Answers given by the Energy Minister to Torbay MP Adrian Sanders have revealed a dramatic shift in Britain’s energy supplies in recent years, with over a quarter of gas consumed in the country now coming from foreign sources. Up to only 5 years ago, the UK was self sufficient in its gas supply.
There are now concerns that the reliance on gas from abroad, coupled with a lack of storage facilities in the UK, Britain could be susceptible to energy shortages. Energy Minister Mike O’Brien stated that there were plans to increase storage facilities but that “if all these projects go ahead GB’s gas storage capacity could increase to some 20 per cent of current annual demand levels by around 2020.”
The Minister also highlighted how future supplies will depend increasingly on countries such as Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iraq, with supply routes coming through Turkey.
As well as boosting storage facilities, Mr Sanders has called for the Government to use this opportunity to make a substantial shift to renewable and sustainable forms of electricity generation. He is calling for more financial incentives for individual households to invest in solar panels and wind turbines-known as microgeneration.
The development of new technologies also throws open the possibility of new jobs and investment, which would be very welcome for areas such as the South West, which are being hit hard by the recession.
Mr Sanders said: “It is inevitable that fossil fuels will be in shorter supply in the future. If we do not invest in renewables this will push energy prices sky high and reduce Britain’s energy security drastically.
The Government does provide some money for renewable schemes at a local level but this is not enough and there is not enough information out there to allow individuals, councils and other groups to get involved.
Developing renewable energy solutions could be the next big industrial development in the UK and we must ensure that communities such as Torbay, which are suffering from a lack of skilled employment opportunities, are not left out by this Government.”
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