• Europe’s largest battery site, located in Scotland, goes live to balance the energy grid

    Zenobē, the UK grid-scale battery storage firm, has announced that its energy storage system in Blackhillock, Scotland, has begun commercial operations. The project will launch in two phases. The first phase, which has just gone live, comprises 200MW/400MWh. The second phase will follow in 2026 with a further 100MW, a total of 300MW/600MWh. According to Zenobē, this is the equivalent of powering over three million homes, substantially more than all the households in Scotland, for one hour. Promoted by the National Grid Electricity System Operator (NESO) in Scotland to improve the long-term stability of the electricity system, the project has been deliberately located between Inverness and Aberdeen to address grid congestion from Viking (443MW), Moray East (950MW) and Beatrice (588MW)…

  • VW seeks mass market success with reveal of €20,000 EV

    Volkswagen (VW) has unveiled the first shots of its upcoming affordable electric vehicle (EV), which is expected to go on sale in Europe for €20,000. The awkwardly named ‘ID. EVERY1’ has a new electric front-wheel drive system that supposedly optimises the space available in the vehicle while maximising efficiency. The concept vehicle is able to reach a top speed of 130 km/h and is powered by a newly developed electric drive motor that has a range of “at least” 250km. The production version will use a new software architecture allowing VW to provide it with additional functions through software updates over its lifespan. That software will be developed by EV maker Rivian after it signed a $5.8bn deal with VW last year to develop for both its own vehicles and the German car maker. The…

  • Government to keep North Sea drilling ban as it shifts focus to renewables

    The government has confirmed it will maintain the ban on new drilling licences for the North Sea as it looks to shift production over to other offshore industries such as hydrogen, carbon capture and wind power. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said it would end the “windfall” tax on oil firms in 2030, but was looking at other regimes that could be activated in the event of future shocks in oil and gas prices. The windfall tax was first introduced in 2022 to help support households struggling with spiking energy prices in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Last month, climate researchers urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to approve a major new oil field in the North Sea, which the Treasury was rumoured to be considering as part of its efforts to boost economic…

  • Canada plans to phase out 'forever chemicals', starting with firefighting foams

    Canada’s federal government has announced it will phase out ‘forever chemicals’, with the first phase tackling firefighting foams, followed by cosmetics, food packaging and textiles. Since their invention in the 1940s, poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have spread worldwide. They represent a group of around 12,000 different chemicals and are known as ‘forever chemicals’ because of their unbreakable chemical structure. They consist of chains of carbon atoms of varying lengths surrounded by atoms of fluorine. These carbon-fluorine bonds repel both oil and water, which make them indispensable in a whole range of industries. They appear everywhere from non-stick cookware to waterproof cosmetics and clothing. They are also present in our general environment and in our bodies.…

  • Antarctic ozone layer is healing thanks to global CFC ban, MIT study finds

    The ozone layer above the Antarctic is healing thanks to global efforts to reduce ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), an MIT study has found. Lying in the stratosphere, the ozone layer absorbs a portion of the radiation from the sun, preventing it from reaching the planet’s surface. That radiation can cause skin cancer, cataracts and damage to plants and marine life if it reaches the Earth’s surface unimpeded. In 1986, scientists led expeditions to the Antarctic, where they gathered evidence that a growing hole in the ozone layer was caused directly by broad use of CFCs – chemicals that were then deployed in refrigeration, air conditioning, insulation and aerosol propellants. The following year, those revelations led to the drafting of the Montreal Protocol…

  • Industry insight: Automation and digitisation key to closing the industrial skills gap

    Like many sectors, the industrial sector faces challenges in attracting and retaining talent. Aurelien Le Sant, CTO for industrial automation at Schneider Electric, looks at how increased automation and digitisation are key to solving these challenges. In 2024, Schneider Electric – in partnership with global technology research firm Omdia – published The future of work in industry report. In the report more than half of industrial companies (52%) surveyed considered talent acquisition and retention to be a top challenge, with many companies experiencing a talent drought of skilled manufacturing and industry professionals. A significant challenge is an ageing workforce, particularly in regions such as Japan, Europe and the US. Employees aged 55 and over now make up 25-40% of their respective…

