For the energy conscious, it may feel like the ‘net zero’ goal and reliance on clean renewable energy may still be some time away.
Boris Johnson vowed to ‘beat the renewable energy sceptics’ in his Conservative Party Conference last year, and within the UK, that goal has been set for 2050, with a reduced reliance on ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles set for 2035 – something we have written about previously at Utility Trade Group.
There are some strong early signs, however, as many change their vehicle use habits and adopt a clean change early.
The biggest change can be seen within electric vehicle usage and a holistic approach to offset energy costs associated with charging – namely through the use of solar. A survey conducted in 2017 suggested that between 28% to 40% of all EV users would also use home solar panels:
As a few years have passed, this number may now be much higher – especially as the use of electric vehicles has started to soar in recent years, with growing incentives to own one. A limiting factor has always been the cost associated with both electric vehicles and renewable energy sources, however that is starting to be offset as the tech becomes cheaper and more widely available.
There may now also be an unprecedented opportunity to push this market, and renewables as a whole, even further. Lockdown measures have led to an increasing public support for sustainable and renewable energy – this alongside the growing market for electric vehicles and changing attitude in support for them, could lead to a bigger push for usage within this sector.
It is also already evidenced that this shift is entirely possible too – during lockdown there has been a reduction in energy demand across the board, which has led to coal usage dropping substantially. As a result, many countries across the globe have stated they had zero reliance on coal as an energy source, for a number of weeks at a time. Whether or not this is sustainable into the future, as the world kickstarts once again, is yet to be seen – but there is a lot to be learned from the past three to four months, and how we can change our energy needs in such a way that sustainable solutions are much more attainable and effective. The relationships such as those found between electric vehicle and home solar usage are prime indicators of this.
Utility Trade Group offer a whole host of renewable energy solutions, including Solar PV, EV charging points, Far Infrared Heating, and many more. Our holistic approach to sustainable energy is future proofed, so get in touch today if we can help.
