In the UK, the journey towards creating a sustainable future is marked by significant efforts towards developing and adopting green energy, a sector that is underpinned by engineering innovations.
Here we spotlight some of the key developments in renewable technologies, and why such innovations – and the workforce of expert engineers behind their development and implementation – are vital to the transition to green energy.
Engineering Innovations Driving the Green Energy Transition
The development of renewable energy technologies has been at the forefront of the UK's green energy transition, with innovations in energy creation, storage and delivery playing a crucial role in reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels.
These innovations, developed by expert, highly-skilled engineers across the energy sector, are enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of renewable energy, and the continued development and implementation of them is what will drive energy companies towards meeting the UK’s clean energy goals.
Some of the key advancements and engineering innovations making a mark on the energy landscape include:
Wind Energy: The UK has made significant strides in wind energy, particularly in recent years with the development of many offshore wind farms. These farms leverage the UK's extensive coastline and strong wind patterns to generate substantial amounts of clean energy. Innovations in turbine design, such as larger blades and floating turbines, have increased efficiency and reduced costs – thanks to the expert minds of engineers tasked with making wind farms are effective and efficient as possible.
Solar Energy: Even in the UK, where it feels like sunny days are in short supply, solar power has made a big impact. Remarkable advancements, especially in the efficiency of solar panels and energy storage solutions are making solar energy more viable than ever before. Innovations including bifacial solar panels, which capture sunlight on both sides, and floating solar farms, which are installed on bodies of water, have enhanced the viability and output of solar energy.
Biomass Energy: Biomass energy, which is derived from organic materials and has historically been a more expensive, less efficient option, has become more efficient and sustainable thanks to engineering advancements. Through technologies such as advanced gasification and anaerobic digestion, there has been a significant improvement in the conversion of biomass into electricity, heat, and transportation fuels, and in the reduction of waste and bi-products.
Hydrogen Production: Hydrogen is emerging as a crucial component of the green energy drive. Innovations in electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, have made hydrogen production – which was previously an expensive, time-consuming process – more efficient and cost-effective. This clean hydrogen can be used in various applications, including fuel cells and industrial processes.
Energy Storage: Effective energy storage is essential for balancing supply and demand in renewable energy systems. Innovations in battery technology, such as solid-state batteries and flow batteries, have improved energy storage capacity, efficiency, and lifespan. These advancements are crucial for integrating intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar into the grid.
Economic and Social Benefits of Green Energy Advancements
The transition to green energy, and the development of the technologies required to make it viable, has created job opportunities across the energy industry and its various sectors.
With renewable energy experiencing rapid, large-scale growth, driven by increasing demand for clean energy, technological advancements, and supportive government policies, the industry’s workforce is growing quickly too. In recent years, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the renewable energy sector has employed over 12 million people worldwide, with that number rising at pace.
In the UK, the multi-billion-pound renewable energy market has benefitted from significant and continued investment and growth which has not only transformed the energy landscape but also impacted the engineering job market too, as the needs of companies, their green targets and renewable energy projects grow.
With the industry and its roles often requiring higher skills and education than most other manual sectors, the demand for skilled workers in the renewables sector is high. Whilst this does present the potential for skills gaps within the industry, it also provides workers with the skills and experience required with excellent employment and career growth opportunities.
The Importance of Engineers in Green Energy
Despite the progress being made, the UK's green energy transition has many challenges to overcome.
The shortage of skilled workers in the renewables sector poses a significant threat to the ongoing projects and the country's ability to meet its clean energy targets. Innovative approaches are not only needed to continue to develop technologies that’ll drive the transition forwards, but also to create sustainable pipelines of highly skilled engineers and workers to address potential skills gaps.
The UK's commitment to green energy will continue to grow, especially following the Labour Government's 'Clean Energy by 2030' mission announcement, which outlined plans to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by the end of the decade.
These ambitious targets highlight the importance of continuing to discover new engineering innovations and investing in renewable energy technologies and the people at the heart of their discovery and implementation.
Looking Ahead
Engineering innovations have been instrumental in driving the UK's switch to green energy and will continue to have a key role in creating and implementing systems and services that will help us all work towards Net Zero.
The advancements in renewable energy technologies have not only reduced the country's reliance on fossil fuels but also created significant economic and social benefits.
However, as the UK continues its journey towards a sustainable future, addressing the challenges and investing in the discovery, hiring and development of skilled workers will be crucial to achieving green energy goals.