  • Apple challenges UK government over demands to weaken iCloud encryption

    Apple has launched a legal challenge against the UK government over its demands for a “back door” into its cloud storage systems. A report from The Financial Times claims that the firm received a technical capability notice (TCN) in January that obliged it to give public bodies access beyond a layer of encryption that sits atop Apple’s iCloud system. The firm has appealed to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent body that hears complaints about surveillance by public bodies, in a bid to reverse the decision. The case could be heard as early as this month, although it is unlikely that details will be made public over national security concerns. Apple has long taken a strong stance advocating for enhanced privacy and encryption protocols as part of its business model, which…

  • Finland launches Europe’s first 50-qubit superconducting quantum computer

    In the culmination of a four-year joint-development project, Finland has launched Europe’s first 50-qubit quantum computer. Finnish company IQM Quantum Computers partnered with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland to develop the superconducting quantum computer. Located at VTT’s Micronova premises in the city of Espoo, the computer can now be used by companies and researchers who want to make use of its computing capabilities. While the field of quantum computing technology is still in its infancy, scientists believe that with its ability to solve problems that are unsolvable on classic computers, the technology could help power innovation in a range of fields, from drug discovery and smarter encryption software to manufacturing and AI. Erja Turunen, executive vice-president at…

  • Researchers explore sustainable ways to mine copper without destroying the planet

    Researchers at the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials in London are searching for ways to meet the global demand for copper while minimising environmental harm. Copper is an invaluable metal for global infrastructure, used in electrical wiring, plumbing and industrial machinery. It also plays a role in our move towards net zero as part of electrical vehicle production and solar panels, for instance. A study published last year found that renewable energy’s copper needs would outstrip what copper mines can produce at the current rate. Between 2018 and 2050, the world will need to mine 115% more copper than has been mined in all of human history just to meet current copper needs, even without considering the green energy transition. But copper mining has a huge environmental impact…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • TSMC to invest $100bn in US chipmaking plants as Trump pushes tariffs on imports

    TSMC has said it will invest an additional $100bn (£79bn) to build chipmaking facilities in the US as Donald Trump ramps up tariffs on foreign imports. The Taiwanese giant is renowned for its cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing capabilities that are capable of producing some of the most advanced chips available, including those used in Apple’s iPhone and top-tier Android devices. The firm already pledged a $65bn investment in 2022 under former US President Joe Biden to build a chipmaking plant in Arizona (pictured), although that project faced delays due to a shortage of skilled workers. The additional $100bn pledged includes plans for three new fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities and an R&D team centre. TSMC said its expanded investment would support 40,000 construction…

  • EU makes progress towards 2030 zero-pollution targets but stronger action required, reports say

    Pollution levels remain too high in Europe, with the European Environment Agency (EEA) calling for Europeans to “consume better, differently and less”. The European Commission and the EEA have published two pollution-related reports. The first is the Zero pollution monitoring and outlook report, which provides an overview of the EU’s work to meet the 2030 zero-pollution targets. The second is the fourth Clean air outlook report, which analyses the prospects for reducing air pollution in the EU by 2030 and beyond. The reports reveal that while EU policies have contributed to certain improvements such as reducing air pollution, pesticide use, antimicrobials and ocean microplastics, urgent action is needed in other areas. These include noise pollution, microplastic pollution in the environment…

  • Evil Engineer: Could I turn the asteroid belt into a world of my own?

    This month, the Evil Engineer dispenses wisdom to a villain who longs to be king of the world – though another world would do. Dear Evil Engineer, When I was a child, I determined that my life’s ambition was to become king of the world. I have spent the decades since working my way up the social ladder, dispatching anyone who gets in my way, to make my dream my reality. Now, at the age of 57, I have reached the position of Deputy Leader of Leek Town Council. This does not fill me with confidence that I will be king of the world by retirement age. If I cannot become king of the world, perhaps I can still become king of ‘a’ world. The Outer Space Treaty prevents me claiming sovereignty over any celestial body, but I have thought of a possible loophole: how about if I constructed my own…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • UK navigates AI and defence ties with US as Trump reshapes global order

