This is how we move to a more energy sustainable future.

I don't need to tell you about the impact of climate change or how we need to take action now to remedy the situation. The real question is what are the right steps to take? And how could we implement them?

Well, the short answer is, it’s going to need a team effort - from governments, industries, and individuals. E.ON Next is the playmaker in the new energy transition. So let’s break it down, set out a strategy of achievable goals, and start taking climate action one step at a time.

There are three things every sustainable energy strategy should combine:

• Renewable Energy. This involves switching to energy sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind and hydro. This will reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
• Energy Efficiency. We also need to use less energy to achieve the same outcomes. We can do this with upgrades to our buildings and technology. Such as investing in improved building insulation and more efficient appliances.?
• Energy Conservation. This goes hand in hand with efficiency. We need to consider reducing energy consumption through behavioural changes, such as turning off lights when not in use and adopting other sustainable energy consumption habits.

Let’s not shy away from reality. It’s going to take some significant changes for all of us to make net zero happen.?

The good news is that the UK is keen to move towards a more carbon-neutral future. There is a lot of public support and a real hunger for progress out there.

So, let's see how we can help remove barriers to the energy transition, harness the enthusiasm and make that future happen.

Renewable energy technology.

The UK continues to pioneer several cutting-edge renewable energy technologies that will help provide us with even greater levels of renewable energy in the future.?

Developing existing renewable technologies.

Thanks to government support, offshore wind power is leading the way. The country is developing larger turbines and innovative floating platforms that allow wind farms to be located in deeper waters. This allows the UK to harness more of its vast offshore wind resources and produce even more clean energy.?

Then, there’s one technology we are all familiar with: solar panels.

Even though this technology has been around for a while, it’s still being developed and improved. From more efficient and durable photovoltaic cells to solar panel integration into our buildings and infrastructure , we are increasingly turning to solar panels for more renewable energy.

But what’s happening beyond these more established technologies??

What's on the horizon?

Here in the UK, several other technologies are poised to make an impact in the near future.?

Tidal and wave energy converters are tapping into the electricity-generating potential of our extensive coastline.?

Floating solar farms allow us to generate solar power on a body of water leaving the land free for other uses, such as farming and housing.?

Then, there are new airborne wind energy systems. Think of these as high-tech "kites" that can harness the faster and more consistent wind speeds that occur at greater altitudes.

And there’s advancements in bioenergy technologies to produce more renewable fuels and chemicals from sustainable biomass sources. These breakthroughs are essential if we are to develop a circular economy (but more on that later).

For me, developing and adopting cutting-edge technologies like these shows just how committed the UK is to sustainable energy. But, there are still challenges to overcome.

Next-generation batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.

One of those challenges is that these renewable energy sources do not provide us with a consistent output.?

To put it simply, the wind doesn't blow the same all the time, and the Sun doesn't shine as bright every day, so we don't get a consistent electricity supply from them. But that doesn't mean we're going to throw the towel in. And this is where the latest developments in energy storage come into play.

We already use batteries to store renewable energy for later use. But new batteries are being developed to meet this ever-growing challenge, from large-scale ones to novel chemical solutions.?

They allow us to store our renewable energy when it's plentiful and release it when we’re short, helping to iron out the supply peaks and troughs (and making us less reliant on fossil fuels as a backup).

Large-scale batteries.

These can store excess energy generated from our renewable sources during peak production times. Examples include:

• Lithium-ion Batteries. The most common battery technology today. They're used in everything from your smartphone to electric vehicles and beyond. And the tech is continually improving in capacity, cost, and lifespan.
• Flow Batteries. These batteries hold the electrical charge in special liquids called electrolytes. Their scalability and long lifespan make them suitable for larger storage. And ongoing research is helping to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
• Solid-state Batteries. This emerging technology uses solid electrolytes and has the potential for even higher energy storage and safety than lithium-ion. Again research and development is helping to make this a reality.

Alternative solutions.

These solutions look beyond batteries for energy storage. This includes:

• Thermal Energy Storage. Takes advantage of materials with high thermal capacity and stores the energy as heat or cold for later use.
• Gravity Energy Storage. Uses excess energy to lift objects, storing potential energy, and then converting it back to electricity by lowering the objects. The classic example is pumped storage hydroelectricity. It uses excess power to pump water up to a reservoir when the electricity is not needed, then releases that water to drive turbines and generators when it is.

Green Hydrogen.

This technology uses renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can then be used in fuel cells. It's a much cleaner way to produce hydrogen compared to using fossil fuels, and it has several applications, such as:?

• Clean fuel for transportation (the by-product of hydrogen reacting with oxygen is water).
• A fuel for producing products such as fertilisers that have previously used fossil fuels for their manufacture.
• A replacement for fossil fuels in energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking.

Although there is still a way to go before some of these technologies can be practically implemented, research and development are moving at a pace. So, hopefully it won't be too long before they become part of our day-to-day lives.

Smart grid technology will help.

