Energy giant Ineos has asked to build a UK fracking test site that will demonstrate the safe process, making the nation self-sufficient in 10 years. The company have sent their request in writing to the UK government with their development site plans.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe of Ineos has stated how beneficial the site could be, helping to “reduce the cost of energy” as well as making sure of “long-term energy independence”. This has come after new reports about fracking came from the government.
Just last week, as part of the UK’s new energy strategy, the main focus was on nuclear energy, solar and wind energy production, with no real mention of fracking. However, as the energy crisis continues to cause major issues, could the answer to the problem be right underneath our feet?
What Is Fracking?
Fracking is a process of drilling into the earth and extracting gas and oil from shale rock. The high-pressure combination of sand, chemicals and water is used to release the gas inside.
In 2019, the method was prohibited due to earth tremor concerns and opposition from green campaigns. More recently, there have been talks of the ban being uplifted due to the sharp rise in the cost of energy we have seen.
Could The UK Benefit From Fracking?
One of the major benefits of fracking is that the UK can use its own resources, rather than having to rely on other nations, such as Russia for energy and gas. Recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to energy price rises, however, if the UK could produce its own gas, that problem would reduce.
More countries in Europe have been considering alternate methods of getting their supplies of energy, especially those with a heavy reliance on Russian gas and oil.
Fossil fuels have led to price rises in the UK, however, now may be a good time to see how much energy you use. You can try this electricity usage calculator to see the amount of energy you are using, as well as if you can save money.
In addition, the cost of energy would be hugely decreased, as well as support long-term energy independence. New technology and test sites could help to demonstrate that the operation is safe and reliable.
Investments in the technology could also lead to more jobs in green energy, as well as help to develop the renewables revolution. As the nation looks to become net-zero and move completely away from burning fossil fuels, all options must be considered.
In the United States, more than one million wells have been used, with the industry of oil and gas running for over 50 years. Last year, according to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy., the UK bought 52% of its gas demand from international markets.
What Are The Downsides To Fracking?
Greenpeace has previously stated that energy security would not be improved by fracking as any gas extracted wouldn’t belong to the UK, but to the energy company. These firms then sell the energy to other nations on the international market.
There are still concerns about the potential for fracking to cause earthquakes. In Lancashire, the Cuadrilla’s site recorded over 120 small tremors whilst drilling.
There are definitely points to consider and weigh up when it comes to this form of energy generation. Both sides will argue their cases, however, it may take years for a decision to be made.
UK Solar And Battery Pipeline Boosted Thanks To Centrica And Push Energy Combo
By 2026, targets of 900MW of solar and battery storage capacity in the UK have been set by energy firm Centrica. This comes after the firm made a negotiation with Push Energy, a renewables developer.
The aim is to build UK based solar projects to help the energy company reach their lofty targets within the next five years. The move will see Push Energy paired with the Energy Assets team at Centrica to help develop large-scale, grid-connected solar and battery storage assets.
With the UK having plans of their own, reaching net-zero by 2050, this move could help massively with those targets. By developing and creating sustainable solar farms, the whole nation can benefit.
The news comes following the recent Centrica acquisition of another battery storage project. A 30MW 2hr battery storage plant in Aberdeenshire was secured by Centrica, with the development right gained to maximise Scottish North Sea renewable energy.
There is an urgency placed on energy suppliers to use renewable fuel sources and try to meet their green goals. This list of energy suppliers highlights which providers use green efficient technology, showcasing the best deals too. Take a look and see how much you could save.
Located in Dyce, not far from Aberdeen, the site will be used as a connection for North Sea offshore wind farms. In addition, it will contribute to managing network constraints, storing electricity and improving the energy independence of the UK.
Just last tear, £244million was paid by the National Grid to wind farm operators to shut down turbines due to the risk of them overloading the network, also called curtailment.
To help utilise that wasted energy resource, battery storage can make sure that fewer green electrons are curtailed. The 30MW 2hr Dyce battery storage plant will have the capacity to store enough energy to power 70,000 homes for an hour.
More plans are in place to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and battery storage is one of the methods that could be critical in helping that transition. Another agreement is in place with Cragside Energy.
With the energy storage space, plans are in place to identify new opportunities as currently, Cragside Energy’s growing pipeline exceeds 200MW. There is a focus on flexible assets and low carbon technologies, as well as solar, energy storage and peaking plant schemes.
UK and Germany Energy Linked For The First Time With Giant Undersea Cables
For the first time ever, a direct energy link project is in place between the UK and Germany. The contracts, adding up to over £1.5 billion ($1.95 billion) have been awarded to strengthen energy supplies after the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
Named The NeuConnect project, the plans in place are to transfer 1.4 gigawatts of electricity to both the UK and Germany in both directions through subsea cables. The cables will measure around 450 miles or 725 kilometres.
Siemens Energy and NeuConnect have been given contracts that will cover the cabling works and converter stations. They will be responsible for the design and construction of sites in the U.K and Germany,
Germany, with their significant renewable energy sources, can allow Britain to tap into the vast energy infrastructure, as well as help to avoid current bottlenecks, such as the frequent powering-down of wind turbines due to excess generation of renewable energy.
With price cap warnings and soaring energy bills, many households have been hit hard recently. However, UK homes can search here to find the cheapest energy deals on the market.
The plans have been in place for a while, however, works will likely begin in 2022, coming to a lot sooner due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine highlighting how heavily European nations rely on Russian fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, other energy projects are currently in place to link the UK to other nations in Europe. Just last year, Norway and the UK announced the 450-mile subsea cable, connecting the two nations allowing renewable energy to be shared. This has now begun commercial operations.
Known as the North Sea Link, the focus is to utilise the U.K’s wind energy resources and Norway’s hydropower supplies.
Furthermore, in 2020, a multi-billion pound underwater energy superhighway was accounced to transfer Scottish electricity to be transferred to the northeast of England. Currently, in the early development stages, The Eastern Link project aims to create two high-voltage direct-current cables that will have a total capacity of 4 GW.
Looking overseas, there have been agreements made with the United States. The European Commission and the US have released an energy security statement that showcased a new joint task force on the subject.
Both parties will do their part to ensure that at a minimum, 15 billion cubic meters of extra liquefied natural gas volumes will be provided to the EU this year, especially important considering the current energy crisis.
This will likely increase in the future, forging strong bonds with North America and Europe. On the other side, both continents will work together to take massive steps towards reducing the heavy dependence on natural gas, as well as maximising the availability and use of renewable energy.
The United States is beginning to put more focus on hydrogen, with the idea that it could be the answer to all the problems. Nations around the world have been scrambling to create new plans to reduce their reliance on Russian hydrocarbons, with hydrogen possibly being the main solution.