LWEC Impact Case Study:  Renewable Energy


By 2020, the proposed EU requirement is that the UK meets 15% of its final energy demand from renewable sources, which equates to around 40% for electricity. Renewable energy is a vital component of the UK’s diverse energy mix and increases the security of energy supplies in the UK. In 2011 renewable energy sources provided 9.5% of total energy generation in the UK, which is a significant increase over the previous decade.

LWEC Impact Case study: Marine predators as indicators of the integrity & health of marine ecosystems

UK marine renewables have the potential to generate electricity equivalent to 1 billion barrels of oil pa, achieving carbon dioxide reductions of 1.1 billion tonnes between 2010 and 2050, creating 145,000 new jobs.  However, to exploit tidal energy for UK economic growth requires an emerging new industry to demonstrate technical, environmental and economic viability to regulators and potential investors.  

LWEC Impacts Case Study:  Ecosystems

LWEC Impact Case study:  Groundwater Science

Groundwater provides around 35% of drinking water supply in the UK. This rises to 80% for large areas of Southern and Eastern England which are the most heavily populated. It also supports the baseflow to many of the UK’s rivers and their associated ecosystems as well as wetlands. Groundwater is therefore a vital national resource which requires effective long-term sustainable management and protection.