Modernising Europe’s Electricity Data Hub Without Disrupting Market Access
ENTSO‑E’s Transparency Platform, the central data hub for Europe’s electricity market, has been completely modernised between 2023 and 2025 in partnership with Unicorn Systems. The overhaul replaced a legacy architecture with a scalable, resilient cloud‑native solution that processes hundreds of thousands of data messages daily and supports millions of user interactions. Crucially, the migration was executed in phased stages, delivering the new platform with zero operational downtime for any market participant. The upgraded hub now meets the growing demand for near‑real‑time, high‑volume data across the continent’s energy transition.
Low-Carbon Concrete Breakthrough in Major London Housing Development
Brent Cross Town in North London became the first UK residential development to use calcined‑clay concrete in permanent works. Contractor Midgard substituted 30% of cement with calcined clay, cutting embodied carbon by 10% versus traditional mix. The material, supplied by...
Methane Cuts Can Slow Emissions but Hinder Ozone Recovery
A new University of Reading study finds that cutting methane, while effective for climate mitigation, can unintentionally accelerate ozone depletion. The research shows lower methane levels boost the chemical activity of halocarbons and nitrous oxide, leading to faster ozone loss....
UK’s First Full-Scale Energy-From-Waste Carbon Capture Plant Taking Shape
Construction has begun on the UK’s first full‑scale carbon capture plant attached to the Protos Energy‑from‑Waste facility near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. The plant, built by EPC contractor Kanadevia Inova, will capture roughly 370,000 tonnes of CO2 annually and pipe it...
SSEN Transmission Cuts Grid Costs While Supporting Cleaner Energy Growth
SSEN Transmission reported roughly £296 million (about $380 million) in savings for electricity consumers by cutting constraint costs on Britain’s transmission network. The savings were verified under the National Energy System Operator’s incentive that rewards efficiency while preserving reliability. A flagship project...
Chemical Upcycling Breakthrough to Tackle Global Plastic Pollution
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh and RPTU University Kaiserslautern‑Landau have unveiled a one‑step chemical upcycling process that swaps oxygen for sulfur in common plastics, converting them into biodegradable polythionoesters. The method was demonstrated on polycaprolactone, a material already used...
Yorkshire Water Launches AI Project to Deliver Real-Time River Water Quality Predictions
Yorkshire Water has started a two‑year AI research project to deliver real‑time water‑quality forecasts for 20 inland bathing sites across the county. In partnership with UnifAI Technology and sensor installer SOCOTEC, the initiative will collect sensor data every 15 minutes...
There Is a Positive Role for North Sea Oil in Clean Energy Britain
The Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce released an Energy Transition report showing that 93% of surveyed businesses still see a future for North Sea oil and gas if the UK provides stable fiscal and regulatory conditions. The report blames...
When It Comes to Energy Buy British Says Reeves
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has urged ministers to award energy‑related public contracts to British firms wherever feasible, extending a broader “buy British” agenda that also covers shipbuilding, steel‑making and artificial intelligence. Treasury and the Cabinet Office will now track billions of...
Sheffield SAF Testing Breakthrough
The University of Sheffield’s Energy Innovation Centre released its first sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) testing report, aimed at accelerating UK fuel producers through certification to commercial production. The report, prepared for Green Lizard Technologies, evaluated a Fischer‑Tropsch synthetic paraffinic kerosene...
Britain’s Grid Comes Closest Ever to Running without Fossil Fuels as Clean Power Surges
Britain’s electricity grid nearly operated without fossil fuels in April 2026, with fossil‑fuel generation dropping below 1 GW for the first time. The shift was powered by rapid growth in wind, solar and battery storage, according to a Drax‑commissioned study by...
Ofgem Sets Tough New Rulebook for Grid Investment as Electricity Demand Rises
Ofgem has released the ED3 rulebook governing how Britain’s five electricity distribution network operators will plan and fund grid investment from 2028 to 2033. The new framework imposes tighter cost controls, mandatory "build and flex" deployment of smart EV charging,...
