Energy and Environment

Underground hydrogen storage, the key to a green and sustainable future

By Lin Ma and Kevin Taylor Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: September 4, 2023

In response to the climate crisis, renewable energy production has increased significantly over the last decade. According to National Grid, the UK produced its trillionth kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity generated from renewable sources on 15 May 2023, and solar energy and offshore wind are predicted to grow five-fold by 2030. Hydrogen, a potentially green […]

A critical question: what should we do with the UK’s plutonium stockpile?

By William Bodel Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted: August 30, 2023

The UK is currently storing around 140 tonnes of plutonium, mostly arising from its civil nuclear programme over the past 60 years. What should we, as a nation, do with it? Should we use it as fuel for future reactors, or dispose of it as waste? The latest position paper from the Dalton Nuclear Institute […]

Built on sand: the need for new environmental standards in the construction industry

By Judy Too and Obuks Ejohwomu Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Environment, Science and Engineering Posted: August 2, 2023

The building sector is responsible for 40% of global CO2 emissions, and many policies have been introduced about the energy efficiency of buildings during their working life. However, little consideration has been given to the whole life of a building, from the production of materials to the disposal of old buildings. Here, Ms Judy Too […]

Delivering on climate commitments: restricting global warming to 1.5C

By Angela Mae Minas Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Environment, Science and Technology Posted: June 27, 2023

In 2015, world leaders committed to holding global warming to well below 2C whilst pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5C as part of The Paris Agreement at COP21. It is now expected that the world is likely to hit this level of warming within the next five years. In this article, Dr Angela Minas […]

How can “Great British Nuclear” make a great difference?

By Adrian Bull Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 31, 2023

The announcement of Great British Nuclear (GBN) is a long awaited positive step. GBN clearly now faces a monumental workload and a range of challenges as it sets the ground for new nuclear build in the UK. In this article, Professor Adrian Bull emphasises the need to engage with development companies rather than just ‘starting […]

Trashing the future: failures of UK plastic recycling policies and next steps

By Helen Holmes Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted: March 28, 2023

We are all familiar with the problem of plastic waste – which has a devastating effect on marine life and oceans. Plastic recycling seems complex and difficult and we are right to be concerned about the impacts waste plastic is having on our ecosystems. The One Bin to Rule Them All (One Bin) project team […]

Location, location, location: finding sites for nuclear power plants

By Adrian Bull Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 13, 2023

Expanding nuclear power should be a key priority as the government aims to cut its carbon emissions. However, finding suitable sites to accommodate the proposed plants raises new questions. In this article, based on the Dalton Nuclear Institute’s position paper, Siting implications of nuclear energy, Professor Adrian Bull gives his view on how policymakers can […]

The Plastic Problem: moving from a linear to a circular economy.

By Thomas Franklin Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Technology Posted: March 9, 2023

Plastics have enabled society to progress at an unprecedented pace and have facilitated momentous advances in technology. However, it is the inherent durability of plastic which largely accounts for both its success and the plastic waste problem we now face. Our behaviour and choices as consumers or producers of plastic waste are of great importance […]

Under the weather: Reimagining mobility in the climate crisis

By Stephanie Sodero Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment Posted: February 23, 2023

Transport systems are essential to the movement of people, things, and services. When disrupted, as during severe weather, social and economic costs are high. Communities are vulnerable to extreme weather – whether in Canada or in the UK. In this article, Stephanie Sodero, drawing on research using Atlantic Canadian hurricane case studies, explores how communities […]

A nuclear society: rebuilding perceptions of nuclear energy

By Adrian Bull Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 1, 2023

The nuclear industry has historically had a fairly tumultuous relationship with wider society. Early perceptions of nuclear energy were generally positive, with it viewed as a beacon of how technology went hand in hand with increasing prosperity. However, a history of highly-publicised leaks, discharges and assorted incidents have created a legacy of societal mistrust of […]