How will low-carbon technologies, such as green hydrogen, and the changing climate impact water demand needed to scale the energy transition?   The production of almost all types of energy relies on the water required for the extraction of raw materials, steam generation, hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage, cultivation of crops for biofuels, and cooling for thermal processes. However, some renewable power systems, such as wind and solar PV, require very little water. In our UK Energy Transition Outlook 2024, we forecast that as we move towards 2040 and beyond, the energy spl ..read more

With RenewableUK's annual green hydrogen conference happening next month, it is worth reflecting how pivotal 2023 was for the UK's hydrogen economy. At the heart of this was the 125MW of electrolyser capacity that was secured through the first hydrogen allocation round (HAR1), which not only marked a significant milestone for the UK but also set a precedent across Europe, with the highest number of commercial-scale projects awarded contracts in a single allocation round.  However, this is only the first step on the journey to vibrant green hydrogen eco ..read more

In anticipation of RenewableUK's Green Hydrogen event in Liverpool on 18th April, Dan Brimelow, Statkraft’s Commercial Manager, Origination in the UK, examines how trading structures may develop in order to drive a successful new market for green hydrogen in the UK.  Green hydrogen is the key next step to net zero. It enables us to store surplus wind and solar and convert it to heat, transport or power for later on at peak times when it’s most needed. Hydrogen economics are expected to significantly improve as our industry learns more about manufacturing electrolysis plants, an ..read more

The energy transition can benefit from the introduction of Artificial Intelligence but it has work to do to gain the sector’s trust and ensure safe operations. Artificial intelligence (AI) can already stake a good claim to be the phrase of 2023. It is now a well-established household name, in no small part due to concerns about the potential for the technology to generate thoughts of its own, replace jobs and spread disinformation. Such worries are certainly not without merit, and they broadly represent the hopes and fears of many. Nevertheless, the emergence of AI comes at something of an opp ..read more

This International Women's Day the ,,RenewableUK Shadow Board are reflecting on what #inspiringinclusion means to us and the crucial ways we have been supported in our careers, as well as our hope for the future and what we can do to strive for greater inclusion. With the exception of Emma in Law, we all experienced the stark lack of women within the industry either during training where we may have been made to feel ‘different’, or early on in our careers being one of only a few women in the office or at industry events. Working offshore for several years ..read more

Too often undervalued, underpaid and under-resourced, career returners are a key target group in RenewableUK’s Retention and Upskilling strategy. For International Women’s Day 2024, Lara Lawrie, OWC’s Director of Environment and Consents reflects on how the Celtic Sea could catapult more women into offshore wind and the role the sector has in challenging gender bias and supporting diversity. Introduction It isn’t news to those in the offshore wind sector that the UK’s STEM skills shortage is affecting productivity, economic growth and threatening wider policy goals, such as net zero and energ ..read more

Standing up to Cyber threats isn’t just about building a taller, thicker, wall to defend against a marauding aggressor, peaking over the ever-increasing parapet builds a greater understanding of the types of threat. It’s a battle field out there, we don’t like to admit it, but our appetite for technology and the connected everything is blurring our admission we’re at war.   It’s not a conflict in the true sense of the word, with hand-to-hand combat and bombs, but it is a conflict that affects us all, it can damage people, business, finances and of course the environment. By using di ..read more

Following a positive Autumn Statement, next month’s Spring Budget must focus on investment in projects, supply chain, ports and skills to realise the economic potential of the energy transition. ,  When we talk about the benefits of UK’s ambitious offshore wind targets, many people focus on decarbonisation, cheap power for consumers and energy security.  However, as RenewableUK is  pointing out to the Chancellor in our Spring Budget recommendations to Treasury, a huge benefit of the UK’s transition to clean power which ..read more

Much has been made in recent days of Labour’s decision to row back on its commitment to spend £28bn to unlock its Green Prosperity Plan. It is true that this fund was always envisaged to do more than invest in renewable energy, and it is of course disappointing to see this funding reduced, but it does not mean that the ambition needs to be downgraded.   Very recent history shows us why. In 2021, the government set a budget for the fourth CfD Allocation Round of £295m. In the two years that followed, that budget unlocked between £20-£25 billion of private investment. Thousands of jobs hav ..read more

How Shadow Boards provide a platform for greater representation, diversity and opportunity. Where we started It’s January 2022, the days are short in the northern hemisphere, the mornings are cold (though not as cold as they used to be on our ever-warming planet), and a new cohort of 11 Renewable Shadow Board members have just been appointed. Full of excitement, enthusiasm, and willingness to listen and learn, and a passion to challenge constructively, bringing a new diversity of voices to the Renewable UK Senior Leadership team (SLT) and Board. What we’ve achieved Roll forward two years, and ..read more