ECA Open Letter to Ofgem on Data
The Energy Consultants Association (ECA) has sent an open letter to Ofgem and multiple regulators urging a distinct, proportionate data‑access regime for non‑domestic customers. It warns that applying the domestic‑focused Consumer Consent Solution to half‑hourly metering data could impede TPIs,...
Flagship Energy’s Mike Stafford Energy Markets Update – 21st May
UK gas and power prices nudged higher this week, with June, Q3‑26 and Winter‑26 contracts reaching their strongest levels since the US‑Iran ceasefire. A tentative US‑Iran draft deal and statements from President Trump suggest diplomatic progress, but the peace settlement...
Lithuania Is Green Energy Champ
Lithuania has emerged as Europe’s renewable‑energy showcase, slashing reliance on Russian fossil fuels and overhauling its power system in just four years. Faster permitting, stronger investment and reduced regulatory barriers helped the country quadruple its solar and wind output. In...
Ørsted Boosts UK Wind Supply Chain
Ørsted has formalised relationships with 255 UK companies over the past five years, mapping a rapidly expanding offshore wind supply chain. Roughly 30% of those firms—73 companies—also support Ørsted projects outside Britain, highlighting exportable expertise. The map shows 129 suppliers...
London’s Largest EV Charging Hub Set to Accelerate Cleaner Transport
Fastned and Places for London will launch the Hanger Lane ultra‑rapid EV charging hub in West London early next year. The site features 36 charging bays that can add up to 100 miles of range in five minutes, and it...
Net Hero Podcast – Hinkley Point C the Future Takes Shape
The Hinkley Point C nuclear project, originally slated to start generating in 2025, has shifted its first‑unit target to 2030 after a series of redesigns, Covid‑related disruptions, and rising costs. The site now hosts two European Pressurised Reactors, each around...
EV Market Growth Seems to Be Happening, Despite EU Policies
Europe’s electric‑vehicle sector has locked in more than €200 billion (≈ $218 billion) for factories, batteries and charging infrastructure, even as EU leaders debate softening the 2035 zero‑emission car ban. The New Automotive report breaks the spend down to €60 billion ($65 billion) for new...
Cyber Attacks Still Biggest Fear for Utilities
A new Beazley survey of 3,500 global executives shows cyber attacks are now the top concern for 29% of energy and utilities leaders as digital, AI and supply‑chain integration increase exposure. Despite this, roughly 80% of firms say they are...
OVO Sells Off Its Home Services Division
OVO has agreed to sell its Home Services division to Hometree, creating the UK’s third‑largest home emergency cover provider. The deal bundles the CORGI HomePlan and HomeHeat brands and will serve roughly 500,000 customers with a workforce of 550 and...
Last Coal Fired Hospital Gets Cleaned Up
Nottingham City Hospital has become the NHS’s last coal‑fired facility to switch to clean energy after a £34.8 million (≈$44 million) decarbonisation programme. The upgrade, delivered by Vital Energi, replaced coal and gas boilers with an energy centre, 400 kW air‑source heat pumps,...
E.ON Takes over OVO for Undisclosed Figure to Create Giant Supplier
E.ON announced it will acquire UK retailer OVO, adding roughly four million customers to its existing 5.6 million UK accounts and creating a combined supplier of nearly ten million customers. The merger would give the new entity about seven million smart...
National Heat Pump Week to Debut Across the UK in October
The Heat Pump Association UK and Nineteen Group will launch the UK’s first National Heat Pump Week, running from 12 to 16 October 2026. The five‑day campaign targets more than one million installers, manufacturers, suppliers and built‑environment professionals through webinars, interviews, competitions...
Solar Is the Rising Power Source Says IEA
The International Energy Agency’s Global Energy Review 2026 shows world energy demand rose 1.3% in 2025, yet solar power emerged as the top driver of new demand. Solar PV accounted for 27% of the additional energy needed, outpacing natural gas and...
