A comparison of the UKs major current and likely future energy sources:

Current*
%
Pros Cons Outlook

Gas


35.5
Reliable, cleaner than
coal and has lower
C02 emissions. Very
cheap in the 1990s,
reliance on it grew
fast. UK has North
Sea reserves.
CO2 emissions are
significant. Domestic
reserves are running out
so growing dependence
on imports means
increasing vulnerability to
rising prices and
instability in gas-
producing regions.
Reliance on gas to
continue, with UK now
a net importer.
Imports likely to
account for 80% of
total annual gas
demand by 2020,
based on existing
policies, but plans to
maximise recovery of
existing reserves.

Coal


37.7
Well established,
cheap, reliable. UK
has large reserves.
Prices are rising, but
slower than for gas
and oil. Emissions of
SO2 (which causes
acid rain) have
declined rapidly over
last 20 years.
High emissions of CO2
and SO2 remain a
concern. Economically
viable UK coal will run out
in 10-15 years and is
already expensive to
mine. Half the coal used
in the UK is imported.
Cleaner coal
technologies used in
new coal-fired power
stations, which will
also use carbon-
capture and storage
when financially
viable. Economic
recovery of remaining
reserves to be
maximised.

Nuclear


18.9
Minimal C02
emissions after
construction.
Efficient, effective
and reliable. Not as
vulnerable to fuel
price fluctuations as
oil and gas.
Cost of building and
decommissioning
reactors, problem of
nuclear waste and
concerns about safety.
Planning and building a
power station takes at
least 10 years so will not
help meet Kyoto targets.
All but one of UK's
nuclear power stations
to be phased out by
2023. Govt now
backing new ones to
reduce carbon
emissions and
safeguard supplies.

Hydro


2.1
No CO2 emissions,
no vulnerability to
fuel price or political
instability. Very
cheap once dam has
been built.
Natural flow hydro is
reliant on rainfall and
vulnerable to drought.
Pump storage hydro
relies on off-peak
electricity to pump water
back uphill.
Environmental and social
impact of large dams.
Much of UK's
hydropower potential
already exploited.
Large-scale future
development unlikely,
but use of smale-scale
systems may increase.

Landfill
gas


1.1
Landfill sites give off
methane, a
greenhouse gas 20
times more potent
than C02, and
burning it reduces its
contribution to
climate change.
Burning methane still
releases carbon dioxide
and also nitrogren oxide
gases.
Already in use, but
future supplies of
landfill gas will be
limited if waste
reduction policies are
effective.

Oil


1.3
Reliable technology,
well established.
Inefficient generation,
price instability,
dependence on politically
unstable regions, CO2
emissions.
Oil makes a small and
declining contribution
to electricity
generation in UK, but
is the most important
vehicle fuel.

Biofuels


1.4
Energy crops
considered carbon
neutral because
carbon released
when crops are
burned is balanced
by carbon absorbed
from atmosphere
during growth.
Suitable crops could
be grown in UK.
Space required to grow
crops, impact on
landscape. Release of
greenhouse gases in
harvesting and transport
of crops. Particulates and
hydrocarbons given off
during combustion.
A few facilities burning
biofuels such as waste
wood products and
straw are already
operating. Energy
crops could be grown
in UK, but some will
not be cost effective
unless yields improve.

Wind


1.1
Renewable, not
vulnerable to fuel
price fluctuations.
Some say UK has
best wind resources
in Europe. Turbines
are emissions free
and quick to build.
Local opposition and
concerns about noise and
impact on landscape.
More expensive than
fossil fuels. Wind levels
fluctuate.
Fastest-growing
renewable in the UK.
Strong government
support, seen as key
to target of 20%
renewable electricity
by 2020. But progress
limited by availability
of suitable sites and
higher-than-expected
costs.

Solar


>0.002
Free and renewable
energy source. Can
generate electricity
from photovoltaic
cells, be used to heat
water directly, or be
maximised by good
building design.
UK sunshine is unreliable
and limited. Solar power
is confined to daylight
hours unless photovoltaic
cells are used to store
power in batteries.
Capacity small but
developing.
Government estimates
solar could be
economically
competitive by 2020-
30. Cheaper if integral
to design of new
buildings.

Wave and
tidal


0
Renewable, parts of
UK have strong
potential.
Development costs,
potential environmental
changes in tidal basins.
Wave power several
years behind wind in
development terms.
Tidal a "significant
untapped source",
according to
government.
Investigating number
of locations and
technologies.

*% shares of electricity generated in the UK in 2006 (Dept of Business and Enterprise).
Exact proportions change seasonally.