net zero – Page 5

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 […]

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

By Kevin Taylor Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: February 18, 2021

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 […]

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, […]

The 2020 Energy White Paper- Is nuclear power back?

By Francis Livens Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: December 15, 2020

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 […]

Mobility transitions: COVID-19 and building back better post-carbon transport futures

By Cristina Temenos Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment Posted: November 5, 2020

In the days and weeks following the global lockdowns due to COVID-19, reports emerged on plunging carbon emissions and better air quality. The hashtag #BuildBackBetter quickly emerged as communities and governments started thinking about how to reconfigure essential travel infrastructure in a rapidly changing world. But as lockdown restrictions have eased, to varying levels, emissions […]

Graphene providing a firm foundation for a more sustainable construction industry

By James Baker Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: September 21, 2020

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?

By William Bodel, Gregg Butler, Francis Livens, Juan Matthews and Richard Taylor Filed Under: Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted: September 14, 2020

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 […]

The retrofitting challenge in Manchester

By Matt Ziembla, Elvira Uyarra and Jonatan Pinkse Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Urban Posted: July 13, 2020

During January-March 2020, Mateusz Ziembla, together with Dr Elvira Uyarra and Professor Jonatan Pinkse, undertook a study for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), funded by Research England, aimed at analysing the challenges associated with improving the energy efficiency of existing housing stock in order to articulate recommendations for policy action. Cost-effective decarbonisation of domestic […]

Can shipping emissions be kept in check in a post-COVID future?

By Simon Bullock Filed Under: All posts, Energy and Environment, Science and Engineering Posted: June 15, 2020

The shipping sector is playing a vital role in the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping Britain supplied with everything from pasta to PPE. But what role does it need to play in another great crisis – preventing catastrophic climate change? Here, Simon Bullock from the Tyndall Centre, Manchester, looks at what needs to be done in order […]

Why are Local Authorities going against UK Government on fracking?

By Sarah Mander Filed Under: Energy and Environment Posted: September 26, 2019

Across the UK, Local Authorities and Devolved Administrations are seeking to use their planning powers to block the development of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. This is against UK Government policy. In this blog Dr Sarah Mander from the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering looks at what all of this could mean for the […]