North East Lincolnshire Council has granted consent for a solar farm and battery storage project known as the Bradley Road Solar Farm. Situated northwest of Waltham, North East Lincolnshire, the project will generate clean energy equivalent to powering over 17,000 homes. Developed by developer Renewable Connections, the 43.7MW solar farm and 10MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will contribute to the region’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The project underwent extensive community engagement, resulting in design modifications to address stakeholder feedback, including landscape enhanc ..read more

As of the end of March 2024, the UK boasts a total solar capacity of 15.8GW across 1,483,386 installations, marking a 5.6% increase (837MW) since March 2023. There were 14,734 installations in March alone, adding 63MW of capacity, the highest figure for the year thus far but lower than early 2023 levels. Despite this, the numbers remain significantly higher than the averages observed between 2016 and 2021. Following a sharp decline in April 2020 due to Covid-19 lockdown measures, installations rebounded in the second half of 2020 and surpassed pre-pandemic levels. From 2016 to 2021, the median ..read more

UK Power Networks, the biggest electricity network operator in the UK, is bolstering its safety campaign to raise awareness among workers in various industries about the dangers of working near electricity networks. Emphasising safety as its top priority, the company engages with sectors like agriculture, haulage and construction through face-to-face events and partnerships to educate workers about safety procedures and risks. Free resources such as “Think Before You Dig” materials underscore the company’s commitment to promoting safe behaviours and preventing accidents. The post UK Power Netw ..read more

A series of reports from the Food and Land Use Coalition, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and We Mean Business Coalition stress the importance of the agrifood sector in achieving climate goals. The reports advocate for approximately $205 billion (£162bn) in yearly investments from 2025 to 2030 to mitigate up to nine gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions annually by 2030. Urgent action is emphasised to align with the Paris Agreement‘s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C by 2050. Analysis reveals that agricultural production and land-use change emissions i ..read more

Public sector properties across Scotland are set to receive support from a government initiative aimed at accelerating the transition to net zero. The initiative includes an £11 million grant funding programme sourced from the £20 million Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund. Recipients, including the University of Edinburgh, Fife Council and North Lanarkshire Council, will use the grants to promote clean heating and energy efficiency measures. The funding supports various projects aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and adopting clean heating systems, such as the University of Edinburgh’s ..read more

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued guidance to financial institutions regarding green claims for financial products, aiming to combat greenwashing practices in the industry. This guidance precedes the implementation of an anti-greenwashing rule set to take effect on 1st May. The FCA’s guidance outlines criteria for financial institutions to ensure that the environmental and social impact claims associated with their products are accurate and substantiated. The regulator aims to protect consumers by ensuring transparency and reliability in the marketing and labelling of sustainabl ..read more

Rolls-Royce has reportedly revised its plans to construct nuclear factories in the UK, citing ongoing delays in a government design competition for its small modular reactor (SMR) programme. Initially proposing two factories, the company has decided to forgo building a pressure vessel manufacturing facility due to time constraints, opting instead to procure heavy pressure vessels from third-party suppliers. While plans for a second factory focused on building modular units for SMRs continue, the decision highlights the challenges posed by the delayed design competition. Rolls-Royce has indicat ..read more

Black cab drivers in London are teaming up with InstaVolt, a leading rapid charging network, to advocate for a reduction in VAT on public charging points. The initiative aims to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and address challenges faced by drivers in adopting cleaner transportation options. Currently, nearly 60% of London‘s approximately 15,000 black cabs are zero emission capable electric taxis. The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), representing the majority of black cab drivers in the city, asserts that lowering VAT on public charging to 5% and enhancing acces ..read more

The latest data released on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) indicates a notable surge in applications, especially for grants toward Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) installations. By the end of March 2024, a total of 37,879 voucher applications were received, predominantly for ASHP installations, which accounted for 96% of the total applications. While there was a slight decrease in the total number of applications in March 2024 compared to the previous month, it marked a significant increase of 46% compared to March 2023. Additionally, the number of vouchers issued saw a modest rise in March 2024 ..read more

Tata Steel UK has announced its decision to proceed with a major transformation of its Port Talbot plant in south Wales, transitioning to electric arc furnace production. This decision follows extensive discussions with trade unions and formal consultations spanning seven months. The transition involves a £1.25 billion investment. As part of this transformation, Tata Steel will close its existing heavy end assets, including blast furnaces No.5 and No.4, by the end of June and September, respectively. The company plans to wind down remaining heavy end assets and close the Continuous Annealing P ..read more