01-04-2024 - The UK Reaches Halfway to Net Zero Target and Government Backs AI Net Zero Innovations.

Exploring this week's industry updates with ?????? ???????????????? as we take a look into the latest industry developments. The UK celebrates reaching a 53% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, marking halfway to net zero., 2.3 million households face energy debt, while 7 in 10 support local renewable projects. The UK solar industry thrives with new initiatives, including a ￡450bn offshore energy growth warning and AI-backed net-zero innovations. Additionally, projects like solar farms in Manchester and acquisitions in the solar sector further advance sustainable energy goals. Were taking a look at the key trends and developments that have happened this week which promise to shape the landscape of sustainable energy. ??????

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?? Industry Updates:

Catch up on the latest news, policy changes and trends.

• UK Hits Halfway Mark on Journey to Net Zero - Recent data indicates The UK has reached a milestone in its journey toward achieving net zero emissions, with recent data showing a 53% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2023. This marks the country’s halfway point in its commitment to net zero emissions. Reductions were seen in sectors such as electricity supply and residential areas, reflecting increased reliance on renewable energy sources. Read the full story
• UK Energy Debt Remains Despite Price Cap Reduction - Fuel poverty charity National Energy Action reports that despite a ￡238 annual drop in the price cap for typical households starting in April, 2.3 million households are paying more due to energy debt. With the cessation of cost of living payments for those on means-tested benefits in April, 6 million UK households are projected to fall into fuel poverty. Read the full story
• Fifth Contracts for Difference Round Pushes UK Solar Forward - A total of 56 ground-mounted solar projects won backing in the latest round of the UK’s Contracts for Difference (CfDs) renewable energy support scheme in November. According to government figures released on 8 September, the total capacity of allocation round 5 (AR5) comes to 1,928MW. Considering that Solar Media estimates that national capacity, on the ground and on the roof, will hit 17.6GW by the end of the year, the figure represents a significant inroad into reaching the government target of 70GW by 20235. Read the full story
• 7 in 10 People Would Support Local Wind or Solar Projects to Save on Energy Bills - A new partnership between a community-owned wind turbine and energy supplier OVO highlights how community energy projects could transform and secure the UK’s energy supply, as 7 in 10 people say they’d support a local wind or solar project if it meant cheaper energy for their community.?Locally led energy projects can provide significant financial benefits for local communities, while contributing to the national renewable energy mix.?Read the full story
• UK Could Lose ￡450bn of Offshore Energy Growth Without Policy Changes - Falling confidence in the UK economy is putting ￡450bn of North Sea offshore energy market growth in jeopardy, a new report warns. The latest Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) Business and Supply Chain Outlook report urges policymakers to restore confidence in the UK’s energy sector as an attractive proposition in which to invest, or face missing out on billions of pounds worth of work. Read the full story
• UK Solar Industry Bolsters Pledge to Sustainable Supply Chains
• Majority of UK Public Support Mandatory Solar Panels On New Homes

?? Innovative Technologies:

Discovering the cutting-edge technologies and innovations that are driving sustainability and reshaping the industry.

• UK Government Backs AI Projects to Speed Up Net-Zero Innovation - The GB government is backing eight projects with ￡1.7 million (US$2.1 million) to innovate AI towards the country’s clean energy transition. The eight projects, funded as part of the ￡1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, cover a range of initiatives to decarbonise the energy system and transportation and to accelerate the deployment of renewables. As such they highlight the potential of AI to impact multiple current and future energy sector use cases. Read the full article
• UKPN Introduces Tool to Helps Find Future Solar Farm Sites - UK Power Networks (UKPN) has introduced a new tool to help guide local authorities in sourcing future sites for community-owned solar farms. Across London, the East and South East, 80% of local authorities have declared a climate emergency, and most are creating energy plans. UKPN, which distributes electricity in these areas, has combined 18 datasets to develop the new IRENES tool. Read the full article
• A Simple Way to Harvest More 'Blue Energy' From Waves - Waves pack a powerful punch. Now, we are one step closer to capturing the energy behind the ocean's constant ebb and flow with an improved 'blue energy' harvesting device. Researchers report that simply repositioning the electrode -- from the centre of a see-sawing liquid-filled tube to the end where the water crashes with the most force -- dramatically increased the amount of wave energy that could be harvested. Read the full article
• Octopus Launches 'UK First' Solar Referral Scheme - Octopus Energy has announced the launch of its solar and heat pump referral scheme, offering ￡100 worth of incentives. This initiative, driven by the goal of decarbonising UK households, will allow anyone who gets a heat pump or solar system installation from Octopus to refer friends and family for their own low-carbon technology installation. Read the full article
• Researchers Modify Solar Technology to Produce Less Harmful Greenhouse Gas - Researchers are using semiconductors to harvest and convert the sun's energy into high-energy compounds that have the potential to produce environmentally-friendly fuels. Read the full article

?? Project Pipelines:

This weeks projects and initiatives that are making a positive impact.

