Windfarms Could Cover 11% of the North Sea by 2050 Predicts Study
A new study by Heriot‑Watt University maps a plausible scenario in which offshore wind farms could occupy roughly 11% of the North Sea by 2050, assuming governments meet current policy pledges. The model forecasts about 19,400 turbines across the basin, expanding coverage from today’s 1% to 58,500 square kilometres. The United Kingdom would remain the largest installer, with 6,300 turbines, while the Netherlands faces the highest water‑use intensity at 19% of its North Sea area. Researchers warn that such density will intensify competition for space with fishing, shipping, cables and marine ecosystems.
Global SMR Capacity Forecast to Surge Sixfold by 2030
GlobalData projects small modular reactor (SMR) capacity to grow sixfold between 2025 and 2030 and more than 100‑fold by 2040. The surge is fueled by demand for zero‑carbon firm power, industrial clean‑tech needs, and heightened energy‑security policies. China and Russia...
UK’s Leading Battery Developers to Meet in Leicester
Innovate UK’s Cross‑Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network will host its third Battery Showcase at De Montfort University in Leicester on 18 June. The event gathers battery developers, manufacturers, investors, researchers, supply‑chain firms and end‑users to discuss scaling UK battery technologies across...
Irish SMEs Emerging as Key Force in Ireland’s Energy Transition as Solar Adoption Surges
Irish small and mid‑sized enterprises are emerging as a primary catalyst for the country’s energy transition, with solar power leading the charge. A new Flogas Sustainability Report surveyed 300 decision‑makers, revealing that 34% of mid‑size firms and 31% of small...
Fishy Tales Could Set Back Hinkley Even More
EDF has already invested roughly $889 million in fish protection at Hinkley Point C, including a $64 million acoustic deterrent system. Campaign group Britain Remade warns that Natural England may block the water‑discharge licence, potentially pushing the plant’s 2030 start date further....
Safety Fears Raised over Plug-In Solar
UK electrical safety bodies—including the ECA, ESF, IET, NICEIC and SELECT—have warned that rapid rollout of plug‑in solar PV units could create fire hazards and strain ageing home wiring. These devices generate electricity and feed it back into domestic circuits,...
Clean Industry Investment Doubles in Six Months
Clean‑industry projects secured a record $43 bn in final investment decisions over the past six months, according to Mission Possible Partnership. The global pipeline now totals $4.7 trillion, including roughly $1.5 trillion in industrial assets and $3.2 trillion in renewable energy and storage. China...
Gender Progress in UK Energy Sector Stalls at Board Level
The POWERful Women’s Annual State of the Nation 2026 report shows female representation on the boards of the UK’s top 100 energy firms nudged up to 31% from 30% a year earlier. Yet 22 boards removed at least one woman,...
South Korea Turns to Renewables to Cut Emissions and Reduce Fossil Fuel Costs
South Korea is accelerating its clean‑energy transition, aiming to boost renewable capacity to roughly 100 GW by 2030—almost triple its current 37 GW. New analysis by Ember and Global Energy Monitor projects that this expansion could cut the nation’s annual fossil‑fuel power...
Flagship Energy’s Mike Stafford Energy Markets Update – 4th June
UK gas and power prices have rebounded, with front‑month gas gaining 8 p/therm since the May 27 trough. European gas storage rose to 41.5% but backwardation and a premium on Asian LNG keep injection incentives low ahead of the summer‑to‑winter window. An...
Heat Pumps Shown to Slash Emissions and Energy Use in Future Homes
New research by Bellway and the University of Salford shows air‑source heat pumps can achieve more than four times the efficiency of conventional gas boilers in new‑build homes. Tests in the Energy House 2.0 climate chamber recorded a coefficient of performance...
Water and Energy Policies Key to AI Growth
A Grundfos report warns that the United Kingdom’s push to become a global AI leader could be jeopardized by inadequate water and energy policies for data centres. Expanding AI workloads demand large amounts of electricity and cooling water, while the...
New Platform Aims to Accelerate EV Fleet Adoption Across the UK
Fuuse has introduced Fleet 360, the UK’s first charge‑point management system that consolidates workplace, depot, home and public EV charging onto a single dashboard. The platform offers real‑time visibility of charging activity, advanced reporting and automated home‑charging reimbursement, while linking...
E.ON Warns of ‘Two-Tier’ Energy Transition without Wider Household Investment
E.ON and the Purpose Coalition released a report warning that the UK could develop a two‑tier energy transition unless clean‑energy technologies become affordable for all households. The study found 91% of households feel financial pressure from energy bills, while 59%...
US Energy Storage Installations up a Third This Year
U.S. energy storage installations surged in the first quarter of 2026, climbing 32% year‑on‑year to 9.7 GWh of new capacity, according to SEIA and Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. The rapid growth reflects heightened demand from data centers, AI infrastructure, and the need...