• ‘Energy disaster’: offshore wind farms absent from government auction

    The UK’s renewable energy strategy has suffered a blow as no new offshore wind projects have been bought by developers at the latest Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction.  Industry experts had warned that this might be the case after ministers refused to increase the maximum price for the auction despite a 40 per cent increase in the cost of manufacturing and installing turbines.  The auction price led the t hree biggest offshore wind developers in the UK – SSE,  ScottishPower and the Swedish company Vattenfall – to sit out the bidding. As a result, no  energy companies submitted bids for offshore wind projects. “This is a multibillion-pound lost opportunity to deliver low-cost energy for consumers and a wake-up call for government,” said Keith Anderson, chief executive of ScottishPower…

  • Rural areas get first dibs on £129m fund for new zero-emission buses

    It has prioritised the first £25m for rural communities where building the infrastructure needed for the buses is more expensive. The Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) 2 scheme is now open for bids from all local authorities in England outside London, with applications to be prioritised from those that did not receive funding in the previous funding rounds. The first round of ZEBRA funding saw 1,300 zero emission buses introduced onto local bus routes as part of an initial target of 4,000. Eventually, the government wants the UK’s entire fleet to be fully decarbonised. Transport secretary Mark Harper also announced the launch of a new research hub, backed by £10m in taxpayer funding, to develop ideas to ensure future transport infrastructure is low-carbon and resilient. “Today…

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    E+T Magazine

  • Smart home devices could be harvesting excessive person data, report finds

    The ICO has announced a crackdown on connected devices and is working on developing  new rules and action to be taken against manufacturers who fail in their data security  obligations. The news follows the publication of a Which? report that analysed the data collection practices of popular home device brands. The report concluded that almost all connected devices sold in the UK required data surplus to the devices’ performance.  Some examples included smart TVs that asked for users’ viewing habits and a smart washing machine that requires people’s date of birth. Most brands also required exact location data.  Which? also found that certain companies were sharing  customer data with firms such as TikTok and Meta.  “Consumers have already paid for smart products, in some cases thousands…

  • UK’s largest electric vehicle charging hub opens in Birmingham

    The Gigahub is designed to help serve the 7 million visitors that come to the NEC campus annually, along with other road users that make up the area’s average yearly traffic count of 60 million. It includes ultra-fast 16x 300KW DC chargers that are capable of charging 30 EVs simultaneously and a further 150 points for 7KW charging. BP Pulse, the EV charging arm of the oil and gas extractor, will be operating the hub. It can be accessed via the main NEC Campus by road, less than 1 mile from Junction 6 on the M42. Given the sluggish pace at which EV chargers have been rolling out across the UK, the government is expected to miss its target of having six or more rapid or ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers at every motorway service area in England by the end of 2023. There are currently…

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  • UK rejoins Europe’s £81bn Horizon research programme

    After months of tense negotiations, the UK and the EU have reached a deal regarding the former's membership of the bloc’s research programmes.  Under the agreement, the UK will become an associate member of t he €95bn (£81bn) Horizon Europe programme, meaning that scientists can start applying for grants under the scheme with immediate effect. The long-delayed decision has been celebrated across scientific and business communities as a step forward for the UK’s research sector.  “With a wealth of expertise and experience to bring to the global stage, we have delivered a deal that enables UK scientists to confidently take part in the world’s largest research collaboration programme – Horizon Europe,” said Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister.  “We have worked with our EU partners to make sure…

  • North Sea oil sector appeals for more investment to help it decarbonise

    Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said that carbon emissions from North Sea oil drilling are down for the third year in a row, matching the industry’s decarbonisation targets. Last year’s three per cent reduction contributed to a 23 per cent drop in greenhouse gas emissions between 2018 and 2022, according to the latest Emissions Monitoring Report from the North Sea Transition Authority. “Our challenge now is to ensure the energy sector receives enough investment and the right long-term energy policy to significantly scale up the solutions needed to meet the real challenge ahead; halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050,” said OEUK’s sustainability and policy director Mike Tholen. The current reductions are in line with the sector’s commitments under the North Sea Transition…

