Recent modelling shows that domestic peak heat demand in UK is almost 50% lower than widely cited values

A recent article on the Cell Press website provides valuable insight into the impact of 100% electrification of domestic heat in the UK. Decarbonising heat in particular is often perceived as a daunting task since natural gas serves between 60 and 80% of the domestic heat sector in countries like the UK. While there has … Continue reading Recent modelling shows that domestic peak heat demand in UK is almost 50% lower than widely cited values

New uncertainties and challenges that stand in the way of Ghana’s latest efforts to develop an integrated aluminium industry

In an article on The Conversation website, Theophilus Acheampong, Associate Lecturer, University of Aberdeen and Matthew Tyce, Lecturer in International Political Economy, King's College London discuss how the clean energy transition is affecting Ghana’s ambitions for industrial development.   Ghana’s decades-old ambition to build an integrated aluminium industry faces a new hurdle: the clean energy … Continue reading New uncertainties and challenges that stand in the way of Ghana’s latest efforts to develop an integrated aluminium industry

Energy in Demand News, March 24, 2024

"The state of the climate in 2023 gave ominous new significance to the phrase ‘off the charts.'" That quote introduced the World Meteorological Organization’s latest annual report. It confirms that 2023 was the hottest year on record by a clear margin. Records were broken for ocean heat, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice loss and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 24, 2024

Sufficiency concerns: Aussie homes are getting bigger, wiping out energy efficiency gains

Kate Wingrove, PhD Candidate at the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, University of Wollongong and Emma Heffernan, Associate Professor in Architecture, University of Sydney write on The Conversation website about the trend in Australia for ever bigger homes. This has to be a concern as the country addresses climate change. What is happening in your country? … Continue reading Sufficiency concerns: Aussie homes are getting bigger, wiping out energy efficiency gains

New EEA report on the circular economy in Europe

Despite legislative steps forward over the past five years, efforts to transform Europe’s largely linear, ‘throw-away’ economy into a circular one will require further bold action and strong implementation of existing measures. Decisive action is essential to drastically reduce waste, prioritise reduction of resource use, improve recycling rates and improve the introduction of products that … Continue reading New EEA report on the circular economy in Europe

New EEA assessment that Europe is unprepared for rapidly growing climate risks

Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, and climate risks are threatening its energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability, and people’s health. According to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment, published this week, many of these risks have already reached critical levels and could become catastrophic without urgent and … Continue reading New EEA assessment that Europe is unprepared for rapidly growing climate risks

China lagging behind goal to reduce energy intensity

Matteo Civillini writes on the Climate Home News website that the Chinese government aims to cut the amount of energy needed for its economic growth by 2.5% in 2024, putting it far off track for a key five-year climate target.   China steps away from 2025 energy efficiency goal China looks set to miss one … Continue reading China lagging behind goal to reduce energy intensity

Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024

The bad news from the IEA this week is that, globally, CO2 emissions increased by 410 million tonnes, or 1.1%, in 2023. The good news from the IEA is that global energy-related CO2 emissions rose less strongly in 2023 than the year before even as total energy demand growth accelerated.  IEA analysis shows that the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, March 3, 2024

Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

This weekend sees the first of three sessions of the European Citizens' Energy Efficiency Panel in Brussels with 150 European citizens discussing how energy may be used in the EU and how the energy system should change. Participants are focusing on different aspects of energy efficiency that consumers might encounter at home, in communities or … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, February 25, 2024

How to deliver the COP 29 energy efficiency target

In an article in the February issue of the Energy in Buildings & Industry magazine, Andrew Warren, Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, looks at some of the proposals from the recent Davos Summit which could help to reduce energy demand while helping to drive growth and productivity.   Practical ways to get the … Continue reading How to deliver the COP 29 energy efficiency target