Challenges Of Implementing Renewable Energy Essay

Challenges Of Implementing Renewable Energy - Essay Example The UK government wants to develop this energy source as a viable and active contributor to the economy. However, developing and using these free energy sources is not very easy and a number of challenges and barriers need to be overcome. These challenges include technical, social and financial challenges (Scottish Power, 2004). This paper will examine renewable energy sources in this context and suggest solutions to overcome the challenges. The UK government has undertaken a few projects to meet its obligations of reducing greenhouse gases. As per the Kyoto protocols, a signatory to the protocols and this includes the UK, have agreed to cut down their emissions to pre-1990 levels. The UK faces a huge problem of reducing the carbon levels and emissions since it mostly relies on coal-fired power plants and nuclear plants for power generation. For 2006, the total amount of Green House Gases - GHG emitted in the UK was the equivalent of 7,076 million metric tons of CO2. It is estimated that from these emissions about 2344 Teragrams were due to CO2 emissions from the activities of standard and old electricity power grids (SmartGrid GB, 2012). Other than nuclear power, all other systems and plants generate excessive carbon. Domestic and household consumption in the UK makes up for 60% of the power used while other users such as industries, utilities, offices, and infrastructure consume the rest. Automobiles account for more t han 75% of fossil fuel consumption (Williams, 2010). To promote the use of green and clean energy systems, the UK government has initiated a project that funds and supports solar energy by residential homes (Bullis, 2012). The proposal is called ‘Feed-In Tariff – FIT’. This project involves encouraging households to install small solar panels with solar PV that can generate electricity. The Department of Clean Energy of The UK government has undertaken a few projects to meet its obligations of reducing greenhouse gases. As per the Kyoto protocols, a signatory to the protocols and this includes the UK, have agreed to cut down their emissions to pre-1990 levels.