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In the UK economy, the post-pandemic scenario of renewable energy is quite promising with huge contributions due to its recovery, resilience, and decarbonisation of the country. According to experts such as The Guardian, and The Economist, the post-pandemic scenario of renewable energy in the UK are: –

• Renewable energy growth due to its sources such as wind, solar, hydro, bioenergy, and geothermal, has shown remarkable growth and performance during the pandemic. It reached a record-high level of generation and capacity. According to The Guardian, in the first months of 2020, renewable energy sources made up almost half of the electricity used in Britain, shadowing its counterpart, fossil fuels for the first time. According to The Economist, in 2020, renewable electricity generation increased by 7%, reaching almost 30% of global electricity generation. In the post-pandemic era, the growth of renewable energy is driven by factors such as the falling costs and improving the reliability of renewable technologies, supportive policies and incentives from the government, increasing consumer awareness and preference for clean energy, the innovation, and investment from the industry and other stakeholders.  
• Green economic recovery where renewable energy sources can play a pivotal role in stimulating the UK’s economic recovery from the pandemic by creating jobs, boosting growth, enhancing competitiveness, and attracting investment. According to The Guardian, renewable energy sources spur the UK’s post-pandemic economy while tackling the climate crisis. According to The Economist, renewable energy sources provide multiple benefits for human development and well-being. According to the RenewableUK report, investing in renewable energy sources created over 200,000 jobs by 2030 and add £33bn to the UK’s GDP. According to Vivid Economics and WWF-UK reports, green economy recovery investment could increase economic activity by £90bn per year by 2030 by creating over 200,000 jobs across all UK regions.
• The net-zero transition where renewable energy sources accelerate the UK’s carbon economy by 2050 to a legally binding target set by the government. Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by renewable energy sources and pollution from the power sector and other sectors relying on electricity, such as transport, buildings, industry, etc. The energy security and independence of the UK can be enhanced by Renewable energy sources by reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels and diversifying its energy mix. According to The Guardian, renewable energy sources are important for achieving net-zero emissions and avoiding dangerous climate change. According to The Economist, renewable energy sources are a broader set of solutions part for mitigating climate change. According to a National Grid ESO report, renewable energy sources could provide over 80% of Britain’s electricity by 2030.

The challenges and barriers that need to be addressed in the post-pandemic scenario in the UK are the lack of adequate and affordable charging or refueling infrastructure for electric or hydrogen vehicles, the uncertainty and variability of policy and regulatory frameworks, the low public acceptance and trust of new technologies, and the competition and conflict of interests among different actors in the energy and mobility sectors.

Some of the promising events held in the post-pandemic scenario of renewable energy in the UK are: –

• A record amount of energy from renewable sources in 2022 was generated in the UK, making up 40% of the electricity supply.
• An increase in power from renewables resulted in a lowering of carbon dioxide emissions by almost three million tons compared to 2021.
• The transition to renewable energy was accelerated by the UK to become a net exporter of electric power for the first time in over ten years.
• In the industry, renewable energy could play a greater role in powering a green economic recovery after the pandemic, by attracting billions in investment to create a thousand of green jobs across the UK’s regions.
• A substantial amount contributed to new fiscal growth and productivity in the renewable energy sector after the 2009 financial crisis.
• Due to the falling costs of technology, investment in renewables got flat resulting in the UK’s commitment to net zero by 2050, and the relative gloom shrouding fossil fuels.

Sources:- The Guardian, The Economist, renewableUK, Vivid Economics, WWF, nationalgridESO