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Batteries made from trees and blockchain to tackle deforestation: The best green innovations of July 2021
Every month, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best from July 2021.
Sky powered by 100% renewables globally
Broadcaster Sky is now powered by 100% renewable electricity across its entire operations, meeting a commitment to the RE100 initiative and building towards its net-zero target for 2030.
EDF and Nissan launch V2G charging solution for business fleets
EDF and Nissan have launched a new service for UK businesses that enables electric vehicle (EV) fleets to access vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging technology.
Glenfiddich to power delivery trucks with onsite biogas fuelling stations
Scotch whisky brand Glenfiddich has introduced fuelling stations at a distillery in Scotland to enable parts of its fleet to run on biogas made from the residues of its own distilling process.
UK Government exploring feasibility of 'electric highways' for zero-emission trucks
The Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded a share of £20m to a consortium of businesses that will explore how long-range trucks can be electrified using overhead wires on motorways across the country, to assist with the UK's net-zero emissions target.
UK's plans to scale battery production 'insufficient for net-zero transition'
The UK Government's plans to support the battery manufacturing sector to scale up are not sufficient to deliver the transition to net-zero, nor to ensure that the UK remains a leader in this market globally, a Lords Committee is warning.
Terra Carta Design Lab: Prince of Wales' latest climate initiative to support students
Prince Charles has partnered with former Apple chief design officer Sir Jony Ive to develop a new scheme supporting students to develop "credible and sustainable" solutions to the climate crisis.
Vodafone trials 'UK's first' smart electricity substation on road to net-zero
Telecommunications giant Vodafone has partnered with UK Power Networks to trial 'smart' methods of delivering energy flexibility at electricity substations, designed to improve efficiency and cut emissions.
Mercedes-Benz to go all-electric for vehicles by 2030
Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to move its entire product portfolio to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030, to be supported by a £34bn investment and plans to run eight gigafactories for battery production.
Automakers urged to move away from 'destructive' deep-sea mining
Carmakers looking to increase the rollout of electric vehicles (EVs) across the globe have been urged to pre-divest from deep-sea mining companies, with a coalition of NGOs warning that failing to do so will cause irreversible damage that will contribute to the climate crisis.
Innovation Strategy: UK Government bets on nature-based climate solutions and CCUS
Energy and environment technologies have been named as one of seven priority focus areas of the UK's new Innovation Strategy, designed to increase annual public R&D to a record £22bn.
How the world can reach net-zero emissions by 2050, according to BloombergNEF
BloombergNEF has published its latest New Energy Outlook report, examining three progress pathways to reach net-zero globally by 2050. Here, edie summaries what will need to change to deliver this low-carbon trajectory.
UK urged to level-up regions through CCUS supply chains
The trade body for the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) industry in the UK has noted that a successful rollout of the technology could create a thriving supply chain in the UK which would deliver job growth, provided enabling policies are introduced.
EN+ Group turns to oxygen-producing method to decarbonise aluminium
Aluminium and hydropower giant EN+ Group has built on a target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 by also confirming the development of the world's lowest carbon aluminium from inert anode technologies.
100MW battery 'energy superhub' set for the West Midlands
Two new grid-scale battery energy storage projects are set to be installed in Coventry and Sandwell, with a combined capacity of 100MW.
McDonald's to trial deposit return scheme for coffee cups in Northampton
McDonald's has chosen six restaurants in Northampton to trial a £1 deposit on reusable coffee cups in a bid to cut back on waste.
Coventry battery Gigafactory plans take a step forward, as MPs call for more Government funding
The developers of a new Gigafactory for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in Coventry have filed a planning application - but MPs are warning that the UK Government's £500m pot for Gigafactory development will need to be scaled significantly.
ScottishPower and Shell bid to develop large-scale floating windfarms in UK
ScottishPower and Shell have submitted a joint bid to develop large-scale floating offshore windfarm systems in the northeast of Scotland, with a decision expected to be made next year.
Connecting the roadmap to cleaner transport
With transport the major contributor to UK emissions, we need to clean up the way we get around if we're going to hit our national net-zero target. Could connectivity hold the key? Nicola Green, Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer at Virgin Media O2, explores.
Unilever eyes optimised enzymes in bid for fossil-fuel-free laundry products
Unilever has announced a new partnership with protein design start-up Arzeda, which will see it test new enzymes in cleaning and laundry products in order to lower their carbon footprint.
