Ed Birkett

Senior Research Fellow, Energy and Environment


Ed Birkett is a Senior Research Fellow in the Energy and Environment Unit. Ed joined Policy Exchange in 2020 after spending a year at Harvard as a Kennedy Scholar. For the last five years, he has worked in the UK energy sector, most recently as a developer of large-scale solar and energy storage projects.

Related Posts & Publications

Reform energy market to ensure supplies when it’s not windy.

Reform energy market to ensure supplies when it’s not windy.

by | Mar 17, 2021

Related Content Ed Birkett looks at policies needed to manage the up and downs of increasing wind power on the UK’s electricity grid.   New figures show that 2020 was the greenest year yet for the UK’s electricity supply, with nearly 60% of electricity produced by...
Five things we’ve learnt from the Energy White Paper

Five things we’ve learnt from the Energy White Paper

by | Dec 17, 2020

Related Content Ed Birkett looks at five things we’ve learnt from the White Paper, and one thing that’s missing.     This week’s Energy White Paper is a substantial document that moves the UK a step closer towards a Net Zero energy system. However, it’s clear that the...
Time to Shine

Time to Shine

by | Nov 30, 2020

Related Content Unleashing ‘hybrid’ projects will get more from solar and wind at lower cost.   The Prime Minister’s commitment to 40 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030 is a huge undertaking that will galvanise industry to redouble their efforts to deploy clean...
No, more wind power doesn’t mean the lights will go out

No, more wind power doesn’t mean the lights will go out

by | Oct 16, 2020

Related Content   “We believe that in 10 years’ time offshore wind will be powering every home in the country.” This was the Prime Minister’s positive vision for a low-carbon UK that he set out in his Conference speech last week. Rather predictably, this has led to...
What’s in a date?

What’s in a date?

by | Sep 24, 2020

Related Content The UK’s coal phase-out shows the Government how to phase-out petrol and diesel cars.   The Guardian reports that Ministers are considering banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by as early as 2030, following calls from the Conservative MPs,...