Table of Contents
In the UK, wind turbines have generated more electricity than gas for the first time.
According to Imperial College London, one-third of the country’s electricity came from wind farms in the first three months of this year.
In April, there was also a record for solar energy generation.
The UK aims for all of its electricity to have zero emissions by 2035.
Currently, most of the UK’s wind power comes from offshore wind farms because there are rules against building them on land. However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to change the rules to speed up development.
The UK had record hot temperatures last year.
Solar and wind energy are growing quickly in the UK. In the first quarter of 2023, 42% of the UK’s electricity came from renewable energy. 33% of the country’s energy came from gas and coal.
However, many renewable energy projects are on hold now. Some solar and wind sites are waiting more than 10 years to be connected to the UK’s power grid.
Electricity is used for only 18% of the total energy required in the UK. Heating houses, manufacturing, and transportation use different types of energy.
Most homes in the UK use gas for heating. However, the government wants to move households from gas heating to heat pumps that use electricity.
Vocabulary
- Wind turbine – A tall structure/building with long blades/arms that spin in the wind to make electricity;
- Generate – produce; create; cause; make
- Electricity – power; current; energy used to operate lights, TVs, etc.
- According to – as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- One-third – ⅓; one piece of three; 33.33 %
- Wind farm – an area of land with many wind turbines used to generate electricity
- Record – the most or least ever; the highest level ever; achieved for the first time
- Solar energy – Energy that comes from the sun and can be used to generate/create electricity
- Aim – want to; intend to; try to; plan to
- Emissions – gas, heat, or light that is released or sent out; often refers to pollution from burning fuel
- Offshore – something that is located in the ocean or sea, away from the land
- Rule – A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law
- Prime Minister – the head or leader of an elected government of a country
- Development – to work on something to make it grow; process of building
- Temperature – A measure of how hot or cold something is; we usually measure temperature in degrees Celcius or Farenheit
- Renewable energy – energy generated/created from renewable sources (wind, solar, water, etc.)
- Coal – a black or dark brown rock that burns strongly, a rock used to make big fires
- On hold – Temporarily paused or delayed; to stop for a short time
- Site – a place where something is or was located; location
- Power grid (electrical grid) – a network of cables and equipment for electricity delivery to homes/businesses
- Heat – to make warm; to make hotter
- Manufacture – To make or produce something, often on a large scale
- Transportation (transport) – the movement of people, goods, or materials from one place to another
- Heat pump – A device/machine that transfers heat from one place to another, used for heating or cooling buildings; Heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat from a cool space to a warm space
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- What are some advantages and disadvantages of using wind turbines to generate electricity?
- Do you believe it is realistic for the UK or any country to achieve zero emissions in its electricity by 2035? Why or why not?
- How do you feel about the government’s proposal to transition households from gas heating to heat pumps?
- In your opinion, what steps can countries take to reduce their overall energy consumption and promote sustainability?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
