RENEWABLE ENERGY-SOURCES IN THE UK

In a modern context, the development of renewable energy (energy deriv ed from natural and replenishable sources, namely the sun, wind, water , wastes, crops and the earth) began in the 1970s. Today, due largely to the UK Department of Trade and Industry's Renewable Energy Programm e and the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation, renewables are fast becoming a c ommercial reality; an increasing number of projects are coming on-line around the UK, with a total generating capacity of over 200 MW on-str eam by March 1993. In addition to wind power and biofuels, hydro-power and, to a lesser extent, solar energy are already making an impact; t he prospects for wave energy, tidal power and geothermal heat are, how ever, less certain. The UK Government is currently reviewing its renew able energy strategy with a view to building on the successes of the r ecent past. Indeed, it has already stated that, for the present, it in tends to work towards a figure of 1500 MW of new electricity generatin g capacity from renewables in the UK by the year 2000. Looking beyond that, perhaps as much as 20% of 1991 electricity supply (about 60 TWh) could be derived annually from renewables by 2025.