East Coast Cluster: Teesside and Humber gear up to host CCS technologies
Energy giants and businesses operating in Teesside and Humberside look set to collaborate on the deployment of carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) technology in a bid to create net-zero industrial clusters.
COP26 Primer: Clean Transport
edie’s COP26 Primer Reports are about seizing the green opportunity. Produced in the run-up to the official talks, this mini-series of reports are based on the five key themes of COP26: Clean Energy, Clean Transport, Climate Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions, and Climate Finance. This report examines approaches to clean transport.
UK's carbon capture and storage market could create 50,000 jobs
The UK could become an early mover in the global carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) market and create up to 50,000 jobs if new enabling policies are introduced.
How are UK businesses approaching the net-zero transition? Find out with edie's new Barometer
The first edition of edie's new bi-annual Net-Zero Business Barometer, providing a regular temperature check and progress update regarding the decarbonisation of organisations across the UK, is now available to download.
Salesforce signs on as latest Principal Partner for COP26
Business software giant Salesforce has been announced as the latest Principal Partner for COP26 - the highest level of sponsorship for the climate summit.
Net-zero energy transition: UK Power Networks and Northern Powergrid outline £7.7bn investment plans
Electricity distributors UK Power Networks and Northern Powergrid have outlined business plans backed by £4.5bn and £3.2bn of spending respectively, both with a heavy focus on low-carbon generation and technologies.
Lab-grown salmon and seed-bombing 'skyscrapers': The best green innovations of June 2021
Every month, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up five of the best from June 2021.
Rolls-Royce and Shell agree on new partnership on sustainable aviation fuels
Rolls-Royce and Shell have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to help build towards their respective net-zero targets by developing and scaling Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) for the sector.
Nissan unveils plans for £1bn electric vehicle hub and battery gigafactory in Sunderland
Nissan looks set to transform its flagship Sunderland manufacturing facility into a £1bn electric vehicle (EV) hub that will feature a 9GWh battery production gigafactory - the first of its kind in the UK.
COP26 Primer: Climate Finance
edie’s COP26 Primer Reports are about seizing the green opportunity. Produced in the run-up to the official talks, this mini-series of reports are based on the five key themes of COP26: Clean Energy, Clean Transport, Climate Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions, and Climate Finance.
CrowdFlex: Energy giants launch study on domestic energy flexibility
Octopus Energy and electric vehicle (EV) charging experts Ohme have partnered with the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to analyse the attitudes and behaviour of more than 25,000 households in relation to EVs and smart home solutions.
Every Action Counts: New business alliance to encourage one billion consumers to support sustainability causes
A new alliance of banking firms, consumer goods giants and digital platforms, including Mastercard and BBVA, has launched to encourage individuals around the world to deliver positive actions that improve biodiversity and sustainable behaviours.
Microsoft announced as latest COP26 Principal Partner
Global technology giant Microsoft has been named as the latest Principal Partner for COP26 - the highest level of sponsorship for the climate summit.
FMCG giants unveil world's first plastic bottles recycled using enzymes
L'Oreal, Nestle Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe have unveiled plastic bottles made entirely from post-consumer waste recycled using enzymatic processes, in what they describe as a world first.
'UK's first' grid-scale battery storage system comes online in Oxford
A 50MW lithium-ion battery energy storage system has come online in Cowley, on the outskirts of Oxford, in what is described as a UK first.
England's first hydrogen double-decker buses hit the road in London
In what is claimed to be a first for England, a fleet of 20 new hydrogen double-decker buses are being launched in London this week.
UK aviation sector sets interim climate goals on road to net-zero by 2050, but won't cap growth
A coalition representing the UK's major airports, airlines and plane manufacturers has, after publishing a controversial plan for reaching net-zero by 2050 last year, announced new interim climate goals and pledged to refresh its approach to low-carbon technologies.
How to be a net-zero winner
As part of edie's Net-Zero Carbon Playbook, Centrica Business Solution's net-zero product manager Alex Lowe explains the steps that organisations can take to thrive during the net-zero transition.
Electric aircraft and alternative fuels: Rolls-Royce plots path to net-zero by 2050
Rolls-Royce has outlined plans to overhaul its R&D spending and product offerings in a bid to reach net-zero operations by 2030 and net-zero across the whole business value chain by 2050.
Businesses call on UK Government to deliver 'world-leading' hydrogen sector
Businesses do not believe the Government is being ambitious enough in efforts to create a "world-leading" hydrogen market, with the commitment of 5GW of green and blue hydrogen by 2030 failing to generate confidence within the private sector.
