Most reliable energy sources

October 13, 2017
, Oil & Gas

The energy consumption in the UK is rising, between 2005 and 2030, itâs supposed that the energy consumption has risen by 50%. Mainly due to the fact the UK population is growing and therefore the demand for energy has increased.

Supplier of commercial gas Flogas, take a look at what energy sources make up the market and how much theyâre relied upon.

Fossil fuel
Fossil fuels s still one of the highest energy sources thatâs used in the UK. Itâs made up of coal and natural gas and is a reliable form of energy that has supplied both commercial and domestic needs for many years.

Coal
In the UK, there have been 3 major coal power stations that have shut down in the last year, which as result has impacted the number coal electricity generation dropping from 26.2% to 9.2% which itâs at its lowest output in 80 years.

Natural Gas energy
Natural Gas can be used as power, whenever it is needed, making it a reliable energy source in the UK. The existence of gas power stations has increased 45% between 2015 and 2016. This may be due to the collapse of coal generated energy.

Natural gas emits less carbon dioxide emissions than coal by 45% and also 30% less than oil. Meaning the impact that it brings to the environment is not as extreme as other forms of fuel.

Gas is used for many different reasons, because itâs a multi-use energy. It can be used to generate electric power, power vehicles, produce plastics as well as being used for domestic purposes such as cooking, heating and drying.

On a worldwide scale, gas is the most available source of energy. Itâs extracted by many countries for use, through using a drilling method.

Renewable energy
Renewable energy is a growing source of energy in the UK and worldwide. Many countries are investing in solar panels and wind farms to generate electricity in new ways. A downside to this is that renewable energy is believed to be less reliant for a source of energy and we can never rely on it 100%.

Wind power
This source of energy, depends on the strength of the wind at the time of generation. In 2016, it is reported that windfarms across the UK had generated more electricity than coal power plants produced and also more power than solar energy.

Solar Power
Solar Is becoming an increased source of power worldwide. The United Kingdom is leading in Europe with the growth of solar energy produced. In the whole of Europe, solar provides 4% of all electricity demand. A decision was made by the UK government to cut incentives for householders to fit solar panel and for solar farms to be built. So, this has resulted in the amount of solar power installed in 2016 dropping by around 50% compared to the previous year.

Just like wind power, solar energy is dependent on the availability and intensity from the sun and it is not fully reliable.

Nuclear
Nuclear Power is a large source of energy provided in the UK. In June 2017, it was reported that it accounted for 23.2% generated energy in the UK. It is a reliable source of energy as it can provide power whenever it is needed. It also doesnât emit carbon dioxide but it can be harmful if there are accidents on site.

Based on the information gathered, it appears that natural gas is the most reliable source of energy around the globe. Even though renewable energy is on the rise, it is not always able to provide power and this can be a problem in some situations.