The beginning of November saw a record-breaking 10 days of anti-cyclonic gloom in the UK, with thick clouds and low wind speeds that severely impacted renewable energy production.
In Bedfordshire, where solar panels typically generate at least one kilowatt-hour per day, only 5.1 kWh were produced during this period. Across the country, the slow wind speeds meant that wind farms contributed little to the national electricity grid.
This disruption highlighted the challenges of relying on intermittent renewable sources, prompting fossil fuel advocates to argue that the UK’s net-zero goals are unachievable.
While these concerns are valid, they often overlook the growing role of battery storage systems.
Though battery installations are increasing, they offer only short-term solutions, providing backup power for only a few hours before needing to be recharged.
Battery storage provides temporary relief, but tidal power could offer long-term renewable solutions.To address this, longer-term energy storage solutions, like pumped storage, are crucial. In pumped storage, water is lifted to high reservoirs during times of abundant energy and released when demand spikes.
Another promising solution is compressed air storage, though both require significant investment and development.
One potential source of energy that has yet to be fully harnessed in the UK is tidal power.
Despite being one of the most reliable and predictable renewable energy sources, tidal power has been largely ignored by successive governments.
While underwater turbines and tidal dams are in development, the necessary political will to scale these technologies remains lacking.
Tidal energy could provide a consistent, long-term solution to the intermittency of solar and wind power, making it an essential part of the UK’s renewable energy future.
The UK must invest in the full development of tidal power and other long-term energy storage solutions to meet its net-zero ambitions and ensure a reliable, sustainable energy supply.
Without addressing these gaps, the country risks remaining overly reliant on fossil fuels during periods of low renewable output.