Anglian Water issues £250m sustainability-linked investment framework
Anglian Water has unveiled its first sustainability-linked bond framework, worth £250m, that will enable investment into low-carbon initiatives and projects that improve climate resilience across the areas where it operates.
UK set to double solar capacity by 2030, but more required to help reach net-zero
The UK is on course to double its solar capacity by 2030, but will need to treble it if the nation is to meet its net-zero target for 2050, with Solar Energy UK calling for overhauls to policy to spur the national market.
Vodafone to reach net-zero carbon emissions in UK by 2027
Vodafone plans to eliminate carbon emissions from its entire UK operations by 2027, as part of a sweeping set of commitments that will see the technology giant invest in electric vehicles (EVs) and update supplier contracts based on environmental credentials.
JLR to begin first hydrogen car tests this year
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has unveiled plans to test a prototype hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) this year, as part of its vision to deliver zero tailpipe emissions by 2036.
Polestar and Google to halve emissions and join Race to Zero campaign
Swedish electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Polestar and technology giant Google are the latest firms that have agreed to halve emissions by 2030 as part of a wider effort to deliver net-zero value chains, by joining the UN's Race to Zero campaign and the Exponential Roadmap Initiative.
UK's fastest-growing tech firms unveil net-zero framework for the sector
A new taskforce, set up to inform the Government's green policymaking and garner support for climate action across the tech industry, has today (14 June) published a set of commitments designed to unify ambition and action in the sector.
Unilever introduces paper-based bottles for laundry detergent
Unilever is set to launch its first paper-based bottles for laundry detergent in Brazil next year, with an ambition in place to introduce the packaging across Europe thereafter.
Drax announces ambition to host world's largest negative emissions project
Drax has signed a new deal with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on carbon capture technologies, which it claims will enable it to deliver the largest 'negative emissions' project in the world.
Domino's introduces electric mopeds into delivery fleet
Pizza brand Domino's is set to introduce more than 200 electric mopeds for deliveries across London, after trialling the vehicles from NIU Technologies.
HP and JBS issue sustainability-linked bonds to drive towards net-zero
The world's largest protein producer, JBS, has announced the issuance of a $1bn sustainability-linked bond tied to net-zero targets, while technology firm HP has unveiled its sustainable bonds framework.
AB InBev cuts emissions through new lightweight beer bottle design
The world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), has unveiled new lightweight beer bottles that have a reduced carbon footprint of 17% compared to its other bottle types, with plans in place to roll them out across Europe.
'World's largest' V2G trial finds that EV drivers could cut £725 off electricity bills
Ovo Energy and Cenex have wrapped up a three-year trial of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) chargers at UK homes and revealed that the technology could help motorists reduce electricity bills by up to £725 per year.
Heathrow Airport adds sustainable aviation fuels to decarbonise flights
Heathrow has incorporated aviation fuel made from waste oils and fats for the first time, as the UK's largest airport seeks to establish proof of concept for the widescale use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) in a bid to reduce emissions from flights.
Plans unveiled for UK's second plastic-to-hydrogen recycling plant
After plans to build a plastic-to-hydrogen recycling facility near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, were approved last year, the developers have unveiled plans for a second UK site in Scotland.
Domestic heat batteries and 'champagne' carbon capture: The best green innovations of May 2021
Every month, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best from May 2021.
A battery future
Lithium-ion batteries have enabled products that would not otherwise exist. A mobile electronic device - a cellphone, tablet, or a PC, say - would look very odd if it were powered by an internal combustion engine, and would not be mobile if the device had to be plugged into the wall to function.
Global hydrogen investment to grow 25-fold by 2040, Bloomberg predicts
Global annual investments in hydrogen totalled $1.5bn between 2018 and 2020, but the average could be $38bn by 2040, a new Bloomberg Intelligence report claims.
UK's ultra-rapid EV charging stock to triple with new £300m funding package
The UK's energy networks have jointly pledged a further £300m in funding for low-carbon technologies across 200 projects, including almost 1,800 new ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
Absolut replaces plastics from bottle necks as part of paper-based bottle development
The Absolut Company has unveiled the latest milestone in its mission to create a fully paper-based drinks bottle, having replaced the plastic used to shape bottle necks, with a bio-based barrier.
