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A "state-of-the-art" tidal turbine blade has been manufactured in Scotland for the first time and more cheaply than before, which, engineers say, could reduce the levelised cost of tidal energy. The design engineers, from the University of Edinburgh, say the new structure reduces the amount of materials necessary – bringing down the weight, volume and, crucially, the cost of manufacturing...

It’s time to power up Britain by investing in our local leaders and empowering them to deliver the affordable, clean energy systems we urgently need from the grassroots up, CEO of UK100 tells ICON readers in this thought piece.    The government’s Rosebank oil field approval exposes a glaring contradiction in the Prime Minister's approach to energy security: expanding North Sea...

In the wake of Rishi Sunak's net zero announcements last week, the former Energy Minister who was responsible for signing the UK’s net zero commitment into law has joined forces with Conservative Mayor Baron Houchen and UK100 in a new report. Titled "The Future is Local", the report seeks not only to highlight the continued challenges facing the local delivery...

The more prepared you are and the more variables you have, the more you can trade value and avoid haggling over price, Andy Archibald, a Senior Consultant at Scotwork tells ICON readers in this thought piece.   Most of the time, negotiations will come down to one thing – price. And while most of us think we’re negotiating, it’s more likely...

In this thought piece, Dr. Johannes Weichbrodt and Teresa Gerhold from Mayer Brown tell ICON readers what the upcoming Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence means for businesses.   Companies have a substantial impact on human rights and the environment. Thus, legislators across the globe increasingly expect companies to conduct human rights and environmental due diligence. While some jurisdictions in Europe already...

To achieve our collective goals, we need to maximise the value of the right time data available to us, Carolina Tortora from National Grid ESO tells ICON readers in this thought piece.   Britain’s energy system is transforming. As we journey towards net zero emissions, the system is becoming more complex; as the energy transition continues, our system-management decisions will require...

In this thought piece, Jonathan Croley and Benjamin Thomson from Ashfords LLP tell ICON readers about the opportunities Anaerobic Digestion offers as local authorities must comply with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021.   The changes to waste collection law introduced by the Environment Act 2021 (EA2021) will significantly impact how waste collection authorities collect and dispose of waste. At...

Edgbaston Stadium is set to stage its first sustainable international match day after announcing the sold out Men’s Vitality IT20 against New Zealand on Sunday 3 September as its Go Green Game. Described by organisers as the the first sustainable game of its kind in UK cricket, the day will see a focus on cutting emissions across all scopes of the...

Water regulator Ofwat has launched a consultation on new guidance for water companies setting out how they should support their customers who require extra help in accessing water services. Those who require extra help may include people with long-term as well as temporary circumstances such as disabilities, mental health conditions, families with young children, or those who are unable to...

In this thought piece Kiley Tan from The Legal Director tells ICON readers what role Artificial Intelligence can play in meeting their environmental, social, and corporate governance targets.   For many SMEs, energy consumption is a very real concern. A recent survey by Paragon Bank suggests nine out of 10 SMEs have reported hikes in energy costs in 2023 - with...