An engineering guru I know installed a home wind turbine, three solar panels and an underground heat-pump system. Several years later the solar panels far exceed both wind and heat pump in energy return/output. Fuel cells and solar are the way forward – the government needs to incentivise development and adoption of this technology.
Sid McFarland, Cheltenham
I read that 99.9% of the Earth’s mass is above 100u02daC. If this is correct, then we should be drilling for free energy rather than expensive oil.
Dr Stephen Prior, London
Tidal – it happens twice a day and not even King Canute could stop it. But not free-standing turbines – new systems need civil engineering to channel the flow and maximise the benefit.
Edwin Smith, Marlow
Nuclear fusion – if the partners (the world’s largest economies) can ever be bothered to fund it.
Simon Dodd, Whetstone, Leicester
None of them. Renewables are only likely to make a small contribution to Britain’s energy needs. Renewables are a nice idea but they are not likely to solve our problems.
Ian Marks, Rugby
The Earth’s innards hold a massive store of heat. It is ever present, with none of the availability issues associated with other renewables. The technical challenges include several kilometres of rock and harsh working environments. It needs skilled people – and investors need to be convinced that it is plausible.
Scott Williams, Aldermaston
Water has shown itself as a good source of energy and was used extensively in Britain during (and prior to) the 19th century. Britain’s network of rivers and streams could again provide a valuable source of clean energy. Energy from water can be produced on a commercial scale or as part of smaller “community” power schemes. It will be primarily planning restrictions that need to be overcome in order to realise this.
Simon Daniels, Gateshead
We must consider all means of power generation, including micro-generation, with tax benefits to encourage non fossil-fuel power generation. Excessive project timescales must be resolved by courageous compulsory purchase and simplified planning application, based on sound technical and commercial principles.
Stephen Rees, Stockport
Nuclear, with the biggest hurdles to overcome: unforeseen events, storage and processing of waste, and overcoming public misconception.
Olivier Ming, Chester
The biggest problem is wasted energy. With stronger regulations and more stringent targets, industry would be more willing to find energy efficiencies within their processes. This is as important as renewable technologies.
Iggy Pont Lezica, Reading
Distributed biogas production and grid injection has the potential to displace a proportion of natural gas as a primary fuel. This would allow us to meet our need to replace large power infrastructure before the lights go out. Higher dependency
on gas would require additional natural gas storage and liquefied natural gas infrastructure, but this would be a snip compared to the standby power capacity required for a comparable share of intermittent renewables.
Sam Cockerill, York
Tidal energy has the most potential to provide clean energy. As long as we are surrounded by sea and the moon continues to orbit the Earth, the tide will continue to rise and fall without any reliance on the weather and without the hazards of nuclear energy.
Steve Henderson, Birmingham
I don’t think we want to put all our renewable energy eggs in one technology basket. A mixture of technologies has to be a good thing, plus a government that’s committed to keeping the funding flowing and good transmission solutions from wild, windy, wavy parts of the UK to power-hungry southern cities.
Stuart Brown, Dundee
There are plenty of renewable technologies with the potential to make a difference – the question is how much we’re willing to pay. In the short term Tilbury power station’s conversion from coal to biomass will add a big chunk of relatively cheap, green megawatts to the system, if the fuel can be sourced responsibly.
Chris Taylor, Nottingham
Wave energy because it is a constant source and effects on marine life are insignificant compared to the importance of us humans being able to have an undisturbed landscape.
Sasha Gallagher, Walsall
One of the most promising units for producing predictable timed contributions to clean energy is tidal flow generators. Pressing problems arise from the shortage of experienced engineers. Politicians and industry leaders require the courage to finance relevant research and development to overcome the hazards of deep-sea operations.
Ronald Quartermaine, Perth
Wind power seems to be missing its potential because of objections to new windfarms. The IMechE should be doing more to allay people’s misgivings. We need a mix of energy sources to cope with varying weather conditions.
Simon Stevens, Solihull
Soundbites extra
Nuclear is the only answer. It is better from a financial and certainty of supply perspective (the wind doesn't always blow!). The major hurdle to overcome is public perception. Fukushima was 1960's technology and the earthquake was one of the worst the modern world has experienced.
Scott Witting, Scunthorpe
I think that tidal stream power has the greatest chance of providing our future electricity needs. The engineering challenge is to reduce the costs of short-term energy storage to smooth out the demand. This requires political will to back a technology.
Ian Bonnar
Tidal plus the necessary means to store the energy, unless the moon falls from orbit the tides will turn twice per day. Wind power is totally the wrong direction.
Ian Rushworth
Offshore wind turbines would seem to provide Britain with the greatest potential for clean, renewable energy. However making this economic whilst competing with existing offshore industries for experienced people, vessels and manufacturing facilities will be a challenge.
Iain Knight, Streatley
Marine wind, wave and tidal generation all have great potential for providing us with sustainable and accessible eco-friendly power. They may not yet be cheap but when the oil and gas start to run out they will become ever more sought-after. There is a great opportunity for the UK to build our manufacturing economy for many years to come. Let’s not waste it.
Steve Gallimore
The greatest potential must be Tidal and Wave power.
While wind power is probably cheaper and easier to construct the impact on the visual environment is far greater and causes more problems than constructions which are either partially or totally submerged and out of sight.
Consistency of the sources of tidal and wave power is also better than wind power. Use of rivers and streams must also be re-developed in more rural areas.
Ian Bithell, Stillingfleet, York