Adam_miller 18/6/09 08:46 Page 16
Adam Miller
The Perse Upper School
Adam Miller
Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8QF
As is typical of a country in the late part of stage four of the Hydroelectric power has the ability to produce 600,000 tonnes of oil
Demographic Transition Model, the UK is in a period of post- equivalent within the UK. The Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation should be
industrialisation and hence requires vast amounts of energy to maintain encouraged to expand on the 54 small projects that have already
a stable economy. The UK government has also become more aware of been commissioned, particularly as each individual construction can
the environmental impact of using certain energy resources, making it produce approximately 15,000MW of electricity, equivalent to the
necessary for the government to develop a national scheme that entire nuclear capacity of the UK, exemplified by the Three Gorge
produces more energy in a sustainable manner. In 2006, 157.8 million Project in China. Similarly, wave power should be developed were
tonnes of oil equivalent was consumed by the UK, with a massive giant schemes on small sites, for if the government was to meet its
91.9% obtained from non-renewable energy sources, which exemplifies 1994 target output of 2GW per turbine (one and a half times the
the magnitude of energy required per year and the need to develop the output of a nuclear plant), the nation would find it easier to meet its
nation so as to use more environmentally friendly resources – particularly energy demands. Separately, tidal power could produce 20% of the
as carbon emissions in 2008 reached a staggering 365 parts per million nation’s energy consumption, yet this technology and infrastructure
(ppm). The quantity of energy is further illustrated within Chris Goodall’s is not used to its fullest extent. It is ridiculous to have the ability to
‘Newsletter #10’, where it is stated that the average continuous use of achieve the nation’s energy productivity targets yet not fully engage
energy for one person in the UK was an overwhelming 5,150W; so, in the technology to do so. In Denmark, 5,000 wind turbines provide
order to establish a nation with a satisfied energy demand that approximately 8% of the country’s total energy demands, yet this
subsequently has little impact on the environment, the UK requires a technology would have an even more dramatic impact within the UK
dramatic evolution (see Table 1). To achieve this, the UK government if it could establish an equivalent magnitude, from the only 800
needs to direct its focus on three categories: the eventual replacement already established. The Danish developed much smaller 300–400kW
of non-renewable energy, an overall reduction in energy consumed and machines instead of the UK’s 3MW turbines, making them a world
a change in the nation’s attitude towards the preceding two factors. leader in this technology, a position we should compete with through
similar methods. After the oil crisis of 1974, the UK tended to pursue
Coal is predicted to run out in 250 years, gas in 70 years and oil in only a policy of ‘giantism’, yet the need to rapidly and extensively build up
50 years, which is a large problem as the UK depends on them to a sound technological structure from small-scale operations should
produce 91.9% of the energy mix. While other European countries be recognised. The landscape should be dominated by a diversified
have developed renewable energy to the extent that they are energy- set of small-scale operations.
secure, the UK remains at threat of running out of these energy
resources. This must begin to change soon or we will face crisis when The idea that the UK could meet its energy needs with renewable
we are no longer able to depend on imports. For the UK to begin to energy alone was simply wishful thinking, so it may be necessary to
develop into a more energy-secure nation, the government should follow in the footsteps of France and advance investment in nuclear
focus attention on nuclear and renewable energy: both resources sit power stations, especially since 59 such stations across the country
arm in arm with each other in perfect accompaniment as neither relies established 87.5% of France’s total energy consumption. The new
on limited resources. generation of nuclear power and its development into a safer
resource since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 has meant nuclear
The UK’s renewable energy resources have massive potential because power has become increasingly more important in more
wave, tidal, solar and wind power has the ability to be developed economically developed countries (MEDCs) and, similarly, it should
greatly. Wave power specifically is capable of producing enough do so in the UK. Currently, nuclear power does not compete with
energy for the whole country, but these attempts ceased in 1994 due the use of fossil fuels, but there are many benefits to enforcing their
to financial reasons. In terms of renewable energy, large-scale attempts use. Not only are power stations cheaper to run, but the technology
have proved ineffective, but, for example, one well-placed wind turbine is mature, proven and safe; also, there is no environmental impact,
can support over 500 people. The Parliamentary Office of Science and hence carbon emissions can be cut out completely; finally, nuclear
Technology commented that “renewable power is best attempted at reactors use uranium, supplies of which could last a very long time,
local levels”, hence the government should consider more efficient particularly if the UK began to extract uranium from seawater.
methods of introducing technology, such as at a more personal and However, the public should separate their opinions of nuclear power
therefore more effective level. from simple-minded myths of exploding reactors from ‘The
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