net zero

19 Apr 23

The road to decarbonisation begins with increasing grid flexibility

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

The fight against climate change has reached a critical deadlock. Armed with the information that modernising the grid is essential to significantly cutting carbon dioxide emissions, distribution system operators (DNOs) have the responsibility of bringing this vision to fruition. Electricity loads are anticipated to double by 2050 due to widespread…

31 Mar 23

EU countries agree to double renewable energy targets

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

The 27 nations that form the EU have reached a deal to almost double the share of energy originated by renewable technologies in the next seven years. With this agreement, the EU aims to "fast-track the deployment of renewable energies" as part of the EU's plan "to become independent from…

30 Mar 23

UK unveils multi-million-pound green energy scheme

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

The UK has presented a new, more detailed plan for investing in affordable, clean, homegrown power to mark what has been informally dubbed 'Green Day'. The government was required to present one such scheme after a court ruling found that the country's net-zero strategy is "unlawful", as it failed to…

28 Mar 23

US generated more energy from renewables than coal for the first time in 2022

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

In 2022, renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and geothermal, produced more electricity than coal for the first time in the United States. Additionally, renewable generation surpassed nuclear generation for the second time, the first time being in 2021. In total, the US electric power sector produced…

28 Mar 23

Global energy transition ‘in need of fundamental course correction’

Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation, Mechanical, Production & Manufacturing

Global green energy investments must quadruple to reach the target set by the Paris climate accords, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has said. The agency's World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023 Preview has warned that the global energy transition is "off-track" and in need of a "fundamental course correction", which would…

27 Mar 23

UK making ‘negligible advances’ on infrastructure initiatives, advisers say

Geotechnical & Environmental

The UK is "moving too slowly" on projects set to push forward economic and climate targets, according to the National Infrastructure Commission's (NIC) latest Infrastructure Progress Review. The country's official independent infrastructure adviser has warned the government is at risk of failing to deliver the aims of its National Infrastructure Strategy…

21 Mar 23

Decarbonise public buildings ‘five times faster’ to meet net-zero targets, report says

Geotechnical & Environmental

The 'Public Building Energy Efficiency' report, conducted by network service providers Neos Networks, examined the actual energy usage and efficiency of over 450,000 public buildings in England and Wales. It analysed their display energy certificates (DECs) and ‘operational ratings’ (annual CO2 emission kg per m2), and highlighted the areas requiring…

10 Feb 23

UK Ventilator Challenge revisited: what must we learn to address net zero?

Engineering & Management

I recently had an inspiring chat over coffee with Dick Elsy CBE, chairman of AB Dynamics, whom I was privileged to support during VCUK, the 2020 UK Ventilator Challenge established in response to the Prime Minister’s urgent call for additional ventilators to cope with Covid. Happening around the same time…

05 Dec 22

‘Time to get serious’ with net-zero homes, UK heating industry tells government

Geotechnical & Environmental

Mike Foster, CEO of the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), has called for full-village trials of heat pumps to be set up to explore the possible heating options available for each home; the likely associated costs of reinforcing the electricity network, and how consumers view the change. In his call,…

08 Nov 22

Net zero buildings: the future of construction?

Geotechnical & Environmental

With humanity scrambling to respond to climate change, countless companies, investors, public sector bodies and national governments have made commitments to achieve ‘net zero’ carbon emissions in the next two or three decades. Net zero is the notion that any greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted through an organisation’s activities must be balanced out through…

The road to decarbonisation begins with increasing grid flexibility

EU countries agree to double renewable energy targets

UK unveils multi-million-pound green energy scheme

US generated more energy from renewables than coal for the first time in 2022

Global energy transition ‘in need of fundamental course correction’

UK making ‘negligible advances’ on infrastructure initiatives, advisers say

Decarbonise public buildings ‘five times faster’ to meet net-zero targets, report says

UK Ventilator Challenge revisited: what must we learn to address net zero?

‘Time to get serious’ with net-zero homes, UK heating industry tells government

Net zero buildings: the future of construction?

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