With all the talk of renewable energy methods like solar, heat pumps and insulation being installed in more and more homes, with help from government-backed schemes, you may begin to wonder how much of a difference the renewable energy transition is having for the country.
Is Renewable Energy Making a Difference?
In the UK, recent months have proven that the use of fossil fuels has dropped and National Grid data display that there has been an improvement in renewable energy. However, from the perspective of the past few years, data also shows that there are still improvements to be made.
Solar Is Making a Big Change but Could Be Better
14 terawatts of solar power were generated in the UK back in 2022 (that’s 14,000 gigawatts of energy) which left us 17th in the whole world. The government hopes to achieve 70,000 gigawatts generated by 2035, but only 4% of our energy comes from the sun.
To reach the goal of net zero in 2050, every home in the country must make the switch to solar energy as their source of generating power.
How Much Will Solar Cost You?
Under the ECO4 scheme, absolutely nothing! You could be entitled to free solar panels, furthermore, you may also be eligible to receive help towards insulating the whole of your home and swapping out your current boiler for a heat pump. These grants aim to ensure the people who need the help are receiving it whilst progressing on the journey to becoming net zero.
How Much Gas Is the UK Using?
85% of the homes in the United Kingdom are still using fossil fuels to heat their homes through the winter. This means that most households in the country are struggling to pay and heat their homes, as well as harming the country’s renewable energy rating.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Just like the ECO4 scheme, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is designed to help homes across the nation. BUS can see you receive a grant towards installing an air or ground source heat pump for your home, replacing a current gas boiler and seeing your energy efficiency become drastically better.
How Can a Heat Pump Help?
Heat pumps will take heat from their source and act the opposite way an everyday refrigerator would (instead of cooling with a refrigerant, it heats instead) heating your home, using electricity, saving you money, and improving efficiency.
This significant change will contribute to the fall of the gas generation which has already seen an approximate 20-30 percent drop in 2023.
Summary
Though most of the country is making the right choices regarding renewable energy transition, there is still a lot of work to be done to reach the government’s goal of net zero by the year 2050. Every home in the UK can help achieve this goal by introducing renewable energy methods into their homes whether it be replacing boilers or adding solar to their properties.
The country has seen differences though, with a 4.4% contribution to the renewable mix from solar and a fall in the gas generation of about 20-30 per cent, further proving that the renewable transition can be achieved.