  • Airbus, easyJet, Rolls-Royce partner to promote hydrogen-powered flying

    The HIA alliance aims to position Britain at the forefront of hydrogen-powered aviation, it said. Members include easyJet, Rolls-Royce, Airbus, Ørsted, GKN Aerospace and Bristol Airport.  The goal of the partnership is to ensure that the UK puts in place the infrastructure, policy, regulatory and safety frameworks needed to be ready for when the first hydrogen-powered aircraft takes to the skies. “It would be unforgivable if actually the aircraft were available ready to fly and we could operate them, but actually, it got held back because some of these policies weren't really in place,” easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said.  In particular, the alliance has chosen to focus on hydrogen as a source of clean fuel for airplanes.  The companies pointed out that 81 per cent of the British…

  • Six tech giants named ‘gatekeepers’ under new EU competition law

    The EU has named six tech giants that will have to comply with stringent new rules aimed at protecting consumers and competitors in the digital sphere.  With the passing of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the EU is creating what it describes as a “rulebook” for online platforms , with the goal of creating “a safer and more open digital space, grounded in respect for fundamental rights”. The rules will specifically target gatekeepers, defined as having an “entrenched and durable position in the market” that allows them to restrict access to core platform services, such as online search, advertising and messaging and communications. Today, the EU has published its official list of “gatekeepers”. It features six companies which, combined, oversee 22 platforms: Alphabet (which operates…

  • New Huawei smartphone includes advanced China-made chip, surprising analysts

    The Huawei Mate 60 Pro smartphone was expected to include a 5G chip from HiSilicon, the Kirin 9000s. But analysis firm TechInsights took a closer look at the chip and found evidence of a 7nm process built by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) – a partially state-owned chipmaking company in China. It said the discovery is a milestone in China’s chipmaking capabilities, which have long trailed the West. Last month, Huawei was accused of building a series of secret chipmaking facilities across China, under the names of other companies, to help the technology company bypass US sanctions. The Chinese tech firm reportedly moved into chip production last year and was receiving an estimated $30bn (£23.7bn) in state funding from the government. It is believed that China still…

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    E+T Magazine

  • UK ‘will struggle’ to meet carbon capture targets, report says

    Analysis by the global insight business for renewables, energy and natural resources has stressed that many companies have not been able to progress their carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) projects due to a slowdown in the negotiations for government funding. The difficulty in securing public and private investment would make it very difficult for the UK to meet its 2030 CCUS targets, Wood Mackenzie said. “CCUS is a rising global industry,” said Mhairidh Evans, head of CCUS research speaking at Offshore Europe taking place in Aberdeen. “There will of course be hurdles along the way, but companies should be ready to ride the megatrend. Mostly, the technical workstreams are running ahead of the commercial and regulatory ones. And there’s still a lot to do to bring emitters onboard…

  • Australia to send its first rover to the Moon as part of 2026 Artemis mission

    The Australian rover will collect lunar soil, known as regolith, and once recovered, Nasa will attempt to extract oxygen from the sample. This is considered to be a key step towards a sustainable human presence on the Moon and potential plans to build a permanent settlement. The oxygen could also be used to create rocket fuel for further exploration of the Moon or Mars. The rover – as yet unnamed – will travel to the Moon as part of a future Artemis mission as early as 2026. The Artemis missions aim to “land the first woman and first person of colour on the Moon”, explore the lunar surface, and lay the groundwork for sending astronauts to Mars. It will see Nasa collaborating with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. According to…

  • Rubber seals could be leaking hazardous chemicals into drinking water, study finds

    As drinking water flows through pipes, it sometimes comes into contact with the rubber seals inside various plumbing devices. These parts contain additives that contribute to their flexibility and durability, but which are also potentially harmful compounds that can leak into drinking water. Previous research on the impact of rubber on human health tended to focus on tyres and the microparticles produced during their use. But a new small-scale study, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, found that the compounds released into water from plumbing infrastructure sometimes transformed into unwanted byproducts. To enhance rubber’s strength and durability, manufacturers typically mix in additives. Previous research from the same team showed that these can react with disinfectants…

