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Countdown to COP

Our new campaign plots the course to the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow this November and looks at the key topics for utilities.

Editor's picks

Sarah Bentley: We can’t wait for all the solutions
As part of our Countdown to COP series, Utility Week speaks to the chief executive of Thames Water about “poo power”, unlocking the power of biomethane and why the industry cannot stand idle while solutions are sought for eliminating process emissions.
Interviews
EDF: We must tackle the perceived costs of going green
As part of our Countdown to COP series, Utility Week speaks to EDF’s director of strategy and corporate affairs, Paul Spence. He discusses the need for collective action on driving down the costs of decarbonisation for consumers as well as a comprehensive public education campaign.
Interviews

Featured

Net zero is in the balance
Balancing the supply and demand of energy is a crucial but highly complex part of the jigsaw puzzle that moving to net zero represents. To be affordable, decarbonisation will require energy to be used and stored in new ways, and consumers to be engaged. Can the sector deliver? In this extract from a major new report from Utility Week and Capgemini, Denise Chevin discusses.
Analysis
Peter Emery: Carbon offsets are open to abuse
With just two weeks to go until the UN’s climate conference is hosted in Glasgow, Utility Week is concluding the Countdown to COP campaign with a series of interviews with sector leaders, expressing their hopes for the summit and what their companies are doing to drive forward net zero. We kick off with Electricity North West chief executive, Peter Emery.
Interviews
Adapt or die: The EA’s stark message
The Environment Agency's third climate adaptation report to government carries the stark message to "adapt or die". It said urgent action was required to help communities and industries live with the effects of climate change and this should be given as much focus as reducing emissions.
News

Latest in Countdown to COP

Ovo on forming a zero-carbon community
As part of our Countdown to COP series, Ovo Energy’s director of sustainability, Dr Rebecca Heaton, discusses the company’s Plan Zero as well as what COP26 means to her.
Interviews
Energy sector commits to net-zero power system in 2030s
Energy UK has called for the introduction of a new Energy Bill as part of a commitment by the sector to deliver a net-zero power system in the 2030s. The pledge, outlined in a new report out today (27 October), follows on from the government’s commitment to a decarbonised system by 2035 which was confirmed in its Net Zero Strategy.
News
United Utilities completes low-emissions fleet trials
United Utilities has added four low-emission HGVs to its fleet following successful trials of compressed natural gas. The company is also exploring opportunities to use biofuel in place of diesel in vehicles and boilers.
News
UU: We need a national biodiversity plan
As part of our Countdown to COP series, Utility Week speaks to Gordon Rogers, head of long term strategy, environment, planning and innovation at United Utilities. He discusses his company’s decarbonisation commitments as well as the wider need for action to adapt to a climate that is already changing.
Interviews
John Morea: We can’t force technological change on public
SGN’s chief executive talks to Utility Week as part of our Countdown to COP campaign about the challenge of engaging customers in decarbonisation of heat. He also questions whether the UK is being ambition enough on hydrogen and why our net-zero goals must be aligned globally.
Interviews
Serving up net zero
Getting consumers to engage with net zero is going to require big changes to service strategies. But are utilities clear on what those changes should look like for a diverse spectrum of customers?
Analysis
UKPN: COP should be the inflection point
As part of our Countdown to COP series, Utility Week speaks to Suleman Alli, director of customer service, strategy, regulation and information services at UK Power Networks. He discusses the legacy of COP26 but also delves into action his company is taking to facilitate on-street electric vehicle charging and how it aims to “write the book on green home heating”.
Interviews
2035: A date with destiny?
The target of making the energy system emissions free by 2035 is now official government policy, but how realistic is it? And what needs to be done to achieve it? David Blackman asks the questions.
Analysis
The heat is on
The Heat and Buildings Strategy has finally emerged, alongside a slew of other green policies. In this free-to-download report for the heat market, Utility Week examines the key pledges and timescales enshrined in this much-anticipated blueprint.
Downloads
‘We didn’t have a plan before, now we do’
Utility Week rounds up responses to this week's slew of green policy announcements, including contributions from EDF, SSE, Western Power Distribution and the Climate Change Committee, among others. While there is praise for the ambition shown, concern is expressed about the lack of concrete timescales and the tendency to “re-announce the same promises”.
News
Green levies to shift from electricity to gas ‘this decade’
The government has pledged in its Net Zero Strategy to look at options, including carbon pricing, to shift green levy costs from electricity to gas, while announcing £620 million of additional funding to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). Utility Week examines the key proposals contained within this long-awaited roadmap to 2050.
News
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