Tag: Renewable Energy

• Positive Climate News

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  With the climate crisis and unsteady politics, there is a lot of negative media regarding sustainability, so I thought I’d share some climate wins to reinstate some positivity.

  Africa’s Solar Future

  

  Since 2014, Africa’s capacity for solar energy has grown hugely, but today, 75% of off-grid solar products are out of order, resulting in energy access issues. Despite this, SolarAid is training “solar entrepreneurs” to be able to repair solar devices to extend their lifespan. Repairing rather than replacing adds another layer of sustainable development to this initiative whilst creating jobs within the local community.

  UK closed its last coal-fired plant

  The UK was the first to use coal for public power generation, a major industrial revolution driver. The Ratcliffe-on-Soar power plant, in Nottinghamshire, was the final coal-powered plant to close. Furthermore, by the end of 2030, it is expected that energy sources will account for almost half of all electricity, adding an additional 5,500 GW of renewable energy capacity. Of this renewable energy production, it is estimated that China will produce half.

  

  Ocean Protection

  

  Pacific Indigenous leaders have formed a new treaty which deems whales and dolphins to officially be recognised as “legal persons”. This protects whales from cross-ocean shipping as they are recognised as living, non-human subjects rather than objects. Ships are the leading cause of whale deaths and majorly disrupt communication, navigation and feeding as vessels create a sound barrier within the water.

  Decrease in Amazon Deforestation

  In 2024, deforestation within the Amazon reached its lowest rate in 9 years, with a 30% reduction from the previous year. This was a result of increased legal action against illegal logging and land grabbing. Unfortunately, the degradation of the forest increased due to wildfires, covering nearly 40,000 km2.

  

  11th Feb 2025

  Climate Change, Deforestation, Energy, environment, News, Renewable Energy, sustainability, Sustainable Development

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• Wind Power Takes The Lead

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  Today’s post is based around renewable energy, specifically wind power. The UK’s top form of energy production (29%) came from wind turbines in 2024, a 30% increase from the previous year. Even though gas is still a large source of energy, the rise in non-renewable use such as wind power is a promising step to achieve a sustainable future. The new UK government is aiming to decarbonise the nation by 2030, just 5 years away, which means decommissioning the 32 currently active main gas-fired power stations and expanding offshore wind farms to help meet the demand.

  How wind Turbines work:

  1. the wind turns the blades
  2. the blades then turn the rotor located within the turbine
  3. the rotor is connected to a generator
  4. the generator creates electricity as a result of the spinning rotor

  Positives of Wind Turbines

  • Source of renewable energy: unlike fossil fuels, wind is a renewable resource that doesn’t deplete over time. As long as the wind blows, electricity can be generated. Additionally, the use of renewable energy produces zero greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants which enter our atmosphere, habitats, water sources and more.
  • Job Creation: the wind energy industry creates jobs in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and operations – this boosts local and national economies whilst providing skilled work.
  • Energy independence: reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and other finite resources is important when working towards a sustainable world, wind turbines help reach this vision. Improvements in energy security support a stabilised economy and reduce customer costs.
  • Scalability: wind farms are easy to expand, with many built offshore in a variety of environments.
  • Low operating costs: once installed, wind turbines require little maintenance and have minimal operating costs.

  Criticisms of Wind Turbines

  • Reliability: wind is not constant and can vary in strength and direction. This makes it challenging to rely on wind turbines as a consistent energy source.
  • Visual pollution: Many people consider wind turbines visually disruptive, particularly in rural or scenic areas. Large wind farms can dramatically change the landscape and impact the visual appeal of a region, often sparking opposition from local communities and residents.
  • Impact on wildlife: even though wind turbines are less harmful than other forms of energy procurement, rural or wildlife-rich areas may experience disturbed ecosystems
  • High implementation costs: the upfront cost of manufacturing and implementing turbines can be substantial.
  • Limited lifespan: a wind turbine typically lasts between 20 and 25 years before it needs to be replaced, there is significant research into the recycling of the blades, however, the rest of the turbine can be difficult to sustainably dispose of.

  The following video summarises the above points

  These videos are designed to be engaging and a different form of visual education, let me know what you think!

  7th Jan 2025

  Energy, Gas, Non-renewable Energy, Power, Power Stations, Renewable Energy, Renewables, UK, Wind Power

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