Renew Extra Weekly

Professor Peter Chapman and the Open University (OU) Energy Research Group (ERG) that he set up in the early 1970s, came up with some challenging ideas about how energy should be used. The key message, pioneered in Chapman’s seminal 1975 Penguin book ‘Fuels Paradise’, was that we wasted most of it in inefficient generation, transmission and utilisation systems. Instead they argued for a switch to hyper-efficient combined heat and power plants, feeding (otherwise wasted) heat and power to users who would consume it in well designed and insulated buildings and also maybe in gas fired heat pumps. It mostly sounds familiar nowadays, but then it was revolutionary, and the OU ERG team were often perceived as a wild men (and women) from the hills! But many of their ideas were good and have stood the test of time….  A new video focuses on the energy efficient housing issues in MK and tells the story of the pioneering work done by Chapman and architect and MKDC engineer John Doggart, in cre...

 According to REN21’s 2025 review, global renewable power capacity increased 18%, adding a record-breaking 741 GW in 2024.  Solar PV was the primary driver, contributing 602 GW and accounting for 81% of the total capacity increase, taking PV to 2,247GW in total.  Solar does look likely to be a winner in many parts of the world, along with wind.  But in an ecumenical mood, as maybe befits the season of good will, what about nuclear?  Some see it if not booming, then having a niche role in some locations. For example, on the basis of some conceptual modelling of a hybrid solar photovoltaics/Small Modular Reactors micro grid system, with hydrogen and Lithium-ion battery storage, some Chinese researchers have claimed that the system achieved an average operational cost reduction of approximately 18.7%, while reducing carbon emission intensity by nearly 37.1%, compared to a conventional fossil-dominated microgrid.  That’s not stunning, but it is quite good. But ...

 The end of the year is seeing some arguably gloomy prognosis emerge about the future- along with claims that we can go back to some of old tech for a better future! Thus the Times ran an editorial (24/11/25) complaining about ‘Ed Miliband's myopic focus on wind & solar power’, and calling instead for a ‘fleet of traditional gas-fired stations, allowing nuclear to catch up’ and backing more large Sizewell-type standard nuclear plants. Although also (to be modern!) up to ‘as many as 100 small modular reactors.’ Sounds like what Reform has in mind. But also the Tories. And indeed Labour, although with lots of renewables as well.  Though perhaps it’s only gloomy if you are a green and want even more renewables and energy saving- and also no nuclear. Certainly the Green’s new leader is keen of renewables and says the proposed Centrica/X-energy project at Hartlepool is based ‘technology from long ago’! Checking back, yes, the UK did try building something similar at Winfrith D...