  • Small fuel cells could power nuclear reactors on the Moon

    The team of researchers, based in north Wales, have been working in partnership with Rolls Royce to develop a source of energy that could sustain long stays on the Earth’s satellite.  Using TRISO particles, they designed Trisofuel, a small nuclear cell that could power the carmakers’ micro nuclear generator.  The generator is a portable device the size of a small car and “something you can stick on a rocket,” said the university’s Professor Simon Middleburgh, from the Nuclear Futures Institute. Trisofuel has now been sent to the researchers’ partners for further testing.  Artist’s impression of a lunar colony / Rolls Royce Image credit: Rolls Royce Nuclear power has the potential to dramatically increase the duration of future lunar missions and their scientific

  • UK falls behind on green hydrogen race, trade bodies warn

    The Energy Networks Association (ENA) and Hydrogen UK urged the government to “regain the momentum” in the low-carbon hydrogen industry after being overtaken by leading economies. The two organisations have published the International Hydrogen Progress Index, a report that measures how attractive national markets are for hydrogen generation and infrastructure.  In 2021, the UK ranked as the second-most attractive market after South Korea. Two years later, the country has dropped to eighth place in the ranking, behind Germany, the US, Japan, Canada, South Korea, the Netherlands and France.  “Though some progress has been made, the US, Germany, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands and France have all leapfrogged the UK at a time when competition to attract international investment in energy infrastructure…

  • Major data breach leaks passwords of seven million Freecycle users

    The breach included usernames, user IDs, email addresses and passwords, and the firm has asked registered members to change their passwords. Freecycle is a non-profit organisation that coordinates a worldwide network of ‘gifting’ groups in a bid to divert reusable goods from landfills. The firm said the breach has been closed and it has been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK and authorities in the US. In a post on its site, it said: “On August 30th we became aware of a data breach on Freecycle.org. As a result, we are advising all members to change your passwords as soon as possible. We apologise for the inconvenience.” According to Bleepingcomputer.com , a hacker offered up the data for sale on a hacking forum in late May, although the source of the…

  • Toyota’s hydrogen-powered Hilux pick-up truck to be manufactured in the UK

    The Japanese carmaker unveiled a prototype vehicle at its Burnaston car plant in Derby, where it has been developed in a joint project with consortium partners, supported by taxpayer funding. The vehicle’s new powertrain uses core elements from the Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell electric saloon, which has been produced in limited quantities commercially over the last decade. When driven, the fuel cell produces no tailpipe emissions other than pure water. Three high-pressure fuel tanks are used, giving the Hilux an expected driving range of more than 365 miles. This is significantly more range than might be achieved with a battery electric system, Toyota said, although access to refuelling stations is limited in most countries. Image credit: Toyota The battery…

  • China targets $40bn chip investment – reports

    The China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund – also known as the Big Fund – is planning on launching its third and largest investment fund in the chip industry, targeting a 300bn yuan investment.  The Chinese government will contribute 60bn yuan (£6.5bn).  The investments are expected to support domestic chip manufacturing and research projects, with one of the main focuses being machinery for chip fabrication, Reuters reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. The fund would follow those launched in 2014 and 2019, which raised 138.7bn yuan (£15bn) and 200bn yuan (£21.8bn) respectively, according to government sources.  At the time, the backers for the funds were the Chinese finance ministry, as well as several state-owned entities such as China Development…

  • Ship begins laying 440km cable to link world’s largest offshore wind farm to UK energy grid

    The 1.4GW Sofia offshore wind farm is being built by energy firm RWE and, once complete, will be one of the world’s largest single offshore wind farms. Expected to be operational in 2026, Sofia forms part of the Dogger Bank wind farm project that will boast a combined energy output of 4.8GW. The Leonardo da Vinci vessel, built by Prysmian, is laying the first sections of high-voltage direct current export cables, which will be used to transport green electricity from the wind farm back to the UK coast. Prysmian’s 170m-long vessel will operate out of the port of Middlesbrough and will lay two 130km sections of cable in parallel. It will start its cable-laying work just off the Teesside coast, and one end of each of the two sections of subsea cable will be pulled underwater from the vessel…

