
Matthew Rooney
Energy and Environment Research Fellow
Matt Rooney joined Policy Exchange in 2017 as a Research Fellow in the Energy and Environment Unit. From 2011 to 2017 studied for an MPhil in Technology Policy and a PhD in Energy Policy at the University of Cambridge, where he researched strategies for the deployment of new energy technologies, with a particular focus on carbon capture and storage and nuclear power. Prior to this he was employed for six years at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, where he designed components for international particle physics experiments. He is a British Science Association Media Fellow, having worked briefly as a science policy journalist with Times Higher Education. He is a fully chartered member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and holds an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from the Queen’s of University Belfast.

Related Posts & Publications


The Future of Carbon Pricing: Implementing an independent carbon tax with dividends in the UK
by Matthew Rooney | Jul 17, 2018
Read Publication A economy-wide carbon tax paid by both domestic and international producers would prevent carbon leakage, level the playing field for Britain’s heavy industry, fund a dividend to be paid to taxpayers and tackle climate change, argues the new report...
Small Modular Reactors: The next big thing in energy?
by Matthew Rooney | Jan 25, 2018
Read Publication Small modular nuclear reactors could be a crucial technology in the drive to decarbonise our energy system, according to Small Modular Reactors: The next big thing in energy? published on Thursday by Policy Exchange. The increased take-up of electric...
Driving down emissions: How to clean up road transport?
by Matthew Rooney | Jun 26, 2017
Read Publication Read the Executive Summary Road transport plays a crucial role in society – enabling people and goods to move around the country, and thereby sustaining economic growth. However, road transport also gives rise to significant negative externalities: it...
Network problems: The peculiar case of home heating in Northern Ireland
by Matthew Rooney | Apr 15, 2018
Home heating in Northern Ireland is very different from most other parts of the UK. Firstly, a combination of cold weather and low incomes mean that fuel poverty (defined as those spending >10 per cent income to warm their homes) is higher, whilst the lack of an...Support Us
Policy Projects
Policy Areas
- Crime and Justice
- Demography, Immigration and Integration
- Economics and Social Policy
- Education
- Environment and Energy
- Foreign Policy and Security
- Government and Politics
- Health and Social Care
- Housing and Urban Regeneration
- Industrial Strategy
- International Trade
- Security and Extremism
- Space
- Technology
Latest Tweets
Watch the event in full here: policyexchange.org.u…
The UK's fertility rate was 1.59 in 2020 - yet on average women would like to have 2.3 and men 2.2 children. This fertility gap is a tragedy - argues @CristinaOhq at Policy Exchange @David_Goodhart pic.twitter.com/9WFX…
RT @JimBethell 🇬🇧 expertise in cutting-edge specialised services demonstrates #NHS at its most innovative. But its huge success means tough decisions if we are to benefit from these advances. This @Policy_Exchange report from @Robert_WH_Ede is so important. Read it! policyexchange.org.u…
RT @edking_I This is a pretty interesting 2021 piece on #climate risk by ex CIA chief David Petraeus + @BenMcAleenan... excerpt below pertinent given escalating global food crisis policyexchange.org.u… pic.twitter.com/knI4…
RT @PaulGoodmanCH Moggcast Snippet 2) The discovery that they aren’t necessarily so advertised was revealed by @benjaminbarnard of @Policy_Exchange. @Jacob_Rees_Mogg Mogg suggests that Barclay drove the decision but adds “Getting it some publicity certainly helped.” bit.ly/3wuapte