Surely electricity should be free.
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We talk about this all the time on TikTok. We say that the sun gives us free energy but truthfully, it takes a tiny bit more than that.
The UK’s impressive progress in renewable energy adoption with nearly half of its electricity now coming from renewable sources is really cool, but energy bills remain high for several reasons.
First,
While renewable energy generation has increased significantly, the overall energy mix still includes a substantial portion of fossil fuels, particularly natural gas. In 2024, fossil fuels accounted for 35% of UK electricity generation, with gas making up 24.8% of the total mix. The literal volatility of global gas prices, especially following geopolitical events, continues to impact energy costs.
Secondly,
The transition to renewable energy requires huge infrastructure investments. The costs related to building and maintaining wind farms, solar arrays, and upgrading the national grid are often passed on to consumers through energy bills. These investments are really important for long-term sustainability but can lead to short-term price increases.
Thirdly,
Sometimes it’s cloudy and sometimes the winds are low on steam. Renewable sources like wind and solar necessitates backup power systems and energy storage solutions When renewable generation is low, more expensive forms of generation may need to be used to meet demand.
Lastly,
Energy bills include more than just the cost of electricity generation. They also cover transmission, distribution, and a range of regulatory and policy costs, including subsidies for renewable energy development and energy efficiency programs.
The increasing share of renewables in the UK’s energy mix is a massively positive development for sustainability and long-term energy security; though I do have to say that the transition period involves complex factors that continue to influence energy prices. As the renewable energy sector matures and technologies improve, it is anticipated that costs will decrease, potentially leading to lower bills in the future.
Energy really should be free but renewability brings us as close as it gets and we’re grateful for it.
References
Cladco Decking, 2025. Renewable Energy Percentage UK – 42.3% as of January 2025. [online] Available at: <https://www.cladcodecking.co.uk/blog/post/renewable-energy-percentage-uk> [Accessed 15 January 2025].
Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, 2024. Energy trends in the UK: Q2 2024. London: DESNZ.
Ember, 2024. UK low-carbon renewable power set to overtake fossil fuels for first time. [online] Available at: <https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/uk-renewable-power-set-to-overtake-fossil-fuels-for-first-time/> [Accessed 15 January 2025].
Google. (2025). Gemini (Imagen 3) [AI image generator]. https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/imagen
National Grid, 2023. How much of the UK’s energy is renewable?. [online] Available at: <https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/how-much-uks-energy-renewable> [Accessed 15 January 2025].