Renewable Energy - A Comprehensive Guide

Energy Insights

22 July 2025

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Renewable Energy - A Comprehensive Guide

Renewable energy is transforming the UK’s energy landscape, offering sustainable solutions that are key for the ambitious target of hitting net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Technologies such as solar, wind, and hydropower (hydro) are becoming increasingly accessible, which has led to an acceleration in the adoption of renewable energy solutions. 

Businesses, homeowners and public institutions are increasingly turning to the lower carbon energy alternatives that are available, supporting the UK’s ambition to achieve a greener, more sustainable future.  

Renewable Energy Sources Explained

Solar, wind, and hydro are three of the most heavily adopted renewable energy types in the UK, but the availability of each of these technologies varies depending on the local environment. Although the UK has geographical limitations for certain types of renewable energy, it remains important to understand the variety of renewable energy sources used globally — some of which could potentially be adopted in the UK in the future.

Solar Power

Generated using photovoltaic (PV) technology, solar power works through converting sunlight directly into electricity via solar panels. Each of these solar panels comprises multiple photovoltaic cells that capture photons from sunlight, generating an electric current through the photovoltaic effect. Although the UK is not renowned for its sunny weather, solar panels are still able to efficiently produce electricity throughout the year, even on cloudy days.

Some of the benefits of solar energy include:

  • Cost EffectiveSunlight is free, making solar power cost-effective in the long run, despite the initial outlay being high.
  • Minimal MaintenanceWhile solar panels do need periodic servicing, the overall maintenance requirement is low. Regular care ensures optimal performance over time, and tasks such as checking and cleaning the panels, removing shading and monitoring the inverter signals represent a relatively small resource investment.
  • Zero greenhouse gas emissionsSolar power generation produces no harmful greenhouse gas emissions – and while the panels themselves have a working lifetime that is typically around two to three decades, the energy available from the sun will never run out.
  • Reduces your energy billsAccording to a report by the Resolution Foundation thinktank, rooftop solar panels could cut the energy bills of many UK households by an estimated 24%, through a combination of both reducing the energy they purchase and reselling any excess electricity generated back to the grid.
  • Eligibility for UK energy incentivesInstalling solar panels in your business could make you eligible to earn money from the UK Government through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

 

Wind Energy

Through harnessing kinetic energy, wind is converted into electricity through large turbines. 

In the UK, wind farms can be found in two main forms: offshore and onshore. Offshore wind farms are positioned along the UK's extensive coastline and benefit from stronger and more consistent winds, enabling them to generate significant amounts of electricity. Onshore wind farms generally have lower costs associated due to easier installation and more accessibility to conduct maintenance, but can present more of a challenge in securing planning permission due to the concerns of nearby residents.

There are several reasons why wind power is a valuable source of energy in the UK specifically:

  • Ideal geographic locationThe geography and climate of the UK provide abundant potential locations to situate wind farms, making it far more feasible to harness this source of power than in a landlocked country.
  • One of the most cost effective renewable energy sourcesIn 2021, the global average lifetime cost of electricity generation for a new onshore wind facility was 39% lower than the cheapest new fossil fuel generator, representing good value for money. The costs of building and operating both offshore and onshore wind facilities have decreased rapidly in recent years, making them a highly competitive option.  
  • Significantly lowers carbon emissionsSimilarly to solar energy, wind power has a very low carbon footprint (with each kilowatt hour of electricity generated over the lifetime of a wind power installation having an emissions footprint of 4 grammes of CO2 equivalent, compared to 6 grammes for solar power). The turbines produce electricity without any at-source greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to reduce the overall carbon footprint.

Hydropower

Hydropower generates electricity by harnessing energy from flowing water, directing the water through turbines that are connected to generators.

Some benefits of hydropower are:

  • Consistent and reliable power supplyWhere it is available, hydropower offers reliable and consistent electricity generation due to the consistent and predictable flow of water, which has a rate that is  adjustable to meet demand, unlike intermittent sources such as solar or wind.
  • Alignment with net-zero ambitionsHydropower can generate a steady, clean energy supply without harmful emissions at source, and while it does require a sufficiently energetic water source (such as a reservoir or river), it offers an opportunity to take advantage of natural features of the land.

Breaking Down the UK's Progress in Renewable Energy

The UK is home to many pioneering renewable energy projects that showcase the government’s ambitions in delivering a sustainable future. 

The Hornsea Project, which is located just off the Yorkshire coast, is one of the largest offshore wind farms in the entire world and delivers clean energy to millions of homes in the UK. 

Solar initiatives such as the Bristol Energy Cooperative enable local groups to generate and share solar power, while the Blackburn Meadows Power Station in Yorkshire runs on biomass and was built on the site of a former coal-fired power station which closed in 1980, representing a significant shift towards ca major innovator, having transitioned from coal to sustainable biomass fuel. 

Each of these projects highlights the UK’s aim to become a key player in renewable energy adoption and contribute to the worldwide drive toward net-zero emissions. 

While the initial investment can sometimes be higher than the ongoing cost of existing fossil fuel energy supply, by embracing the many clean energy solutions available businesses can reduce emissions, lower costs, and contribute to a sustainable future. 

Now is the time to explore renewable options and play a role in building a greener, cleaner Britain – get in touch if you would like to explore your options. 

The views, opinions and positions expressed within this article are those of our third-party content providers alone and do not represent those of SEFE Energy. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. SEFE Energy accepts no liability for any errors, omissions or representations.

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