Renewables – Page 2

Making sustainable business models for green electricity attractive to the mainstream

By Jonatan Pinkse Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables Posted: July 4, 2022

Scaling up green electricity is key to achieving net zero. While the government has made progress in supporting solar PV and offshore wind, technologies alone will not make for a successful transition to net zero. To be successful in the market, technologies need an attractive business model. In this blog, Professor Jonatan Pinkse discusses how […]

Indoor and outdoor wood burning needs a new way of thinking

By Amanda Lea-Langton Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Urban Posted: February 16, 2022

Biomass combustion, a significant contributor to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), has increased in urban areas due to the growing popularity of wood-burning stoves and biomass boilers. In this blog, Dr. Amanda Lea-Langton, Senior Lecturer in Bioenergy Engineering at The University of Manchester and member of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change, outlines policy recommendations […]

Sustainable engineering – not just engineering for sustainability

By Michael Fisher Filed Under: Digital Futures, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: January 25, 2022

Net zero now forms the heart of policies and strategies across government, from “levelling up” to “build back better”. Combined with the UK’s National Infrastructure Strategy, it is clear that engineering – particularly new technologies such as robotics and AI – has a core role in our decarbonisation efforts. But how green are the technologies […]

Controlling degradation of structural materials: A call for leadership in mapping the optimal route to Net Zero

By Andrew Bowfield Filed Under: All posts, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: September 13, 2021

The UK’s legally binding target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 remains world-leading, but the changes required of key sectors are substantial and the date by which such changes need implementing remain shrouded in uncertainty. A strategic approach, directed by senior leadership, offers the best chance of realising the significant economic and societal […]

Decarbonising transport: Inequality, joined-up action, and the risk of technological optimism

By Cristina Temenos and Joe Blakey Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: August 5, 2021

The Department for Transport (DfT) recently released their long-awaited Decarbonising Transport plan. In this blog, Dr Cristina Temenos and Dr Joe Blakey outline how its technologically-optimistic vision risks locking in high-carbon futures, overlooking transport inequalities, and opportunities for joined-up thinking and the precautionary principle. DfT’s Decarbonising Transport Plan makes some welcome proposals, but it is […]

Taking the lead in hydrogen: next steps

By Phil Withers and Robert Sorrell Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: June 22, 2021

The deployment of new and existing materials will play a critical role in delivering the growth of the hydrogen sector, identified as a cornerstone of the UK Government’s net zero ambitions. In this blog, Professor Phil Withers and Dr Robert Sorrell, from the Henry Royce Institute, lay out the research priorities on the path to […]

Decarbonising heating: flying by the heat of our pants?

By Laurence Stamford Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: April 26, 2021

The 26th UN Climate Change Conference – COP26 – is on the horizon, due to kick off in Glasgow on 1 November. It seems that, despite the socio-economic worries brought on by a global pandemic, heightened societal attention to climate change is here to stay. Now, more than ever, climate change is at the forefront […]

One bin to rule them all: the future of plastic waste?

By Mike Shaver Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 18, 2021

Despite the success of environmental campaigners in raising awareness of plastic pollution, much of the plastic waste produced in the UK is not recycled. In part, this is due to the complexity of the multiple recycling schemes in place across the country, causing confusion for both the public and waste management companies in terms of […]

Skills shortage: The biggest challenge to offshore wind in 2021

By Mike Barnes Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: March 8, 2021

If we want to support the increased electrification of transport and heat proposed in the Energy White Paper, this will require a radical change in the management of our energy economy. Managing and driving this new economy requires the development of a skilled workforce. The problem is, it’s not clear where the skills will come […]

How can we drive businesses to deliver on Net Zero?

By Jonatan Pinkse Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Urban Posted: February 3, 2021

Nearly a fifth of the UK’s carbon emissions are generated by businesses. With global emissions expected to be just 4% lower than in 2019, urgent action is required across all sectors to achieve net zero goals. But how can we push businesses to sustainability when their bottom line is at stake? Here, Professor Jonatan Pinkse, […]