish a report on 2 May that is expected to recommend more ambitious targets. It may suggest aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, while the Extinction Rebellion campaign currently staging protests in London want to set the same goal for 2025.
Globally, carbon emissions from energy use have risen for two years in a row, despite strong growth in renewable energy generation.
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