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Environment & Energy Blogs
What’s in a date?
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, the Government’s independent advisers on climate change, and the Labour Party. However, the UK is not yet on track to meet the Government’s existing target of 100% Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) by 2040, mainly due to a lack of an overarching policy to deliver the petrol and diesel phase-out.
California dreaming: A plan to phase out petrol and diesel cars that might actually work
Related Content Transport is now the UK’s biggest source of climate-warming greenhouse gases. While other sectors slash their carbon footprint, our cars alone continue to produce 15 per cent of annual emissions — and the figure is still rising. To tackle this, earlier...
Scrapping the scrappage scheme
It is welcome news that UK Government has dismissed reports that it was considering a scrappage scheme for petrol and diesel cars as a short-term economic stimulus measure. In a typical scrappage scheme, the government would pay car owners to scrap their current vehicle in return for credit against a new one, thereby stimulating the manufacturing sector. However, scrappage schemes are generally not a desirable policy, because they tend to be an inefficient use of public funds, work against the grain of transport decarbonisation, and send mixed price signals alongside Electric Vehicle subsidies.
Electricity markets under pressure
The Coronavirus has challenged all sectors of the UK economy, and electricity markets have been no exception. Electricity demand is down by as much as 20%, causing periods of negative electricity prices and unprecedented strain on the Electricity System Operator (ESO), run by National Grid. The ESO is responsible for ensuring that the system can respond to lightning strikes and faults at power stations, and that power lines don’t become overloaded. To do this, the ESO takes “balancing actions”, paying to turn down some generators and paying to turn up others.
Net Zero needs a democratic mandate
Related Content Net Zero will face a backlash if it doesn't attain a proper mandate - this election must give it one, argues Benedict McAleenan from Policy Exchange This article was originally published at BusinessGreen.com Whether its 'Essex man', 'Mondeo man' or...
Britain could be a world leader in how we deal with rubbish
Emerging middle classes around the world are putting the pressure on the UK to think about how it handles waste. It should invest in innovation to become a world leader.
Are we really on the cusp of a ‘hydrogen economy’?
Hydrogen is making headlines again, but is the excitement justified? Josh Burke examines if we are really on the cusp of a ‘hydrogen economy’ and why the Government is right to target investment at lowering the high cost of producing large volumes of low carbon hydrogen.
Network problems: The peculiar case of home heating in Northern Ireland
The recent cold snap – and the ensuing spike in home heating oil prices – underscores the decarbonisation challenge in Northern Ireland, argues Policy Exchange’s Matt Rooney.
Turning on the tap of reform: the UK water market and how consumers – and the environment – are losing out
Environment and Energy Research Fellow at Policy Exchange, Josh Burke, explores the recent speech by DEFRA Secretary Michael Gove on the water industry and finds much to praise – but also that there is more reform needed.
Glowing hot or cold? The future of nuclear power in the UK
Energy and Environment Research Fellow Matt Rooney analyses the Government’s long-term plans for nuclear power. Could Small Modular Reactors be a solution?
