Climate Change Solutions Update

Tag: UK

  • UK secures 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity in Allocation Round 7

    The UK Government's AR7 auction has secured 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity, expected to power over 12 million homes with clean electricity, resulting in £3.4bn in private investment. The Clean Industry Bonus focuses on enhancing domestic supply chains and manufacturing facilities, creating up to 7,000 jobs across the UK, with significant employment opportunities in Scotland. RWE secured CfD for 6.9GW of offshore wind capacity, including projects like Norfolk Vanguard and Dogger Bank, with a strike price of £91.2 per megawatt-hour. RWE CEO Markus Krebber announced successful long-term offtake contracts for five projects in AR7 and a partnership with KKR to leverage their investment expertise for offshore wind projects.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/uk-8-4gw-offshore-wind-ar7/

  • Q&A: What UK’s record auction for offshore wind means for bills and clean power by 2030

    The UK's latest auction for renewable energy projects saw a record-breaking amount of new offshore wind capacity secured, with 8.4GW of projects winning contracts. Prices for offshore wind rose by around 10% since the previous round, but analysis suggests it will be "cost neutral" for consumers due to lower wholesale costs. The government welcomed the results, stating it puts the country on track to reach its 2030 clean power targets and create jobs. The auction results were split into two parts, with fixed-foundation and floating offshore wind projects securing contracts. This marks the biggest ever offshore wind auction in Europe, with enough capacity to power over 12 million homes. The recent auction results for offshore wind projects are seen as positive for meeting clean power targets by 2030, with the government taking steps to support the expansion of renewable energy as part of a larger strategy to achieve ambitious clean power goals.

    https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-uks-record-auction-for-offshore-wind-means-for-bills-and-clean-power-by-2030/

  • “We Don’t Deserve This”: Survivors of Super Typhoon Odette File Claims Against Shell

    Survivors of Super Typhoon Odette in the Philippines are taking legal action against Shell, alleging the company's contribution to climate change made the event more likely and severe. The lawsuit, filed in UK courts, aims to hold Shell accountable for its role in the climate crisis and the resulting damages. This case is part of a larger movement seeking to attribute climate harms to fossil fuel companies and seek justice for vulnerable communities impacted by extreme weather events. The survivors' legal action highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on regions like the Philippines, where communities face continuous destruction and struggle to recover. This case represents a significant step in holding major oil and gas producers accountable for their role in climate damages, particularly for those in the Global South.

    https://drilled.media/news/odette-filing

  • UK study finds azimuthal trackers boost floating PV performance

    A University of Exeter study found that azimuthal tracking systems deliver the largest energy gains and lowest levelized cost of energy for floating solar PV plants in the UK, with a 26.9% increase in production compared to fixed systems. This makes floating solar a competitive option for marine-based renewable energy. Meanwhile, in the United States, Texas has become one of the top states for solar energy production due to its abundant sunlight, large land area, and decreasing costs of solar technology. The expansion of solar power in Texas is helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/01/02/uk-study-finds-azimuthal-trackers-boost-floating-pv-performance/

  • Growing agri-PV tomatoes while producing hydrogen for smart windows

    Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a concept for a residential building in the UK that combines rooftop agrivoltaics with onsite hydrogen production. The electricity generated by the solar system is used to produce hydrogen for hydrogen vehicles and smart windows, with the system able to meet the annual demand of the smart windows and support up to 64.23 km of driving per day. The study also discusses the thermal performance of vacuum gasochromic windows and the potential of small rooftop areas to support building-scale hydrogen applications. The impact of agrivoltaics on home insulation and the use of produced hydrogen for home heating are areas of future research, as detailed in the publication in Energy and Buildings titled "Rooftop agrivoltaic powered onsite hydrogen production for insulated gasochromic smart glazing and hydrogen vehicles: A holistic approach to sustainable residential building."

