| Over sixty per cent of the UK's electricity is | | | | that we could make much more of. At the moment, |
| produced by coal and gas powered electricity plants. | | | | the cost of solar panels prohibits their wide use, but |
| These power stations generate millions of tons of | | | | as demand grows and production increases, solar |
| greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide which are | | | | power could become the world's number one source |
| known to cause climate change. | | | | of electricity because panels can be used on a |
| Much of the remaining electricity in the UK is | | | | domestic scale even in rural areas with no |
| produced by nuclear power stations, but there is still | | | | requirement to be hooked up to the national grid. |
| no satisfactory way to dispose of radioactive | | | | The energy of rivers can be harnessed by power |
| byproducts. With the decreasing stocks and rising | | | | turbines which generate electricity. There are already |
| prices of fossil fuels like gas an oil, environmentalists | | | | a few large hydroelectric plants in the UK, and there |
| fear that even more nuclear power stations will be | | | | is potential for many more low impact, small scale |
| built, and so the race is on to find cleaner ways to | | | | hydroelectric turbines in lots of places in Britain. |
| produce electricity. | | | | The holy grail of green electricity in the UK is wave |
| Green electricity is electricity that has been produced | | | | power. Researchers are trying to find ways to |
| with only minimal impacts on the environment. | | | | harness the abundant energy that is in the waves all |
| Sources of energy like the sun, wind and tides are | | | | around our coastline. Wave power would be a |
| known as renewable energy. Green electricity can be | | | | fantastic source of green electricity in the future if a |
| produced using renewable energy sources. | | | | cost effective way of producing electricity could be |
| Wind turbines are increasingly popular in the UK, and | | | | implemented. |
| some of the energy for the national grid comes from | | | | As consumers' interest in green electricity grows, |
| wind turbines. The turbines are quieter and more | | | | energy providers are looking for ways to make |
| efficient since improvements have been made to the | | | | energy production more environmentally friendly. |
| design. Some people think they spoil the landscape, | | | | Even big providers like British Gas, who supply |
| and the placement of some so called windfarms in | | | | massive amounts of electricity, are offering carbon |
| areas of natural beauty has caused controversy. | | | | neutral dual fuel deals. This means that the carbon |
| A possible solution is to build wind farms out at sea. | | | | dioxide created as a by product of your electricity is |
| If this is ever possible, and of course affordable, wind | | | | offset by British Gas's investment in projects to |
| could become the main source of the UK's electricity | | | | develop green electricity. Choosing carbon neutral |
| in the future. | | | | products like this is a great way to support green |
| Solar power, even in the UK, is a free energy source | | | | electricity production and prevent climate change. |