Renewable Energy United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia By Richard Adamson 8 Castle

United Kingdom  There was million tonnes of oil equivalent, 7 per cent lower than in This is the lowest level of UK primary energy consumption since This shows that The UK is trying to reduce the amount of fossil fuels they use but 7% is a very low figure and replacements need to be found.  Renewable energy resources are becoming used more often however unsustainable methods like Petroleum are still being used the most after things like biomass.  The United Kingdom has a total population of around 63 million which is 33 million more than Saudi Arabia so the demand in the uk is greater especially as the uk is increasing in population rapidly. As a result we are spending 6.12billion pounds on energy and the graph shows the other information.

Method 1 for energy: Wind Turbines  My first suggestion is to have many wind farms across the country and develop the current ones. The benefit from the wind is that it is always about and it is such a diverse energy type as there is on shore and off shore. This gives large scope for developments.  Hundreds of millions of pounds are being spent on the wind farms and over many years they will have there money back and then the profits are made. One turbine costing £3 million will get back around £60,000 per year on a small scale but on a more commercialised scale profits will be greater. Not only that jobs will be created which is a different story but is a consequence of making these renewable energy resources and benefits the countries economy.  Also if wind turbines are used on a private scale they can save family household running costs and you can make profits as the government will pay you money. An average home system would cost £15,000 and that money will be earned back in our five to six years and then make profits.

Method 2 for energy: Tidal Power  This type of energy is very appropriate for the uk because we are surrounded by ocean and water so we have eight prime locations for tidal power which is very sustainable and there will be scope to put these energy methods in oceans and river also. This is an inappropriate energy type for Saudi Arabia as it has a desert climate.  It is estimated that tidal power could generate around 20% of Britain's requirements. There are great practical challenges associated with this form of hydropower and only around twenty sites in the world have been identified as being ideal locations for large scale tidal power arrays. Eight sites are to be found in Britain, potentially making the UK a key player in the World Green Energy market. The Severn, Dee, Solway and Humber estuaries are all potential sites for tidal energy generating barrages in the UK, while Islay and the Pentland Firth are to host tidal turbine arrays.  Scottish Power Renewables is to invest £40m to install the turbines in the waters off Islay. The waters around Islay and Jura have been chosen because they offer strong tidal flows and at the same time are relatively sheltered from storms.

Method 3 for energy: Biofuel  Biomass and biofuel is a very sustainable method and a method which should be considered carefully as the number of road users is increasing so more fuel is being used which harms the climate so if a sustainable solution is thought up it will make a dramatic difference.  The only issue is to locate a sensible place to grow the plants and other bio matter as currently to meet the 10% figure we will need to grow and import from overseas. The figure is the amount the UK wants to have as national resource. 10% of all energy will be from biomass and fuel eventually.  Biomass renewable energy can be generated in a number of ways but it is derived ultimately from plant matter. This can include dead wood from forests, although most biomass is grown specifically for electricity generation. Popular biomass crops include willow, hemp and poplar. Logs can be used but it is common, and more energy efficient, to use dense wooden pellets.  Biofuel renewable energy is similar to biomass in that it revolves around organic matter. Crops, such as sugar beet, soya or oilseed rape, are grown and burned (also anaerobically) to produce a liquid, gas or solid fuel source. This, in turn, can be burned to produce electricity or mixed with other fuels to power transport.

Saudi Arabia  Saudi Arabia has a small population of 30 million so it influences climate change less than the larger countries like china however it is one of the worlds greatest supplier it the energy type of oil and other fossil fuels. Therefore it could be interpreted that Saudi Arabia and other middle eastern countries are to blame and they are the supplies of the fossil fuels. As a result petrol per litre is $0.16 however it not very sustainable as oil will run and its a very harmful country.  However due to its desert like climate energy types are restricted to solar power and wind power and they are used across the country and accounts to around 35% of all its energy. This is not a sustainable figure and the remaining 65% is very un eco friendly types of fuel

Method 1: Solar  Due to the warn sunny climate Saudi is the ideal location to position solar panels on a vast scale due to the fact that is wide expanses of desert which has no benefit to anyone but if solar panels are used in the dessert all they can do is benefit the area and the country.  Saudi officials have talked about solar power for years, and even made plans to install 41,000MW over the next 20 years, but whilst China installed 5,000MW in 2012 alone, Saudi Arabia still has virtually no solar generation capacity.  Solar panel prices have fallen more than 80 per cent over the last five years, because of global over-supply and lower demand in Europe, while average annual Brent Crude prices have risen by a third, making the sun a very cheap source of electricity for a country that currently burns oil which it could export for over $100 a barrel. This shows producing solar energy is not only good for the environment but is currently quite cheap and because the country is so sunny it will be quick to start making money on the solar panels.

Method 2: Wind  Wind power is another suggestion I have to further Saudi Arabia and make it a more sustainable country in terms of renewable energy. This is because there are wide open spaces which are perfect for wind turbines as there is nothing too obstruct the wind. The benefit from the wind is that it is always about and it is such a diverse energy type as there is on shore and off shore. This gives large scope for developments.  Wind power in terms of money will cost millions to make a sustainable impact on the country but I feel that money should be invested at £100,000 at a time so after each construction the situation can be evaluated and then developed further. As shown from the graph situated above existing unsustainable methods are still taken up 50% of the countries energy but with my stepped method of developing the wind turbines every five years is a better and more sustainable method.

Method 3: Geothermal  Geothermal energy can be used as an efficient heat source in small end-use applications such as greenhouses, but the consumers have to be located close to the source of heat.  Geothermal energy - heat from the earth (in most cases mineral water)- is an important energy source having environmental and economic advantages over fossil and nuclear energy sources. That is why it will be good for Saudi Arabia.  A geothermal plant would cost £1billion pounds and if two or three were built in the areas rich in the energy it would take around years to begin to get some money back on the investment. This a good energy type for the country as it is sustainable to an extent and therefore eco friendly but the disadvantage is that it cannot benefit the world as you cannot transport geothermal energy so it would be a source private to Saudi Arabia.

Reasons for choices  My best choice for the uk is the tidal power as from my research I have found that the uk has 8 prime locations for the energy out of 42 worldwide. Also the uk household in the long term will benefit as housing costs will decrease as when coal as gas reduce from the worlds demand and growing population the prices will rise. So I feel the uk should develop places for tidal power,  However for Saudi Arabia I feel that solar power is the best as the country is very hot and sunny and has many more hours of sun light per day than most countries. It is a renewable source and in the long run could be a very healthy investment that will make jobs and develop the countries economy.

Thanks for Watching my Presentation on Britain and Saudi Arabia's renewable energy futures.