A recent report by conservation think tank Ember Climate using environmental modelling for energy consumption has forecasted that the UK could end imports of energy by the end of 2030 and completely phase out gas. This would see over 80% of all energy requirements being generated by renewables for the UK. As energy bills are forecasted to increase due to record levels of pricing for wholesale gas, Ember has suggested a strategy for renewable energy is within reach.
Ember has stated that within the next four years, the UK has sufficient solar panel and wind turbine infrastructure projects planned and underway to generate all of its energy by 2030. This is under the proviso that all planned projects are implemented and go ahead as scheduled.
Ember has also stated that to completely phase out our reliance on grid based gas, the UK will need to add an additional 90 GW of solar panel and wind turbine capacity along with investment in the transmission grid. For gas to be phased out, significant upgrades will be required to the national power grid. Both solar panels and wind turbine projects have decreased in cost over recent years and this trend is forecasted to continue. Ember, or Ember Climate Campaign, is an environmental non-profit think tank, campaigning to reduce the use of coal. Based in the UK, the organisation was launched in 2008.