    Amid stormy clashes at presidential level, how is the technology landscape evolving through the melee? Since 2021, the UK has aligned and allied with the US on AI. But continuing to do so since Donald Trump replaced Joe Biden as president is making European allies nervous. AI is increasingly viewed in terms of national (and regional) security, and alarm has grown over Washington’s changed attitudes to the invasion of Ukraine and Nato. With Trump having suspended military aid to Kyiv, Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a dilemma. There is the UK’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty but also its economic and military links to the US, links that have persisted until now, regardless of the colour of the presidency. At a late February press conference with Trump in Washington DC, Starmer unveiled…

  • E+T Podcast: Episode 11 | Forever Chemicals - Are they an environmental disaster in progress?

    Hosted by: Tim Fryer and Tanya Weaver Special Guest: Stephanie Metzger, Policy Advisor at the Royal Society of Chemistry. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - better known as PFAS or Forever Chemicals, are incredibly useful. They are so good at repelling water, oil and heat that they are used in a multitude of everyday applications. However, there is evidence linking them to serious health issues including cancers and, as the name Forever Chemicals suggests, they are very difficult to get rid of. So how are we going to engineer our way out of this problem? Regulars Tim Fryer and Tanya Weaver are joined by guest Stephanie Metzger, Policy Advisor at the Royal Society of Chemistry.

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Nuclear power is 'stagnating' while renewable energy gains pace, study finds

    Renewable energy is outstripping nuclear power, as the number of nuclear reactors operating around the world continues to slide, a new report says. The study, Nuclear power’s global stagnation and decline’, is published by the EnergyScience Coalition, an independent non-governmental organisation. It is authored by academics from the University of Melbourne and the Nuclear Consulting Group (NCG). Its findings show that, despite claims to the contrary, the global nuclear power industry is “stagnating rather than growing”. The aim of the study is to show that Australia’s push towards nuclear power is not worth the investment, and it cannot be deployed in time to support Australia’s energy transition targets. Co-author Jim Green, a national nuclear campaigner and member of the NCG, told…

  • Second commercial spacecraft lands on the Moon with collection of Nasa payloads

    The second-ever landing on the Moon by a commercial craft was achieved this weekend by US firm Firefly Aerospace. The Blue Ghost lunar lander, which was carrying a number of payloads from Nasa, softly touched down on the Moon’s surface on Sunday morning UK time in an upright position on the company’s first attempt. Carrying 10 Nasa instruments, the precision landing saw Blue Ghost touch down within its 100-metre landing target next to Mons Latreille, a volcanic feature. The craft’s shock-absorbing legs stabilised the lander as it touched down, and it is now communicating with Firefly’s mission operations centre in Texas. Intuitive Machines landed the first privately built craft on the Moon last year, the first time such a feat was achieved by the US in over 50 years. However, the Odysseus…

  • Lego introduces sustainable tyres made from old fishing nets, ropes and engine oil

    Lego has introduced tyres made using over one-third recycled material into select Lego sets, with a full transition planned for later this year. Since 1963, Lego pieces have been manufactured from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. This material offers many advantages in durability, safety, quality and consistency. However, it is not environmentally friendly. Lego has declared that by 2032 its ambition is to make its bricks from renewable or recycled materials. Having already made some steps on this journey, including the use of biopolyethylene for botanical elements and Minifigure accessories, the latest step is the introduction of a sustainable material for Lego tyres that does not rely on virgin fossil fuel-based ingredients. The material is created by combining discarded…

  • Adding solar panels to farmland can boost both energy and food security, finds study

    A study by the University of Sheffield has found that installing solar panels on farmers’ land would not result in a loss of agricultural activity. As part of its plan for the UK to reach net zero by 2050, the government aims to significantly ramp up the amount of solar power across the country. However, the prospect of swathes of ground-mounted solar panels has proven contentious with both farmers and the public. Chief among the criticisms is that high-quality agricultural land will have to give way to solar farms. Some also do not like the visual impact these farms have on the landscape. A study by researchers at the University of Sheffield focuses on the impact of agrivoltaics in Great Britain. Agrivoltaics is the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture. The…

