The UK has had some success in decarbonising the electricity sector.  But the gas we use for heating and cooking … read more

A report produced by the Institution of Engineering and Technology has assessed the possibility of using hydrogen in place of … read more

Researchers publishing in Nature have demonstrated an aircraft with no moving parts where thrust is generated by an ionic wind system. read more

Energy used in our homes accounts for about 20% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, and most of that comes from heating and hot water. If we are to meet our climate goals we need to start decarbonising domestic energy. read more

In his December 2017 address to the Nuclear Industry Association’s Annual Conference in London, Energy Minister Richard Harrington set out the next steps for the Government’s plans to support Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. read more

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and British Geological Survey (BGS) will announce plans for a multi-million-pound geological research facility to be built in Cheshire. read more

Households account for between a quarter and a third of total energy use in the UK.  Improving their energy efficiency … read more

President Trump announced the withdrawal of the USA from the Paris climate accord. read more

The nuclear energy research community in the UK has been shell shocked to learn that the Prime Minister’s Brexit Bill will also trigger the UK’s exit from the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). read more

‘What happens when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine?’ read more

The UK energy system is going through a period of rapid change. The implications of the vote to leave the EU and subsequent changes within government are largely unknown. Uncertainties about the future of the energy system were already high; these changes have compounded them. The UK Energy Research Centre has produced an evidence-based commentary – addressing heat, transport, electricity, gas, and other major components of the energy system – which aims to take stock of UK energy policy ahead of the Autumn Statement, the Industrial Strategy and the Emissions Reduction Plan, and make recommendations for action by government. read more

The government has given the go ahead for horizontal fracking at a site in Lancashire. read more

A report from the parliamentary Energy and Climate Change Committee has warned the government that, based on current trends, the UK will miss its target to provide 15% of energy from renewable sources. read more

Parts of Didcot A power station have reportedly collapsed during decommissioning, with a major incident declared. read more

Gas is sometimes seen as a bridging fuel between dirty coal and a low carbon future. But is that really true for the UK, and what future does it have in our energy mix? How much gas can we permit ourselves to use and still meet emission targets? And how damaging was the Chancellor’s withdrawal of support for carbon capture and storage? read more

The parliamentary Energy and Climate Change Select Committee has published a report on the future of UK carbon capture and storage which says that, without it, meeting climate change targets will be more difficult. read more

We’ve become accustomed to a reliable supply of electricity, but short, local power cuts still occur. And every year at this time we hear questions about whether we have enough power station capacity to meet demand – and about the risks of the ‘lights going out’. What causes power cuts and what can we expect in future? What will be the impact on reliability from changes in the electricity system from renewables and new nuclear, as well as the phasing out of coal power stations by 2025? What role will smart systems play, and what measures will be used to balance demand as well as supply? A new briefing document prepared by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) explores these questions and addresses the myths and truths about power cuts and blackouts. read more

The Committee on Climate Change, who advise the UK government and devolved administrations on emissions targets, have released their fifth carbon budget. read more

It has been announced in the spending review and autumn statement that a £1 billion competition for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has been cancelled. read more

The secretary of state for energy and climate change has announced that the UK’s coal-fired power stations will be closed by 2025, with more gas-fired stations to be built. read more