• Question: In our STEM topic this term we are looking at the Past, Present and Future. Please can you all share your thoughts for what the Future might hold for energy creation and how the present energy demands have developed from the past? (Thanks Y7/8 class @ Stedwards)

    Asked by 1coolabood to Andrew, Dona, Liena, Sandra, Stevie on 9 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Steven Wray

      Steven Wray answered on 9 Nov 2015:

      I think we will see a lot more things being powered by electricity. So the focus is then on how we generate electricity.

      Firstly, I hope that the future will use nuclear fusion as an energy source. That’s the process that makes the sun hot, the combination of little atoms to make big atoms and energy is released! The difference between fusion and what we currently have as nuclear power plants is that there will be no long lived radioactive waste and will be easier to make safe, there’s no chance of a big disaster. I work on an experiment that is investigating nuclear fusion, see my profile for more information on that and some pictures!

      Secondly, I think we will see a lot of wind and solar energy being used. Wind turbines are getting bigger, solar cells are getting more efficient and the fuel is free! These sources may bring about problems because the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun is often blocked by clouds. But these can be overcome with storage or what is called demand-side management where you only turn things on when the electricity is available.

      Thirdly, I think we will still be burning fossil fuels for quite a while. I recently saw India’s energy plan for the next 50 years in a presentation and coal is going to play a really big part in their future.

      Our energy demands in the UK haven’t moved a lot in the last few decades. Even though we’re using more equipment, it’s all becoming more and more efficient so the total energy is the same(ish). But on a global scale energy use has been increasing at a very fast rate as developing countries do what’s in their name and develop! These people need energy to improve their quality of life so they can light and heat their buildings, cook in a safe way and start using cool communication gizmos like smartphones and laptops.

      p.s. Sorry to be pedantic but energy is not created, it is always transformed from some other form of energy like chemical, kinetic or nuclear!

    • Photo: Liena Vilde

      Liena Vilde answered on 9 Nov 2015:

      I agree with what Steven has said, and I also hope that as consumers of electricity and gas we change our habits and take on things like domestic solar PV panels together with battery storage so we can actually store and cnsume the electricity they produce, not just sell it to the grid. And I also hope the uptake of things like hybrid/hydrogen/electrical cars and other innovative low carbon domestic technologies grows in the coming years.

    • Photo: Andrew Allan

      Andrew Allan answered on 9 Nov 2015:

      Stevie has given a great answer, and Liena has added some really good points too.

      I think the thing I would like to focus on is how energy demands are developing – how the way we use energy will change.

      Energy storage in industry and in your home could really change the way everyone uses electricity. Also, new pricing which makes it cheaper to use electricity when there is lots being generated from wind will mean that when you wash your clothes, cook your dinner, charge your phone – may change day to day based on what electricity is being generated from clean sources.

      Also for generation, I hope in the UK we will see more use of wave and tidal power – we have one of the best ocean resources in the world!

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