Why are Solar Farms Important?
The National Infrastructure Committee have advised the government that by 2030, a minimum of 50% of power should come from renewables. A climate change emergency was declared by Shropshire Council in May 2019. The Council resolved to acknowledge that there is a climate change emergency and pledged to make Shropshire carbon neutral by 2030. Shropshire Council adopted its Sustainable Strategy Framework in December 2019 which sets out how it will be carbon neutral by 2030 and promote adaption measures and increase the resilience of the Council’s services.
Following the climate change emergency declaration in May 2019, the Council created a Climate Change Task Force reinforce an existing working group of key officers from across the Council. The Climate Change Strategy will enable Shropshire, through leadership from the Council and its partners, to strive towards a low carbon society, greener economy and a healthy, sustainable area.
In early 2020, the Council held a climate action workshop. Over 100 stakeholders from businesses and agricultural and community groups attended as well as members of Shropshire communities. Feedback and suggestions provided are playing a pivotal role in shaping Shropshire’s future plans and the development of a wider climate action strategy. Shropshire Council are also working jointly with Telford & Wrekin Borough Council on the development of a Climate Action Partnership to help provide community leadership and help stakeholders across Shropshire to tackle the challenge of climate change.
The Committee on Climate Change Report June 2020 advises the following with regards to renewable energy:
'The power sector has been a major success story in the past decade. Emissions have decreased around 62% over the period 2008 – 2018 reflecting real decarbonisation of energy produced in the UK. The carbon intensity of the grid fell from around 500 gCO2/kWh IN 2010 TO 246 gCO2/kWh 2018. Electricity generated in from renewables was 25 TWh in 2008 (7% of mix) and rose to 100 TWh in 2018 (34%).
This has resulted in a transition from fossil fuel based power to renewables. For example, in Q3 2019, renewables provided more electricity than fossil fuels for the first time in the UK’s history. This has wider importance when considering that electrification will increase demand for electricity over the coming decades.’