Sunday, May 19, 2024
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Wasted energies – why we’re getting renewables wrong and how to fix it: Electron CEO writes to ICON

By connecting dynamic information on network congestion, excess renewables and the availability and value of flexibility at a hyper-local level, we can create a truly cost efficient, low carbon energy system, Jo-Jo Hubbard tells ICON in this thought piece.   Energy is owning a lot of headlines these days. Some of these headlines seem to be rather uncomfortable bed fellows. For example,...

New online resource can help users to plant flowers with pollinators in mind

An online database which documents pollinator-plant interactions could help the public understand how to plant for pollinators and support biodiversity. According to researchers, remarkably little is known about the flower preferences of many pollinator species, or which insects pollinate which flower species and how these interactions change in space and time. To address this knowledge gap, University of Sussex researchers have...

Hydrogen pilot in Gateshead ends in success

A 'ground-breaking' green energy project has been successfully completed. The HyDeploy project saw up to 20% hydrogen blended with natural gas on a public gas network in Winlaton, Gateshead operated by Northern Gas Networks. Fergal O’Donovan, Hydrogen Programme Manager at Northern Gas Networks, commented on the project: “We’re delighted to have successfully completed blending hydrogen into the gas supply at Winlaton. "The...

Researchers team up with distillery to address water scarcity and protect whisky production

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen and James Hutton Institute have worked with The Glenlivet distillery to introduce environmentally sustainable solutions at Chivas Brothers’ Speyside distillery to address water scarcity and protect whisky production. Among the nature-based measures are small dams in the landscape supplying the distillery, designed to capture water during wet periods and to make this available when...

Why connectivity is key: Ground Control writes to ICON about unlocking the value of Industrial IoT

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has been transforming global industries and driving digitalisation for some years now – the oil and gas sector is no exception. From asset management through to remote performance monitoring and maintenance, the IIoT eco-system is delivering efficiencies and productivity to meet the demands of an ever-evolving energy landscape. But everything is underpinned by reliable...

FT: West London faces new homes ban due to electricity shortage

Developers in west London face a potential ban on new developments until 2035 because the electricity network in the area has hit capacity, the Financial Times (FT) reported on 28 July. In a note seen by the FT, the Greater London Authority (GLA) is stated to have warned developers that it might take several years to increase grid capacity to allow...

New report examines people’s attitudes to climate change and net zero policies

A new Net Zero Living report, led by the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST) and the market research company Ipsos MORI, takes an in-depth look at the UK public’s attitudes to climate change – and how this might translate into action. The researchers polled 5,665 people across the UK in August 2021 and found broad support for...

Two-thirds of children in the UK are scared of climate change, major new survey finds

A new national survey of 7-14-year-old children found that 65% are frightened of climate change and almost a third feel powerless to make a difference. The Eden Project commissioned Generation Alpha experts - Beano Brain, kids insight consultancy from Beano Studios - to survey more than 1,000 7-14-year-olds and their parents to gain insight into their attitudes and understanding towards...

‘Joining the drops is the key to keeping the taps running’, MOSL talks to ICON about the role of non-household customers in water efficiency

In this thought piece James Higgins, Corporate Affairs Manager at MOSL, offers insight into the role of non-household market plays in water efficiency in the face of a changing climate.    What’s the water efficiency problem? It’s easy to think that wasting water shouldn’t matter in Britain as we have plenty of rain. While it seems like we have a lot...

‘It’s time to get our house in order while the sun is shining’: UK100 writes to ICON

Following publication of UK100's series of Local Net Zero Delivery progress reports, Rupert George, their Director of Communications and Campaigns, offers more insight into one of them, Heat and Buildings, in this thought piece.   There is no better time to get our house in order. And, no, I'm not talking about the Conservative Party leadership election. Instead, I'm talking about...