  • India successfully launches its first mission to the Sun

    Just days after landing its first rover on the Moon, India has successfully launched a mission to our nearest star, the Sun.  The Aditya-L1 spacecraft blasted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in South India’s Sriharikota at 11.50am local time on Saturday.  The spacecraft is now headed on a long journey towards the Sun. Over the next four months, Aditya-L1 will cover a distance of 932,000 miles (1.5 million km) to reach its destination: a halo orbit around one of five Lagrangian points. If successful, Aditya-L1 will be the first vessel by any Asian nation to be placed in orbit around the Sun. This location is a place where the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Earth cancel each other out. It is also expected to allow the Aditya-L1 – named after the Sanskrit word for ‘Sun’ – to study…

  • Banks invest trillions in Global South fossil fuel expansion despite climate warnings

    Bank financing for the fossil fuel industry in the 134 countries of the Global South has reached an estimated $3.2tr since 2016, when the Paris Agreement on Climate Change entered into force, according to ActionAid. Bank financing to the largest industrial agriculture companies operating in the same area amounted to $370bn over the same period. The two industries are the largest global contributors to climate change. The Global South includes Brazil, India, Indonesia and China, alongside countries with smaller economies such as Nigeria and Mexico. These countries, already disproportionately affected by climate change, are playing host to an increasing number of fossil fuel and industrial agriculture developments such as coal mines, gas wells, oil pipelines, coal-fired power plants and monoculture…

  • Onshore wind farm barn set to be overturned

    The UK government is reportedly set to change the laws that ban the construction of new onshore wind farms as a result of internal party pressures.  The rule changes follow the proposal of an amendment to the Energy Bill – set to be voted on by the government on Tuesday 5 September – that would make it easier for councils to pass planning applications for new turbines in places where there is public support.  The amendment was put forward by the former Cop26 president Alok Sharma, and received the support of 20 MPs from all wings of the party including former Prime Minister Liz Truss. The move has also received backing from the Labour Party, meaning only six more Tory backbenchers would need to vote in favour to overturn the government’s majority. “The government committed to changing…

  • Proposed solar farm restrictions would slap £5bn energy bill on UK households

    The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), which based its findings on an analysis of the government’s 70GW solar energy target, said this is equivalent to up to £180 per UK household per year. It is estimated that between 24GW and 39GW of the target in England is likely to be generated by ground-mounted solar panels. But proposed amendments to the Energy Bill suggest placing further restrictions on solar farm developments, following moves by the Liz Truss government to effectively ban them last year. If the amendments were successful, energy costs for bill-payers could be between £3bn and £5bn higher each year, as the electricity would probably be produced using more expensive gas instead. At the top end, this is equivalent to gas required to heat around 6.5 million homes for a…

  • IFA 2023: Honor, Lenovo, Anker and more unveil devices at Europe’s largest tech show

    Honor In the first keynote of the show, Honor announced its latest foldable – the Honor Magic V2 – which, according to the Chinese firm, is the slimmest of its type at just 9.9mm thick when closed. The device was announced just six months after the Honor Magic Vs , although it is not expected to be released commercially until early next year. Image credit: jack loughran Boasting a triple lens camera setup on the back and two front-facing cameras, the Magic V2 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It also comes with a 5000mAh silicon-carbon battery – relatively new technology that achieves around 12.8 per cent higher energy density than regular batteries. Honor also unveiled the Honor V Purse, a concept device with a screen that…

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    E+T Magazine

  • Schools across England forced to close over risk of collapse

    The new school year is beginning, but many students in England will not return to their classrooms after the Department of Education (DfE) ordered more than 100 schools to shut some of their buildings, citing the risks of crumbling concrete.  The reason for the measure was the detection of dangerous levels of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), a material described as “80 per cent air” and “like an Aero Bar”, which could cause buildings to collapse. The material was widely used in roofs, floors and walls between the 1950s and 1990s. The list of affected schools containing RAAC has reached 156; 104 of these require urgent action, the government said, while 52 have already received repair works. However, this number could rise as survey work continues. So far, an estimated 24 schools…

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