Daily Debrief · Weekend edition

Indian Queens project combines nearly 68MW of solar with battery storage to use a single grid connection more efficiently.

In this week’s newsletter: We began writing Down to Earth in 2021, but the global political, economic and environmental landscape has changed drastically in the past five years • Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up here The Cop26 UN climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 represented a high-water mark in climate diplomacy, and in hope for global unity. Two weeks in Scotland that year resulted in all countries affirming they would strive to limit global heating to 1.5C, with most setting net zero goals and national plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, halt deforestation, protect nature and boost renewable energy. It wasn’t perfect: the plans would still result in about 2.8C of heating, though they agreed to work on strengthening them, and a commitment to phase out coal was weakened at the last minute to a phase down instead. But the direction of travel was clear: the whole world agreed on how to fight the climate crisis. The Paris agreement of 2015 bound countries to keep temperatures “well below” 2C above preindustrial levels, with 1.5C as an aspiration, but at Glasgow the 1.5C limit – in line with scientific advice, which warns of dire consequences beyond that threshold – was adopted as the clear goal. ‘It’s getting hotter and it’s not stopping’: dealing with the heat in five of Europe’s capitals ‘My head spins with the heat’: India’s gig workers battle exhaustion amid soaring temperatures Climate crisis is accelerating antibiotic resistance across world, study says Continue reading...

In the week when the hottest May days were recorded, environment editor Fiona Harvey examines a new Climate Change Committee report on how the UK can better withstand extreme heat Temperatures across the UK and Europe this week have shattered May heat records. As the environment editor Fiona Harvey points out: we might expect heatwaves in July and August – but 30C in spring? Fiona talks to Nosheen Iqbal about a report from the Climate Change Committee warning that the UK is unprepared for extreme heat – the new normal – and explores a range of possible solutions to help keep the country cool, from tree-planting to heat pumps and scaling up renewables. Continue reading...

The impact of Middle East war is a reminder why certainty is crucial to spur a shift from fossil fuels

Despite government pledges, more than 20 authorities will not allow gullies, citing safety, legal and parking concerns The energy secretary, Ed Miliband, has said charger gullies to connect electric cars parked on streets will help cut costs for drivers, yet millions of UK households may be unable to use the simple technology because their local councils will still not allow charging cables to cross the pavement. Despite government promises to “slash red tape” and make it easier to put in gullies, more than 20 local authorities appear to be holding out against them. Continue reading...

David Flood urges regulators to prioritise “radial” connections and better‑aligned tenders to speed up offshore wind build‑out across Northern Europe.

ESN Premium speaks with Clean Horizon about the consultancy’s European battery storage revenue index being added to Nord Pool’s Data Portal.

Managers of the UK’s largest BESS owner-operator Gresham House Energy Storage Fund (GRID) discussed recent investment news and future strategy this week.

Sumitomo Corp. has agreed to invest in multiple large scale battery energy storage system projects being developed by Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc.

While Westminster’s attention is focused on Andy Burnham and Makerfield, another pivotal byelection is taking place in Scotland’s north-east The coming byelection in Makerfield, from where Andy Burnham aspires to make rapid progress towards Downing Street, is perhaps the most consequential in British political history. But the decision by the Scottish National party’s former Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, to relocate to Holyrood means that another pivotal contest is taking place more than 350 miles to the north. If Makerfield is a test case for Mr Burnham and Labour’s ability to see off Reform UK, Mr Flynn’s old constituency of Aberdeen South is on the frontline of the increasingly fraught politics of North Sea oil. Labour, despite finishing second in the 2024 general election thanks largely to anti-Tory tactical voting, will not be expecting much this time round. The ramifications of Donald Trump’s reckless war in Iran have exposed Britain’s ongoing vulnerability to fossil-fuel-related energy shocks, highlighting the practical benefits of moving to a green economy. But the knock-on effects of the closure of the strait of Hormuz have also been a gift for the Scottish Conservatives and Reform, who are framing the byelection as a local referendum on reviving oil and gas production beyond Westminster-imposed limits. Continue reading...

The ‘bullying’ scandal that led to chair Albert Manifold’s removal coincides with an attempted turnaround

Temperatures across parts of continent around 10-15C above average for this time of year, while thunderstorms strike eastern Australia Europe has experienced an exceptional heatwave this week, with temperature records broken across multiple countries under a persistent area of high pressure, commonly referred to as a “heat dome.” The UK surpassed its May maximum temperature record on Tuesday, with 35.1C recorded at Kew Gardens, London. This broke the record set only the day before, with 34.8C recorded in London on Monday. Previously, the maximum May temperature record was 32.8C, recorded in 1922 and then matched in 1944. Ireland also broke its May maximum temperature, with 28.8C recorded at two weather stations – in Killarney in the south-west and Clonmel in the south. Continue reading...

With many gigawatts' worth of wind power surging along the West Coast, California is forging new ties with the global floating wind industry.

Linking offshore wind farms in waters of one country to power grid of another is low-hanging fruit within cross-border cooperation, David Flood tells panel at Berlin conference

Deal arranged by Evolve Energy will see restaurant chain supplied with clean energy from 8MW Alaska Wind Farm in Dorset