Why it's important
Energy, as electricity or from gas, coal or oil, is needed for a
whole range of our activities - we use it for cooking, light and
warmth in our homes, and for power to travel around. Between 1990
and 2002 use of electricity in the UK increased by 22%.
Approximately 80% of the UK's electricity is generated through
consumption of fossil fuels (gas, coal and oil) which are
non-renewable and which will one day run out. The faster we use
them, the sooner they will be gone. The burning of fossil fuels
gives off various pollutants. These include carbon dioxide, a
powerful 'greenhouse gas' which contributes to global warming and
climate change (see separate Green Page on Climate Change). Others
include nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide which can reduce local
air quality, adversely affecting people's health and the overall
quality of the environment.
A small proportion (around 4%) of UK electricity is generated from
renewable sources, such as sun, wind, tides and waves, the fall of
water or geothermal energy.
Energy use is increasing, reflecting the increasing use of energy
in the transport, domestic and service sectors which more than
compensates for reduced consumption by the industrial sector. The
sector showing the greatest increase in energy consumption since
1970 is transport, and energy consumption nearly doubled in this
time. The largest increase has been from air transport which has
nearly tripled since 1970 to 21% of total energy used in the sector
by 2001. Energy use in the domestic sector increased by 32% between
1970 and 2001. Although energy consumption per household has fallen
since 1990, domestic energy used per person has increased by 18%.
This has been partly due to the increased use of electrical
appliances such as fridge-freezers, VCRs, TVs and home
computers.
Energy targets
The UK Energy White Paper sets the aspirational target that by
2020, 20% of UK electricity requirements should be met by renewable
energy.