Energy in Demand News, December 14-15, 2025

It’s not the year-end headline we wanted: “Three-year temperature average set to exceed 1.5C for first time,” writes the Financial Times. While not breaking news, it is still a shock to think that 10 years after the landmark Paris climate agreement, we’ve landed here. “Temperatures are on track to exceed the 1.5C threshold of average … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, December 14-15, 2025

New report from CAN Europe: Small Modular Distractors: Why a European SMR strategy hinders the energy transition

Small modular reactors are not a viable solution to decarbonising our energy system and supporting a transition to net zero. The technology has not been demonstrated at any sort of scale, with great unknowns when it comes to design. CAN Europe’s latest report details how SMR projects have been shown to be significantly delayed compared to … Continue reading New report from CAN Europe: Small Modular Distractors: Why a European SMR strategy hinders the energy transition

Energy in Demand News, November 2-3, 2025

Bill Gates marked his 70th birthday on October 28 “by lobbing a hand grenade into the global climate finance debate, just as governments prepare to convene for the COP30 summit in Brazil, in the words of a Financial Times newsletter this week.  Bill Gates said: “I urge everyone at COP30 to ask … is the … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 2-3, 2025

The real reasons for the recent excitement about nuclear energy have less to do with energy security, or climate change – and far more to do with military power

Phil Johnstone, Visiting Fellow, School of Global Studies, University of Sussex; University of Tartu; Utrecht University and Andy Stirling, Professor of Science & Technology Policy, SPRU, University of Sussex Business School, University of Sussex write on The Conversation website about the real reasons there is increased excitement in nuclear energy. What are your views?   … Continue reading The real reasons for the recent excitement about nuclear energy have less to do with energy security, or climate change – and far more to do with military power

Clean energy jobs boom to bring thousands of new jobs in UK

Backed by record government and private sector investment in clean energy such as renewables and nuclear, the clean energy economy is sparking a boom in demand for good industrial jobs in all regions and nations of the UK – with 31 priority occupations such as plumbers, electricians, and welders particularly in demand.  Tom Pashby writes … Continue reading Clean energy jobs boom to bring thousands of new jobs in UK

Understanding the recent Iberian blackout

In an article on The Conversation website, J. Guillermo Sánchez León, Instituto Universitario de Física Fundamental y Matemáticas (IUFFyM), Universidad de Salamanca tries to explain what actually happened and the lessons that need to be learned from this blackout.   Unsurprisingly, there has been much written on this blackout. You may want to read the … Continue reading Understanding the recent Iberian blackout

New report on nuclear power’s global stagnation and decline

A new report for the EnergyScience Coalition skewers claim ‘the world is going nuclear’ and nuclear ‘newcomers’ will save the industry from its decades-long decline. One of the authors of the report, Dr. Jim Green, discusses the findings in an article on The Ecologist website.   Nuclear power’s global stagnation The proponents of nuclear power … Continue reading New report on nuclear power’s global stagnation and decline

Energy in Demand News, December 22, 2024

The biodiversity hit to economies is estimated at up to US$25 trillion a year, according to The Financial Times (behind a paywall). This is equivalent to one-quarter of global GDP lost annually because industries fail to factor in the damage their operations cause across systems. “Tackling biodiversity loss, climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity and … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, December 22, 2024

France says it is time to bring nuclear power into the centre of EU decarbonisation policy

A ministerial debate on the future of Europe’s energy system saw calls to build up cross-border power grids and end dependence on Russian fossil fuels, while France said it was time bring nuclear power into the centre of EU decarbonisation policy. Robert Hodgson discusses the debate on the potential role of nuclear energy.   France … Continue reading France says it is time to bring nuclear power into the centre of EU decarbonisation policy

Some ways in which the spread of AI data centres is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry in the US is responding

Anurag Srivastava, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University writes on The Conversation about how  utilities in the US are coping with AI data centres. What are your views. Is the experience similar in Europe and other regions?   How utilities are working to meet AI data centers’ voracious appetite for electricity … Continue reading Some ways in which the spread of AI data centres is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry in the US is responding