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The mixture of primary energy sources used is called the energy mix. The energy mix of the UK consists mostly of gas, coal and nuclear fuel. The last oil-fired power station in the UK closed in 2015.

The growth of renewable energy

The UK has been reliant on fossil fuels for many years. Global supplies of fossil fuels were once thought to be running out. However, as technology improves, new supplies can be discovered and accessed more easily. There are huge, barely tapped reserves in South America, Africa and the Arctic. It is estimated that global reserves of gas will last around another 130 years. Just under half of the UK's gas supply currently comes from domestic supplies (the North Sea). However, UK supplies of fossil fuels will run out eventually.

Renewable fuels make up more than 20% of the UK's energy mix. The government needs to increase this figure as it wants all UK electricity to come from clean energy sources by 2035. The UK has a lot of potential for generating renewable energy:

• Over 70% of all renewable energy generated in the UK comes from wind farms. The number of onshore and offshore turbines is increasing.
• The amount of UK electricity generated through hydroelectric power (HEP) has remained the same since 2012. This will not increase unless new dams are built.
• Less than 0.01% of our energy is generated through tidal power. The UK is an island nation and could generate around 20% of its electricity using waves and tides.
• Solar panels are becoming more common, particularly on peoples' homes. Over the last decade, energy generated by solar panels in the UK has increased every year.

Issues associated with energy exploitation

There are economic and environmental issues that are associated with the exploitation of energy sources:

Economic

Generating electricity costs a lot of money. There are initial costs, such as building power stations, dams and wind farms. There are also maintenance and running costs, such as buying fuel, repairing damage to structures and disposing of waste products. The government must balance these costs with other important things that the country must buy. They must also decide whether to invest in non-renewable or renewable options.

Environmental

Generating electricity has many environmental issues:

• Fossil fuel powered stations create emissions, noise from trains transporting coal, and waste products like ash. They have also been linked to high levels of radiation.
• The uranium used in nuclear power plants is highly radioactive and the waste products have to be kept away from people indefinitely.
• Renewable energies like wind and solar power can be considered visual pollution. Tidal power and hydroelectric power (HEP) dams may affect marine ecosystems.