• Plan to Power Nearly 3,000 Homes From a Landfill in Greater Manchester - Plans for a solar farm at a landfill in Greater Manchester would power nearly 3,000 homes, the developer has said. The Whitehead site at Astley, on the border of Wigan and Salford, will be used to generate 10m watts of electricity, if the plans are given the green light. Read the full story
• Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Makes ￡250M acquisition of UK solar developer Elgin Energy - Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has announced its acquisition of a majority share in UK solar firm Elgin Energy to deliver a 15GW portfolio. As of 2024, Elgin has delivered close to 2GW of ready-to-build solar photovoltaic (PV) and storage projects, as well as successfully securing over 30 projects from UK government-backed auctions.The solar and storage developer’s current project pipeline of 15GW is supported by development activities in the UK, Irish, and Australian markets, covering stand-alone solar, solar co-located with battery storage, and stand-alone battery storage. Read the full strory
• Solar Farm to Power 7,500 Homes Proposed for Field Near Quarry - The proposals for Uffington Solar Farm have been submitted to Shropshire Council for a 25-hectare agricultural field to the west of Haughmond Quarry. A submission with the plan states: “The site has been chosen by Opdenergy UK 10 Limited in conjunction with a willing landowner ensuring that an efficient, technically and economically viable solar farm can be developed without causing significant adverse environmental impacts, which makes it ideal for the generation of renewable energy and accommodate sheep grazing beneath and between the rows of solar panels, to maintain agricultural use within the site.” Read the full story
• Yeovil Solar Farm Gets Planning Approval - Conrad Energy Ltd has received planning approval for its 15.23-megawatt Yeovil solar farm, in conjunction with Leonardo. Conrad noted in a media release announcing the development that this site is a strategic development as it continues investment in its solar portfolio.The facility, once fully operational, will be capable of powering up to 6,500 homes, and could save around 80,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 40-year lifespan, Conrad said. Read the full story
• NatPower Pledges ￡10bn to UK Green Energy Sector - The UK-based start-up, part of larger European energy group NatPower Group, said it will license three ‘gigaparks’ – huge battery storage projects – by next year, with ten more to come by 2025. The company said that, by 2040, it will develop more than 60 gigawatt-hours of energy storage, making up 15–20% of the UK’s total capacity. NatPower added that more than ￡600m has been allocated to the development of substations to help speed up the connection of renewable power to the country’s grid and meet its target of 100% zero emissions electricity by 2035. Read the full story
• UK fast-tracks Approval for Offshore Wind Cabling Project - The proposed Eastern Green Link 1 (EGL1) high-voltage subsea cable connecting 2GW of offshore wind to shore is the first project to proceed under the UK’s fast-track accelerated strategic transmission investment (ASTI) process. Read the full story
• Swindon Approves Plan to Install 5,000 Solar Panels
• Salford Solar Farm Switched on to Power 800 Homes
• UK’s Industrial Doctorate Centre for Offshore Renewable Energy Secures ￡6M Funding
• Ardagh Launches Solar Energy Plant in Scotland
• UK Renewables Infrastructure Group to Acquire Stake in Swedish Wind Farms
• Hitachi to Help Boost UK Green Power Flow
• Plans Unveiled to Install Solar at The Range’s Ashford Site

? Talent Spotlight:

Highlighting this weeks hottest jobs in the renewable industry.

This Weeks hottest Jobs:

• Electrician | Gloucestershi
• Senior Building Physics Engineer | Cheshire | Up to ￡50k - View Job
• Senior Mechanical Design Engineer | Cheshire | Up to ￡60k - View Job
• Electrical Engineer | Oxfordshire | ￡50k - ￡65k - View Job
• BDM - Renewables | Coventry | ￡40k - ￡50k - View Job
• Senior Electrical Engineer | Cheshire | Up to ￡60k - View Job
• Technical Manager | Cheshire | Up to ￡65k - View Job
• Project Engineer | Swindon | Competitive package - View Job
• Design Engineer | Swindon | Competitive package - View Job
• Fusion Design Engineer | UK | ￡50K -￡70K - View Job
• Data Engineer | Cambridge | ￡45k - ￡55k + Package - View Job
• Chief Commercial Officer | Estonia/Remote | Competitive package - View Job
• Senior Solar Manager | Bristol/Hybrid or Remote | ￡50k-￡60k - View Job
• Senior Scientist | Cambridge, UK | Competitive package - View Job
• Contracts Manager | Crawley | ￡60k - ￡70k - View Job

For all the latest roles, updates and help with hiring specialist, cleantech talent check out Zero Global - Shaping the future #WithPurpose

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