From phrases such as ‘net-zero’ to ‘carbon neutral’ and ‘climate positive’, it can become confusing to understand the terms that are leading the climate debate and being used to benchmark policies and goals. In 2018 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned about the importance of maintaining global warming of no more than...
Authored by Nina Fischer, University of Edinburgh. This work was supported by a NERC Doctoral Training Partnership grant (NE/S007407/1). Executive Summary Solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment has increased at an exponential growth rate in the last two decades, accounting for 3.1% of global electricity generation in 2019. This can be attributed to falling costs due...
With the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which gave payments for using renewable heating, on its way out on 31st March 2022, renewable heat technologies are less financially attractive. However, low carbon heating is essential for the UK to get closer to its net-zero targets. The UK government has been consulting on a new incentive...
Businesses are being pushed to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and carbon footprint reduction targets. Currently, there is a particular focus on corporate companies, leaving small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) behind to fend for themselves. However, as SMEs make up 99.9% of businesses within the UK, it is crucial that they find the necessary support...
In the past few years, there have been several power outages worldwide, disrupting business operations and raising a discussion about the reliability and resilience of grid-supplied energy. In the UK, many take energy for granted, failing to consider how an increase or decrease in normal demand may influence supply. As demand continues to rise and...
At OnGen, we examine the feasibility of a range of renewable energy technologies every day. We understand that not everyone may have this in-depth knowledge, so our latest blog post series will help anyone understand and learn about the most common renewable technologies. First up, solar! Solar PV (photovoltaic) is a mature renewable technology...
What is the RHI? The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was a domestic and non-domestic government incentive to help organisations and homeowners meet the costs of installing onsite renewable heat technologies. In this piece, we are focussing on renewable heat for non-domestic properties. Multiple onsite, renewable and low-carbon heating technologies were included in the non-domestic scheme...
We are delighted to announce that Judith Halkerston, Chair of OnGen, has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honors list 2021 for her services to The Digital Economy. Judith has been typically gracious in discussing this, although she commented, “I am incredibly honoured and humbled to have been given this accolade. Having...
As we start 2021, it can be tempting to leave behind the horrors of 2020. In 2020, we saw the spread of coronavirus across the world, impacting individuals’ and communities’ lives across the board. Coronavirus has not only affected human life, with influences penetrating our natural world. We explored how coronavirus has impacted the environment...
The UK Government’s net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) target was announced in June 2019. By reducing GHG emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluride), there is a greater chance of limiting an average global temperature increase to 1.5°C. Now, one year after the net zero target was announced, many businesses are...
