It is widely accepted that as a species we human beings have evolved through our initial control of fire which allowed for warmth and protection from wild animals, which would have otherwise had us on the menu. Some millennia later and our primitive requirements really haven’t changed much at all.
The only difference is how many of us now make those ever increasing demands on Earth’s natural resources. The human population has dramatically increased from c1 Billion in the early 19th century to a latest UN forecast of c10 billion by the end of this century.
That is an incredible amount of people, all with the same constant and basic needs placing a lot of environmental pressure on our precious planet’s resources. I grew up in Fife, Scotland, in the 80’s and still remember the Coal Mines that were scattered across the Central Belt which supported so many small but thriving communities.
The twin towers and conveyor belts of Seafield Colliery in Kirkcaldy constantly running raw coal from the pit to waiting barges.
But those days are long gone, the Hydrocarbons such as Coal and Oil as we know are finite resources and won’t provide the energy needs for such a growing and allconsuming human population.
However this is an article about hope and triumph in adversity as we are survivors, evolving and adapting to ensure the survival of our species as we have always done and our technological advancements over the last 50 years have allowed us to harness those very precious and abundant resources such as sunlight, wind, fire, tidal and wave energy.
Renewable energy and its effectiveness for a growing population is the future here on Planet Earth make no mistake.
In addition to our nation’s investment in Nuclear Power and scientists across the world experimenting with nuclear fusion to turn heavy hydrogen that is available in abundance in seawater into a powerful, permanent, source of energy, the UK is still predicted to remain the leading offshore wind power market globally by 2025, accounting for a significant 51per cent share of global offshore capacity in 2014 alone.
As I write this article, two of Northern Ireland’s largest construction contractors are working closely together in Hull on the largest marine project in the UK to allow the Port of Hull the ability to facilitate the building of Wind Turbines for Offshore windfarm projects in the North Sea.
Other notable renewable projects are EfW Biomass Plants being constructed in Immingham and Liverpool where the now largely extinct conveyor belts of the collieries that carried hundreds of tons of coal are now carrying wood pellets and by-products of the Canadian timber industry to produce electricity for UK homes and businesses.
Another leading Northern Ireland Contractor have also just been awarded three onshore windfarm projects across Northern England and the Scottish Borders with project values c£79M.
It is clear to see that there is a seismic shift towards ‘cleaner’ more environmentally friendly forms of energy and this is a change that we should all embrace as not only is it a huge leap in the right direction for humanity with regards to sustainability and protecting of the environment, but it is also supporting the creation of thousands of jobs across the UK.
Some of Northern Ireland’s Civil Engineering companies have never been busier and a large proportion of the work being tendered and won is within the booming Renewable Energy Sector.
So the next time you stop to inhale air, admiring a spectacular scenic view interrupted only by tall grey wind turbines spinning in the wind think of it as – ‘One small rotation for man, and one giant leap for mankind’
Martin Carroll is Head of Technical Recruitment at Wellington Professional Recruitment, who are a trusted partner to many of the leading Construction and Civil Engineering companies both in the UK and Ireland.
Contact Martin at mcarroll@wpr.jobs or on twitter@wellingtonrec