  • MPs say HS2 is a cautionary tale of mismanagement and poor value for money

    MPs have issued a damning report about the failures of the HS2 rail programme, saying the Department for Transport (DfT) does not have “the right skills and capabilities” to effectively lead the project. HS2 has been beset by a string of failures and budget overruns over the last decade, including the cancellation of routes ending in Leeds and Manchester by the previous Conservative government. An HS2 board paper released in June 2024 anticipated that the project was now expected to cost between £54bn and £66bn in 2019 prices – a marked increase from estimates the previous November of £49bn to £57bn. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published its report updating its long-running scrutiny of the project, following the cancellation of HS2’s Northern leg. It said the level of failure…

  • Government signals approval for Gatwick expansion but delays final decision

    The government has confirmed it will likely approve an expansion to Gatwick Airport, but it has delayed the final decision until October to seek views from all affected parties. The airport already has a Northern Runway that runs parallel to the main one, but they cannot be used at the same time as they are too close. Gatwick wants to shift the runway 12 metres further away to allow both to operate simultaneously. The move should open up Britain’s skies to an additional 100,000 flights per year while creating an estimated 14,000 jobs. Transport minister Heidi Alexander has said she is “minded to approve” the £2.2bn expansion, but has announced a nine-month extension to the final decision time frame. Assuming final consent is granted, Gatwick could start turning the Northern Runway into…

  • Industry insight: Claiming R&D tax relief – who owns your IP?

    Mohamed Dafea, co-founder of R&D tax funding firm Grantica, considers the likely impact of tax reforms on innovation in the engineering sector. UK engineering has long been a hotbed of innovation, with many businesses in the sector securing R&D tax relief for their ground-breaking research. But major reform of the UK’s R&D tax regime is likely to have a significant impact on engineering firms that outsource R&D tasks, with intellectual property (IP) becoming an increasingly important factor in claims. The SME and large company R&D schemes are being merged to create a single R&D regime. Under the new scheme, companies of all sizes can claim qualifying payments for contracted-out R&D, subject to certain conditions. Who can claim? The question of exactly who can make a claim has become…

  • Space scientist Simon Foster talks astronaut applications and space commercialisation

    Simon Foster on collaborating with his Imperial peers, inspiring the next generation of scientists and looking to the skies for what’s coming next. Dr Simon Foster is a space scientist and outreach specialist based in the department of physics at Imperial College London. He has conducted scientific research into the long-term (100-1,000 years) variations in the Sun’s energy output and how these variations impact the Earth’s climate. Foster has also worked on numerous shows for the BBC, Sky One, Channel 4, Science Channel and Discovery Channel, and once applied for the astronaut training programme. Q What inspired you to pursue a career in space science, and was there a defining moment when you knew this was your path? I have found space fascinating since I was a small child. One of…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • UK battery start-up Volklec to manufacture lithium-ion batteries by end of 2025

    Volklec will begin battery production from its base later this year, with plans to build a 10GWh £1bn gigafactory by the end of the decade. The Coventry-based battery manufacturing business officially launched in May 2024. It has now announced it has partnered with Asian battery supplier Far East Battery (FEB) to help it scale up production of its lithium-ion batteries. Production will start later this year at Coventry’s Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), which provides customers with labs, production lines and cell assembly facilities. Specialists from FEB in China will work with Volvec to ensure its manufacturing line is ready for the start of production. Imran Khatri, Volklec founder, said: “Volklec has been established to help the UK’s decarbonisation drive. As a proud investment…

  • Avride’s autonomous robots begin restaurant deliveries in Tokyo

    Avride has announced that its automated pavement robots will begin delivering restaurant orders to customers in several neighbourhoods in Tokyo. The Texas-based firm has been operating a commercial delivery service using its robots since 2021 on the Ohio State University and the University of Arizona campuses, as well as some districts in Moscow, Russia. The Tokyo service represents a broader roll-out and the firm’s first deployment of its robots in Japan. It is being launched in partnership with Rakuten, one of Japan’s largest e-commerce and technology companies. It first trialled robotic delivery pilot programs in 2019. Starting today, the robots will be delivering a wide range of products from restaurants including a branch of Starbucks and groceries from various supermarkets. …

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