With the UK going coal-free for a record-breaking 90 hours over the weekend, energy sources such as solar and onshore wind now play a key role in generating electricity. However, with the urgent need for new energy sources to replace the 60% of the electricity produced worldwide by fossil fuel combustion, it has become necessary to look further afield to alternative energy sources.
Electricity has begun to flow at Hornsea 1, a wind array that will become the world's biggest offshore wind farm off the coast of the UK. This milestone makes the UK's offshore wind sector arguably the best in the world, and with significant investment recently announced it looks set to maintain that position.
The European Commission has given the UK Government the go ahead to offer EDF a guaranteed price per unit of electricity generated for a 35-year period for the purpose of incentivising investment. Ever since it was first proposed in October 2013, the proposed deal between the UK government and French nuclear power company EDF for the financing of a new nuclear plant has courted controversy.
While sub-Saharan Africa has seen robust economic growth, access to electricity is lagging behind. Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna has called on British industry to support the development of renewable energy in Africa, highlighting the economic value of establishing a firm base in the continent.
Labelled as the largest, cleanest and most efficient coal-fired power station in the UK, the 4,000MW Drax plant supplies around 7% of the UK's electricity needs.