Attenborough Most Trusted Voice on Climate but 40% Still Don’t Believe Him
Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday coincided with a Diffusion survey that reaffirmed his status as Britain’s most trusted voice on climate and environmental issues, with 59 percent of more than 2,000 adults placing confidence in him. Yet the same data reveal...
Port of Blyth £100m Expansion Plans
The Port of Blyth announced a £100 million (≈$127 million) expansion, dubbed the Battleship Wharf project, to turn the North East site into a larger offshore‑wind and clean‑energy hub. The plan adds three hectares of reclaimed land, up to 260 metres of quay extensions...
Why East Coast Gas Shortfalls Are Changing Australia’s Energy Planning
AEMO’s latest Gas Statement of Opportunities predicts a 46% drop in gas output from legacy southern fields over the next five years, raising the risk of winter supply deficits on Australia’s east coast. The projected shortfall is prompting policymakers to...
How Achievable Is Net Zero?
Achieving net‑zero has become a board‑level priority for energy‑intensive firms, but the path is complex. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s three‑scope framework—direct emissions (Scope 1), indirect purchased‑energy emissions (Scope 2), and value‑chain emissions (Scope 3)—offers a structured roadmap. While Scope 1 and 2 are relatively straightforward...
Industry Groups Warn UK Risks Losing Jobs and Investment without Faster Decarbonisation
UK industry groups including the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, Hydrogen UK and Electrify Industry warned the government that delays in industrial decarbonisation could cost jobs, investment and energy security. They cite high electricity costs, policy uncertainty and international competition as pressures...
Germany Warned Hydrogen Strategy Could Cost Taxpayers Billions
Germany’s hydrogen roadmap, anchored by the February 2026 Hydrogen Acceleration Act, assumes rapid demand growth that may never materialise. An Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis report warns that up to €45 bn (≈$49 bn) in extra public funding could be required,...
Energy Sector Joins 8-Hour Charity Challenge In Support Of Cash For Kids
Smarta Energy is spearheading an eight‑hour “Running 9–5” charity challenge on Earth Day, April 22, 2026, with Group Managing Director Kieran Dixon running continuously from 9 am to 5 pm. The event targets more than £10,000 (about $12,800) for the Cash for Kids...
Pacific Nations Unite to Accelerate Fossil Fuel Phase-Out and Cut Emissions
At the Port Vila II dialogue in Vanuatu, six Pacific island nations adopted the Tassiriki Call, a framework that commits them to 100% renewable energy systems and a coordinated push for a global Fossil Fuel Treaty. The declaration stresses urgent decarbonisation...
Europe’s Electricity Prices Remain Tied to Gas Amid Geopolitical Risks
Europe’s power markets remain tightly coupled to natural‑gas prices, a linkage amplified by recent geopolitical tensions such as the 2026 Iran war. Gas price spikes quickly translate into higher electricity costs, especially in Italy and Germany where gas sets the...
Bugs in Hot Springs Could Clean up Industry…
Researchers at the University of Manchester have identified microbes from terrestrial hot springs that can survive the extreme heat, high CO₂ levels, and chemically harsh environments typical of heavy industry. These extremophiles not only capture CO₂ but also transform it...
Energy Costs Crippling AI Growth in UK
A new CUDO Compute survey finds that 20% of British companies have already shifted AI workloads abroad as soaring electricity prices and grid constraints make domestic compute uneconomical. One‑third of firms say energy costs are actively curbing their ability to...
National Template Drives Unified Approach to Local Energy Planning
UK energy networks are converging on a unified framework called the Local Authority Common Ask Template, which standardises data exchange for local energy planning. SP Electricity North West has joined the initiative, following UK Power Networks’ lead, to streamline coordination...