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/30/growing-agri-pv-tomatoes-while-producing-hydrogen-for-smart-windows/

  • Cambridge startup targets 15% module efficiency gain

    Cambridge Photon Technology, a UK-based startup, has secured funding to commercialize a photon multiplication technology that can boost solar panel output by up to 15% without changing existing manufacturing processes. The technology splits high energy photons into two half-energy infra-red photons, increasing the number of usable photons for silicon PV cells. In addition to efficiency gains, the technology also reduces heat and acts as an ultraviolet photoprotective agent, contributing to the preservation of a PV module's intrinsic efficiency over time. The startup plans to demonstrate the technology's effectiveness to the industry over the next two years and investigate its impact on module temperature and UV degradation, with the potential to significantly improve the performance of photovoltaic modules.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/11/cambridge-startup-targets-15-module-efficiency-gain/

  • Great British Energy unveils five-year strategy to boost UK renewable power

    Great British Energy (GBE) has unveiled a strategic plan to deliver a minimum of 15GW of clean energy generation and storage assets by 2030, aiming to supply power to around ten million households. The company plans to mobilize £15bn in private finance and support over 1,000 community energy projects to increase public participation in the domestic energy system, creating over 10,000 jobs, particularly in regions traditionally reliant on oil and gas industries. The plan includes investments in GBE Local, Onshore Energy, and Offshore Energy to accelerate the transition to renewable energy in the UK, focusing on the use of intelligent microgrids and distributed renewables to rebuild the energy grid for a more flexible and resilient future. The article highlights the use of an AI-enabled Microgrid Management SystemTM and strategic partnerships to create networked microgrids, aiming to create a more sustainable energy system that can better withstand climate-related challenges.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/great-british-energy-five-year-strategy/

  • Low Carbon gains $1.4bn from CVC DIF to drive renewable energy growth

    The Clean Power 2030 plan, which includes doubling onshore wind capacity and tripling solar PV, requires significant investment such as the one received by Low Carbon from CVC DIF to drive growth and support the delivery of several gigawatts of renewable energy. This investment will help Low Carbon transition into a diversified independent power producer, contributing to the energy transition in the UK and Europe. The UK government's plan requires £40bn of annual investment, while the EU has set a new renewable energy target of 42.5%. Low Carbon plans to bring a 3GW portfolio of renewable assets online in key markets such as the UK, Germany, and Poland, aligning with the goals of the Clean Power 2030 plan. Additionally, Hover Energy's innovative microgrid technology, recognized at the Power Technology Excellence Awards, is contributing to a more flexible and resilient energy future through their AI-enabled Microgrid Management SystemTM and networked microgrids.

    https://www.power-technology.com/news/low-carbon-cvc-dif/

  • Historic icons, modern energy: Why heritage buildings need solar roofing

    Historic buildings in the UK are facing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, with sustainable retrofits like LED lighting and heat pumps being easily implemented. However, solar technology integration faces challenges due to visual impact, despite UK heritage guidance allowing for solar integration. Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar roofs offer a solution by blending into the architecture, as seen in examples like York Minster, Westminster Abbey, and Canterbury Cathedral. Roofit.Solar CEO Andres Anijalg emphasizes the importance of marrying historic buildings with modern climate solutions, showcasing the potential for genuine, scaled climate leadership that protects both the history of buildings and the planet they stand on.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/01/historic-icons-modern-energy-why-heritage-buildings-need-solar-roofing/

  • The Symbiosis Of Food And Climate Arise At COP30

    COP30 focused on addressing the unequal distribution of climate impacts, with a focus on food and climate solutions. Initiatives were announced to promote healthy food and climate exchanges, including reducing food waste and methane emissions. Brazil, Japan, and the UK supported goals for resilient agriculture and reducing environmental impacts. The Gates Foundation added funds for smallholder farmer climate adaptation. The Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge continues to mobilize investments to end hunger and malnutrition, with a focus on smallholder farmers and regenerative agriculture. The section also emphasizes the need for more media coverage on the impact of animal agriculture on climate change, the importance of finance in addressing climate-related issues in agriculture, and the updated Planetary Health Diet endorsing a plant-rich diet with reduced meat consumption to combat climate change.

    https://cleantechnica.com/2025/11/25/the-symbiosis-of-food-and-climate-arise-at-cop30/