2030 Electricity Generation Mix
I read a paper recently which examined the possible UK electricity generation mix by 2030 and whether it could achieve the required carbon reduction targets. The aim of the paper was to consider the extreme conditions faced by the electricity grid with different energy mixes. The target for carbon reduction for the UK is 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. In order to meet this it is necessary to reduce carbon emissions arising from electricity generation from the current value of 560 gCO2/kWh (CCC, 2008) to 70 gCO2/kWh by 2030. Two scenarios were modeled to assess whether this could be achieved: one with a high penetration of renewable energy, predominantly wind power, and the other with a high proportion of renewable energy, tidal energy from a Severn Barrage, Carbon Capture and Storage schemes on 80% of coal and gas power stations and an increase of approximately 20% in nuclear generation. The authors found that only the latter option cou...