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Decarbonising heating: flying by the heat of our pants?

By Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

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 Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

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 […]

windmills at sea

Skills shortage: The biggest challenge to offshore wind in 2021

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

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 […]

The hydrogen economy: why is the sub-surface essential?

By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK Government has made a commitment to deliver a hydrogen economy as a means to decarbonise heating and heavy transport. This was most recently highlighted in the Government’s “Ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution” and the recent Energy White Paper “Powering our net zero future”. In this blog, Professor Kevin Taylor, from the […]

nuclear reactor

The 2020 Energy White Paper- Is nuclear power back?

Francis Livens By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The long-awaited Energy White Paper, Powering Our Net Zero Future, sets out an ambitious pathway to decarbonisation of the UK. It maps out many possible scenarios, with nuclear energy ranging from an irrelevance to a major contributor. Here, Professor Francis Livens from the Dalton Nuclear Institute, looks at what needs to happen in order for […]

windmill and factory

Turning climate change ambitions to reality

Sarah Mander By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The UK Government has announced both its aim to cut emissions by 68% by the end of 2030 and its Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, seeking to provide a blueprint to allow the UK “to forge ahead with eradicating its contribution to climate change by 2050”. Here, Dr Sarah Mander from the […]

paper with overlaid text "coronavirus recovery"

Tackling the twin crises of COVID-19 and climate change

Alice Larkin By Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

The global pandemic of 2020 has meant massive changes to millions of people around the world. But as we look to adjust to life in the ‘new normal’, are there lessons to learn in how we can ‘build back better’? With less than a year to go until the postponed COP26, Professor Alice Larkin from the Tyndall Centre […]

Graphene providing a firm foundation for a more sustainable construction industry

James Baker By Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

If we want to achieve a zero carbon world we literally need to build it in a different way. Here, James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester talks about the need to support and accelerate graphene innovation to help make building materials much more sustainable in a bid to meet regional and national net zero targets. Greater […]

Nuclear powered decarbonisation?

Francis LivensProfessor Richard Taylor By , , , and Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

At the moment, Net Zero permeates Government policies and programmes, but the true scale of the challenge it represents is only now beginning to become clear. Could nuclear power play a role or is it a costly distraction? Here, Will Bodel, Gregg Butler, Francis Livens, Juan Matthews and Richard Taylor from the Dalton Nuclear Institute […]

New advanced UK research agency shares ethos of Manchester model of innovation

James Baker By Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted:

In this blog, James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester, reflects upon how a change in the UK’s approach to research and innovation, particularly when it comes to advanced materials, could support the economy to get back on its feet in the wake of Covid-19. In recent weeks, Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has gone […]

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