With COP26 on the horizon, world leaders will soon join together to tackle the most pressing environmental issues. This comes on the heels of a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), issuing a stark warning that global warming is on a dangerous trajectory.
Energy
Across the EU, buildings are responsible for generating 40% of all energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions. Tackling this problem is a key step in reaching net zero targets. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) was established to ensure a significant reduction in emissions from new and existing buildings.
The future of sustainable, clean energy relies on renewables. Unfortunately, that comes with a problem. Solar and wind are cheap forms of electricity but they rely on the right conditions to work. This sort of intermittent power cannot provide enough energy to completely reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The electricity supply needs to be consistent, reliable and capable of handling surges in demand. That is where battery technology comes in.
To drastically lower carbon emissions by 2050, the UK government have announced plans for a new Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy. This announcement comes in the run up to the UK hosting COP26, and is reflective of the government’s rising environmental ambitions.
Blueprints for the £1 billion strategy include plans to shift 20 Terawatt hours of the UK’s energy from fossil fuels to low carbon alternatives. So, how will this impact the public sector?