UK Emissions Edge Down in 2024 as Transport and Household Energy Use Rise
The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions fell marginally last year, but progress remains uneven across sectors, according to new government figures. Provisional data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show total emissions of 476 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) in 2024 — a 0.5% decline from 2023 and 43% lower than 1990 levels.
Blair-Backed Think Tank Urges UK to Reframe Clean-Power Target
The UK’s mission to fully decarbonise its electricity system by 2030 is under fresh scrutiny after the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) called for a major reset. In a new paper, Cheaper Power 2030, Net Zero 2050, the institute argues the government should focus less on speed and more on making energy affordable, secure, and abundant.
Only 1% Progress: Northern Ireland’s Energy Strategy Under Scrutiny
Northern Ireland’s transition to cleaner energy is lagging far behind schedule, according to a new report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO), which warns that key goals in the region’s Energy Strategy are unlikely to be met without major changes in oversight and delivery.
Clean Investment, EU Momentum & China’s Battery Leap
Clean energy investment is accelerating, and innovation is driving rapid change across the power sector. The EU continues its push toward renewables while the U.S. prepares to launch its first liquid-fueled reactor. China’s latest solid-state battery progress and new global investment trends highlight how technology and policy are reshaping the world’s energy future.
Record Growth, Record Losses: The Fragile Economics of Renewable Energy
Global renewable power is expanding faster than at any point in history — yet many of the companies supplying that growth are struggling to stay afloat. According to the International Energy Agency’s Renewables 2025 report, global renewable capacity is set to double by 2030, adding around 4,600 gigawatts (GW) of new generation — roughly equivalent to the combined power capacity of China, the European Union, and Japan.
IMO Delays Net-Zero Shipping Vote After Trump Pushback
An international vote to adopt new global shipping emissions rules has been delayed by a year, following U.S. pressure to halt what President Trump called a “global green new scam tax”. The decision marks a significant setback for efforts to decarbonize one of the world’s most energy-intensive industries.
UK Energy Executives Warn of 20% Bill Rise Despite Falling Gas Prices
Executives from Octopus Energy, E.ON UK, and EDF Energy have warned MPs that household electricity bills could rise by around 20% over the next four to five years — even if wholesale gas prices collapse — as rising network, subsidy, and system costs keep prices high.
Renewables Cut Imports, EU Solar Surges & VW’s EV Sales Record
Renewables are reshaping global energy flows. The IEA says more than 100 nations have reduced fossil-fuel imports thanks to clean power, while EU solar generation has already surpassed its 2024 total. At the same time, Volkswagen hit record EV sales, even as solar and wind manufacturers face rising market pressures.
EU Moves to Curb Carbon Leakage with New Steel Import Limits
The European Commission has unveiled a new proposal to shield the EU steel industry from global overcapacity — but behind the trade measures lies a broader climate goal: keeping emissions and clean investment within Europe. The plan would sharply limit tariff-free steel imports to 18.3 million tons per year, nearly 50% below current levels, and double out-of-quota duties to 50%.
Renewables Overtake Coal as Solar & Wind Outpace Demand Growth
Solar and wind power grew faster than global electricity demand in the first half of 2025, allowing renewables to overtake coal for the first time in the global power mix, according to new data from energy think tank Ember. The findings, published in Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2025, are based on national generation data from January to June and show that record solar growth and steady wind output together met nearly all of the rise in electricity demand.
California’s Clean Shift, China’s Solar Surge & Spain’s Cheaper Power
Clean energy growth is reshaping the global power system — from California’s rapid shift away from gas, to China’s solar cost revolution, Spain’s success in cutting gas-linked electricity prices, and the race for next-generation batteries. At the same time, new research challenges old assumptions about how much clean energy is really needed to replace fossil fuels.
UK Party Conferences 2025: Energy Policy Divides Come Into Focus
Reform UK’s surprise surge in the polls has shaken British politics. A Find Out Now survey released October 1st put Nigel Farage’s party on 35%, well ahead of Labour on 19%, just days after Keir Starmer’s conference speech in Liverpool. While most headlines focused on Labour’s clash with Reform over immigration and inequality, the deeper policy divide on energy is becoming just as central — and may shape the direction of Britain’s economy for years to come.
Trump Bets Big on Coal in Push to Power AI Boom
The Trump administration has launched its most aggressive effort yet to revive the U.S. coal sector, announcing a sweeping package that opens 13.1 million acres of federal land for new mining leases and allocates $625 million to upgrade and extend the life of coal-fired power plants.
Electric Vehicle Records, Renewables on the Rise & New Challenges for Solar
EVs, renewables and new energy infrastructure are rapidly reshaping the global power landscape. In August 2025 alone, EV sales hit new highs, U.S. wind and solar outpaced coal, China’s solar output surged, U.S. oil exports hit record levels, and developers unveiled new ways to make solar projects more resilient to extreme weather.
From Blackout to Blueprint: How the Iberian Crisis Is Shaping Britain’s Power Strategy
On 28 April 2025, Spain and Portugal suffered one of Europe’s largest power failures in decades. Around 60 million people lost electricity as the Iberian grid went from stable operation to total collapse in just minutes. Voltage surged, generators tripped, and the system fragmented into islands before operators restored supply overnight.
Groundbreaking UK Carbon Capture Projects Aim to Clean Up Heavy Industry
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has emerged as one of the few viable tools to slash emissions from industries that can’t easily switch to clean alternatives. Sectors such as cement and waste-to-energy produce large volumes of carbon dioxide by the very nature of their processes.
Trump Uses UN Speech to Denounce “Green Energy Scam”
President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly this week to mount one of his most forceful critiques yet of renewable energy and international climate policy. Framing himself as a defender of affordable, reliable power, he told delegates that his administration had delivered lower gasoline prices and cheaper electricity at home while rolling back what he called “false” green mandates.
MENA’s Power Surge, Mexico’s Solar Leap & California’s Canal Experiment
Electricity systems are evolving quickly, from record-breaking demand in hot, dry regions to inventive new ways of pairing solar with storage and infrastructure. This week’s updates show how countries are testing bold ideas — from Mexico’s solar-plus-battery potential to California’s solar-over-canals experiment — while renewable energy continues to dominate new capacity.
Starmer & Trump Clash on Energy Policy at UK–US State Visit Press Conference
At a joint press conference during President Trump’s State Visit to the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Trump set out sharply different visions for Britain’s energy future, revealing a clear transatlantic split over renewables and fossil fuels.
UK & US Sign Landmark Deal to Accelerate Nuclear Power Expansion
The UK and US have signed a major agreement to accelerate the development of nuclear power, a move the British government heralds as the start of a "golden age" for the sector. The deal aims to cut licensing times for new projects and unlock billions in private investment to boost energy security and create jobs.