Energy Demand Falls Globally as Solar Boom Continues
Global energy demand in 2025 slowed to a 1.3% increase, well under the decade’s average, while electricity consumption surged about 3%, driven by electrification trends. Solar photovoltaic power emerged as the top contributor to energy supply growth, accounting for more...
Taking the P…. Our Urine Can Make Low-Carbon Fertilisers
Researchers at the University of Surrey have shown that human urine, which makes up just 1% of wastewater, contains the bulk of nutrients needed for fertilisers—nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. By applying forward osmosis, a low‑energy membrane process, these nutrients can...
Record Wind Generation Boosts Renewables but Highlights Grid Constraints
Great Britain recorded a historic 29.2 TWh of wind generation this year, pushing total renewable output to 40.3 TWh—up 20% year‑on‑year and covering 52% of electricity demand. Strong winter storms drove the surge, lowering wholesale prices and displacing fossil‑fuel generation, while gas...
Markets React as Labour Looks at Decoupling Gas and Electricity Prices
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced plans to break the link between gas and electricity wholesale prices, ending the marginal pricing model that ties electricity costs to gas‑fired generators. The proposal aims to reflect the growing share of low‑carbon generation and...
Heat Pump Sector Urges Policy Clarity to Unlock Non-Domestic Adoption
The Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK) is urging the government to provide a clear, national strategy for electrifying non‑domestic heating. While 125,000 heat pumps were sold in 2025, the majority are installed in homes, leaving commercial and industrial uptake minimal....
Decentralised Grid Needs a New Kind of Energy Market or Costs Will Rise
Elexon warns that the UK electricity market must evolve to match a rapidly decentralising grid, where distributed generation has risen from 15% in 2011 to roughly 36% today. It argues that current pricing, focused on transmission, is driving higher redispatch...
AI ‘Time Machine’ Predicts Missing 1.5C Target
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have built an AI‑driven “time machine” that back‑tests historic renewable growth to forecast future deployment. The model predicts onshore wind could supply roughly 25% of global electricity and solar about 20% by 2050, falling...
Government and Ofgem Admit Grid Queue Blunders
UK government and regulator Ofgem acknowledged delays in grid‑connection reforms as a surge in battery storage projects strains the system. The overhaul cleared 221 GW of stalled projects, creating a pipeline poised to attract roughly £200 bn (about $250 bn) of investment by...
Temporary Power Solutions Could Ease Europe’s Grid Strain
Aggreko’s new white paper, “Breaking the Gridlock,” argues that temporary on‑site power solutions can relieve Europe’s strained electricity networks as renewable capacity expands. The report notes that roughly 1,700 GW of renewable projects are stalled in grid queues across 16 countries,...
First ‘Community-Owned’ Battery Investment Scheme Opens
Low Carbon Hub has launched the United Kingdom’s first community‑owned battery at Ray Valley solar park near Bicester. The scheme invites public investors to co‑own a storage system that will capture surplus solar power and release it during peak demand....
Heavy Industry Could Cut Energy Use by 45% by 2050
A new report from the Energy Transitions Commission and Mission Possible Partnership finds that heavy‑industry sectors could cut energy use by 25‑45% by 2050 through improved energy productivity. Energy accounts for 30‑50% of costs in these sectors, so efficiency gains...
Centrica Tackles Difficult Terrain to Deliver Sustainable Solar Solution for Derbyshire Manufacturer
Centrica Business Solutions has completed a custom‑engineered solar farm for Derbyshire‑based Carpenter Ltd, installing 1,666 panels on a 14.6% sloped bank that was previously deemed unsuitable. The ground‑mount array will produce about 1,025 MWh of renewable electricity each year, cutting the...
Tokamak Energy Joins UK’s Fusion Partnership
Tokamak Energy has been selected as the Magnet Systems Partner for the UK’s STEP fusion programme, securing a £70 million (≈$90 million) contract from UK Fusion Energy. The company will design, build and test high‑temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets through its TE Magnetics...