Oxford University takes ‘historic’ decision to divest from fossil fuels

The university has also asked its endowment office to engage with fund managers and request evidence of net zero carbon business plans

UK cleantech firm raises £3.6m for smart hot water tanks

Mixergy claims the technology can help households save up to 20% on their hot water bills and has been certified to deliver grid balancing services to National Grid

Ørsted and Oxford Uni team up to improve turbine foundations

They have inked a five-year research agreement to develop advanced geotechnical foundation designs that can help reduce costs

New WICKED plan to help businesses manage energy use

Retailers are paying higher energy bills than they need to – even those using smart meters – because they are “not actively managing” their energy use. That’s according to researchers at Oxford University, who believe businesses with smart meters could be swamped by the amount of information they have to analyse while those using manually-read […]

‘Capacity crunch could be worse than people think’

The coming capacity crunch could be worse than people think, an Oxford University professor and government advisor has told the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee. Professor Dieter Helm warned the committee: “By 2015/2016 the capacity margin in this country will be very close to zero. In fact I’ve done some numbers which suggest in […]

‘Gas is the only answer to blackouts and truly evil coal’

Gas is the only thing that can save Britain from blackouts and the environmental damage of “truly evil” coal, the House of Lord Economics Affairs Committee was told yesterday. Dieter Helm, an Oxford Professor and economic advisor to the Energy Secretary, was there to give evidence on the potential impact of shale gas extraction in […]

Pentland Firth could provide ‘half of Scotland’s electricity’

Tidal turbines in the currents between the Scottish mainland and the Orkney Island have the potential to generate up to 1.9GW of power – equivalent to almost half of Scotland’s electricity needs. That’s according to researchers at Oxford University whose new study highlights the huge potential of tidal power in the Pentland Firth and says […]

will.i.am visits Oxford to talk climate change – in a helicopter

will.i.am, founder member of hip hop group Black Eyed Peas apparently set heads turning last week when he arrived for a talk about climate change held at Oxford University – in a helicopter. The musician and judge of TV talent show The Voice visited the academic powerhouse to talk to climate change expert Professor Myles […]

UK energy needs "essential" new nuclear

Ramping up nuclear power in the UK is “essential” for keeping the lights on. This is according to new research from Oxford University’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (SSEE), which claims a £100 billion, world-leading nuclear industry can be achieved. The SSEE says remodelling the UK’s energy infrastructure is “urgent”, with nuclear playing […]

Big Six behaviour is understandable says academic

The Big Six’s dominance in the UK electricity market is completely understandable, but it is the market conditions created for them that should face the flak instead. These were the words of Professor Dieter Helm. Professor Helm was critical of the market model that had created what many in industry accept as the stranglehold on […]