Sustainable Biz #8 - Magazine - Page 4
Sustaina le Biz
Welcome
Sustainability in the UK
Powering a Greener Future
T
he United Kingdom’s energy story is
one of remarkable transformation. In
little more than a decade, coal – once
the backbone of our power supply – has all
but disappeared. In its place, wind, solar and
nuclear are driving a cleaner, more resilient
future. Yet as the UK pushes toward its netzero target by 2050, questions of balance,
reliability and responsibility are becoming
more important than ever.
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Today, the UK stands as a global leader in
renewable energy, particularly in offshore
wind. From Dogger Bank to Hornsea,
turbines turning in the North Sea now
supply roughly 40% of our electricity. It’s a
success story built on innovation, investment
and steady government support — one that
has brought not only clean power, but also
skilled jobs and regional growth.
Solar energy is also playing an increasingly
vital role. Improved technology, falling
prices and battery storage systems are
making it easier than ever for homes and
businesses to generate their own power.
While the British weather doesn’t always
cooperate, solar contributes a dependable
share of daytime electricity and helps reduce
overall demand on the grid.
And then there’s nuclear power — often
debated, but undeniably essential. As
renewables ebb and flow with the weather,
nuclear energy provides the consistent,
low-carbon base-load electricity that keeps
the lights on. New-generation stations such
as Hinkley Point C and the planned Sizewell
C are designed to ensure that stability
continues well into the 2030s and beyond.
ADRIAN HAWKINS OBE
biz4Biz Chairman, Chairman of
the Stevenage Development Board,
Hertfordshire Futures Board.
4
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But with plans to expand the nuclear
fleet beyond the current 19 reactors, one
challenge can’t be ignored: what to do with
the waste.
S U S TA I N A B L E B I Z M A G A Z I N E
OCTOBER 2025
“No single energy
source can carry the
weight of the UK’s
sustainability goals. The
key will be integration combining renewables,
storage, smart grids and
efficient consumption
into one resilient
system.”
