All the signs are that the world's demand for energy will continue to increase well into the 21st century. As living standards improve in countries around the globe, more and more energy will have to be made available to ensure those standards can be reached and then sustained. But meeting energy demands does not come without a cost. Global warming and acid rain are two of the problems caused by burning fossil fuels to produce energy. It is vital, then, to find other, cleaner ways of meeting our energy requirements, that can help limit the amount we need to use more polluting energy sources.
Renewable energy represents one option.
But they all have one thing in common - they will never run out. In addition, they can all be exploited without causing major environmental problems. In the UK, important steps forward in renewable energy have taken place over the last decade. The NFFO ensures that electricity companies derive a certain amount of their power from renewables. These projects cover a range of energy sources, including wind, hydro and waste.