So far, I've been talking about the technological advances in renewable energy generation and storage, but we must also think about the most efficient way to get that clean energy into our homes and businesses.

This is where the smart grid comes in.

What is the smart grid?

You can imagine our current electricity grid like a one-way street. Power stations generate electricity, and it flows down the cables and wires to your home.?

A smart grid, however, is more like a two-way street. It's a modern electricity network that uses digital communication technology to:

• Keep track of exactly how much electricity is being produced and used in real time all across the country.
• Allow different parts of the system (power stations, homes, batteries, etc.) to "talk" to each other and work together more efficiently.
• Automatically adjust the flow of electricity based on demand and supply. So the electricity ends up where it is needed.

Why is the smart grid essential for renewable energy??

As I previously mentioned, renewable sources can be unpredictable.

A smart grid helps balance supply and demand. If the wind suddenly stops blowing and a wind farm's output drops, the smart grid can quickly tap into other sources (like solar panels or batteries) to make up the difference.

Renewable energy can be stored in batteries when there's a surplus and released back into the grid when needed. A smart grid helps manage this storage and release efficiently. It’s even possible that EV car batteries could be used as localised storage and, where connected, could help the grid by releasing that stored energy at peak times.

Smart meters in your home can tell you when electricity is cheaper (like at night when demand is low). This encourages you to use appliances at those times, so overall demand is reduced and the system becomes more efficient.

A smart grid is an upgrade for the entire UK's electricity delivery system. It would make it more flexible, efficient, and reliable, especially when using renewable energy sources. That's why it's so important to the UK's plan for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

The circular economy. Minimum waste. Maximum efficiency.

Changing how energy is consumed is essential if we want to move towards a sustainable energy future. In fact, I’d say it’s the most critical component.

The good news is, we have a roadmap: the circular economy.

The circular economy is an economic model that aims to eliminate waste and pollution by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. It's a departure from the traditional linear model, which relies on large amounts of raw resources and results in significant waste.?

Think of it as a shift from "take-make-dispose" to "reduce-reuse-recycle".

Key principles of the circular economy.

• Designing out waste and pollution. At the design stage, products are made to be durable, repairable, and ultimately recyclable or compostable.
• Keeping products and materials in use. Products are given a longer life through reuse, repair and refurbishment.
• Regenerating natural systems. Instead of depleting natural resources, the circular economy restores and renews them. It means using renewable energy sources, returning nutrients to the soil, and protecting biodiversity.

Examples in action.

• Fashion. Companies are creating clothing rental services to reuse occasion wear that is not often worn. And designers are using materials that are easier to repair and recycle.
• Electronics. Companies are offering refurbishment and trade-in programs, as well as designing electronics that are easier to disassemble and recycle.
• Food. Businesses use food waste to create animal feed, compost, and energy.

How does this relate to renewable energy?

So far, we’ve discussed what we could do with things. But energy isn't an object. You can't repair electricity - or make new electricity out of the old electricity you’ve already used.

But, of course, renewable energy and the circular economy are intrinsically linked to creating a sustainable future.?

Renewable energy provides the clean power needed to drive circular processes, while the circular economy provides responsible resource management and waste reduction in the energy sector. That means looking for new, less wasteful ways to build the next generation of solar panels, wind turbines, and more.

That way, we can conserve resources and build a more resilient and prosperous society.

The benefits of a circular economy:

By now, I hope it’s clear how the circular economy can help address climate change, resource depletion, and pollution by minimising waste and pollution.

But the benefits don’t end there.

• Relying less on virgin resources will help reduce our dependence on imports and control price volatility.?
• It will drive innovation in product design, materials, and business models.
• And it will create new jobs and business opportunities in areas such as repair, refurbishment, and recycling.

Now, like any economic system, the circular economy is more complicated than my simple outline here. But if governments, businesses and consumers can all work together, it will be an essential step towards a more sustainable future .

A holistic approach to sustainability.

So exactly how should we all work to reach our common goal??

Well, we all know how we can do our part: turn lights off, use energy during less demanding times, and consider our digital carbon footprint when using electrical devices.

But businesses and governments have their part to play too.

Energy companies like E.ON Next can help by offering discounted tariffs and the Demand Flexibility Service to encourage customers to use energy at times of low demand. We can also offer financial incentives on products that will help you use energy more efficiently, like air source heat pumps and generate your own electricity like solar panels .

Finally, to make it all possible, governments need to invest in the infrastructure and legislation required to support homes and businesses as they take action.?

So what does this all add up to?

I hope I've shown you that at E.ON Next, we're all about removing the barriers in the new energy transition and making new energy work for everyone. But we believe it takes more than just fancy new tech. We're talking a full team effort, where innovation and social action go hand-in-hand.

The real-world examples I've included, along with the cutting-edge developments discussed, give you an idea of exactly how we can be the playmaker to help everyone make the switch to a more sustainable energy future.

So, come join the conversation . Help us develop even more game-changing strategies, groundbreaking tech, and societal shifts that could make our world cleaner and more sustainable.