O2 outlines plans to slash data centre emissions
Telecommunications giant O2 is set to cut emissions from its data centres by more than half a million kilograms within a year, after investing in natural cooling technologies and energy efficiency.
UK’s largest community-owned solar park to come online next year
The Ray Valley Solar project in Oxford is expected to come online next autumn, after Triodos Bank confirmed lending for what is expected to be the UK’s largest community-owned solar park.
Nuclear industry warns that planned closures could derail global net-zero transition
Key groups representing the global nuclear industry have penned an open letter to world leaders warning that the proposed retirement of existing nuclear plants could derail the net-zero transition, calling for the technology to have the same access to climate finance as renewables.
BT cuts emissions by 14% over 12-month period
Over the last 12 months, BT Group has reduced the carbon intensity of its operations by 14%, putting the company on course to reach net-zero emissions by 2045, while broadcaster Sky has had carbon reduction targets for its net-zero ambition approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
50,000 jobs by 2050: UK Government outlines plans to scale up carbon capture sector
According to a new paper from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the UK's carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) sector could scale rapidly to support 50,000 jobs by mid-century.
Unilever, Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive join AB InBev's sustainability accelerator
Consumer goods giants Unilever, Coca-Cola and Colgate-Palmolive have agreed to fund and pilot innovations designed to improve supply chain sustainability through Anheuser-Busch InBev's (AB InBev) accelerator scheme.
Captured carbon shipping fuel and heat-reflecting paint: The best green innovations of April 2021
Every month, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best from April 2021.
Unilever launches first laundry capsule using captured carbon from heavy industry
After pledging to remove all virgin, fossil-based carbon from cleaning and laundry products by 2030, Unilever has successfully developed a laundry capsule using emissions captured from heavy industry.
Boeing, Netflix and Microsoft among founders of new business alliance on sustainable aviation fuels
A new alliance to help scale sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) by increasing and unifying corporate demand has been backed by a string of big-name businesses, including Boeing, Deloitte, Microsoft and JP Morgan Chase.
HP targets net-zero value chain by 2040
HP has confirmed it will transform parts of its business from a transactional model to a services-based proposition, as part of a sweeping new climate strategy that will see the business's value chain reach net-zero by 2040 and embrace closed-loop materials.
Amazon announces nine new renewables deals to take clean energy capacity to 8.5GW
Amazon has announced nine major new renewable projects across the globe that sees the online retailer's total clean energy capacity surpass 8.5GW globally.
Fujitsu sets 1.5C science-based climate targets
Japanese multinational IT firm Fujitsu has unveiled new climate targets, verified in line with the Paris Agreement's more ambitious 1.5C trajectory.
Amazon installs more than 800 EV chargers at UK sites
Amazon has confirmed that more than 800 electric vehicle (EV) charging points have been installed across its UK sites with "hundreds more" scheduled, as part of an ongoing partnership with Suffolk-based EO Charging.
Additional $600m for low-carbon solutions as BlackRock forms new investment partnership
The world's largest investor, BlackRock, has forged a new partnership with Singapore-based Temasek to scale up investment in low-carbon technologies.
Diageo's low-carbon bottles and Michelin's carbon-neutral goal: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Crypto Climate Accord aims for 100% renewables and net-zero digital currency by 2040
A new global accord has been set up to align the swelling cryptocurrency market with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement by ensuring that blockchain and energy-intensive currency mining systems are powered by renewables and reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
UPS invests in electric aircraft for zero-emission deliveries
Logistics giant UPS had unveiled plans to purchase electric aircraft models to assist with time-sensitive deliveries while limiting emissions associated with transportation.
edie launches new business guide on net-zero carbon heating
edie has today (7 April) launched a new guide detailing everything businesses need to know and consider when looking to decarbonise heating in line with the net-zero movement.
Microwave boilers and autonomous EVs: The best green innovations of March 2021
Every month, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up five of the best from March 2021.
UK must dramatically scale battery energy storage to meet net-zero, report reveals
If the UK is to align its energy sector with its net-zero target, domestic capacity for energy storage and other assets that enable flexibility will need to grow to 49.5GW this decade.
Taking a data-backed approach to sustainable offices
In light of Covid-19, travel restrictions and the adoption of flexible working arrangements have resulted in a general decrease in office occupation in the UK. Teams have adapted and embraced the use of teleconferencing, which has provided a convenient, low-carbon alternative to in-person meetings and is expected to be sustained, at least to some degree, in the future.
UK's net-zero transition will create up to 1.7 million green jobs this decade, report finds
If the UK Government adopts the Climate Change Committee's Sixth Carbon Budget advice and supports businesses accordingly, some 1.7 million new 'green-collar' jobs can be created by 2030.
'Outrageous hypocrisy': Government condemned over £16bn oil and gas sector 'bailout'
Green groups have expressed their anger at the Government's new £16bn sector deal that pledges to align the oil and gas sector with the national net-zero target, while also ending financing for overseas fossil fuel projects, with many frustrated by a refusal to end oil and gas licensing.
New blue hydrogen and captured carbon storage projects unveiled for the UK
BP has announced plans to build the UK's largest blue hydrogen production facility in Teesside, while the Government has committed new funding for carbon storage infrastructure off Aberdeenshire.
VW aims to double EV sales in 2021
Volkswagen (VW) has committed to selling more than 450,000 electric vehicles (EV) globally in 2021 - more than double the amount it sold in 2020 - as part of its Covid-19 recovery efforts.
Recycled materials and CCS: Aluminium industry plots pathways to net-zero
The association representing more than 60% of the world's aluminium production has published new climate pathways for the sector, outlining how recycled materials, electrification and emerging technologies could cut emissions at scale.
Mace Group to use hydrogen generators at construction sites
In what it claims is a first for the UK's construction sector, Mace Group has signed a deal that will see it deploy hydrogen generators to replace diesel generators at construction sites.
IRENA: Existing solutions can spur progress to net-zero
Global power sourced from renewables is set to treble by 2050, with wind, solar and hydrogen all required to account for 90% of all decarbonisation solutions to push the global economy towards the 1.5C pathway, a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has found.
LED retrofit reduces energy use by 21% for South Western Railway
South Western Railway (SWR) has delivered a 21% reduction in the energy consumption of its properties, following the installation of more than 16,000 LED light fittings across its properties.
Government confirms 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars, unveils £20m electric vehicle package
The Government has officially confirmed that the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars has been moved forward to 2030, while also announcing a new £20m funding pot for electric vehicle (EV) innovation.
Coty partners with LanzaTech to use captured carbon in perfumes
US-based beauty giant Coty has forged a partnership with LanzaTech, whereby carbon captured using the firm's technology will be used to manufacture fragrance ingredients.
Aviation fuel made from air and next-gen hydropower: The best green innovations of February 2021
Every month, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best from February 2021.
Volvo Cars to go fully electric by 2030
Volvo has outlined plans to stop selling petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by the end of the decade.
Drax unveils plans to host UK's largest carbon capture project by 2027
Drax has begun the planning process for its proposals to scale up bioenergy with carbon capture (BECCS) arrays at its Yorkshire power plant.
'Tech Zero taskforce': UK tech firms to inform Government's net-zero approach
Fast-growing UK tech firms including Bulb, Starling Bank and Olio have formed a new taskforce that will inform the government's green policymaking and garner industry support ahead of COP26.
Borealis to cut emissions at Finnish facility through £15m energy efficiency upgrade
Chemicals giant Borealis has unveiled a new €17.6m (£15.1m) investment into regenerative thermal technology that will reduce facility emissions from heating while also saving around 60GWh of energy annually.
Drax scraps gas plant plans in Yorkshire, following climate concerns
Drax is scrapping plans to build the largest gas plant in Europe, which has faced legal challenges on climate grounds in recent months.
BrewDog announces B Corp certification
Scottish craft brewer BrewDog is the latest company to achieve B Corp certification, highlighting the company's dedication to becoming a force for good and focusing on carbon offsetting and reduction.
#SustyTalk: Virgin Media's Katie Buchanan on net-zero targets and social sustainability
edie's #SustyTalk interview series continues with an exclusive discussion with Virgin Media's head of sustainability Katie Buchanan, following the launch of a new Meaningful Connections sustainability strategy.
UK can create 200,000 jobs through clean technology drive
The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA) has claimed that the UK can reach 100% renewable electricity in the next 11 years, with clean technology uptake set to create 200,000 new jobs provided the Government can deliver enabling policies.
Hydrogen: Is UK policy and industry at a tipping point?
Recent weeks have seen influential bodies urging the Government to publish the Hydrogen Strategy sooner rather than later. In tandem, announcements have been made about hydrogen-powered homes and vehicles. So, is the UK's hydrogen revolution about to begin?
