TOP STORIES
Hugh McNeal: "Let’s take advantage of the opportunities in renewables"
The chief executive of RenewableUK, Hugh McNeal, talks about their work, the challenges facing the sector and why he remains optimistic for the future.
MRS Training and Rescue riding the brisk winds of change
Prospect members at MRS are using their rescue skills, developed in coal mining, to provide safety training to wind turbine constructors and operators.
Scottish Power’s record £2bn investment for clean energy
Scottish Power says it will make its biggest single investment in one year when it spends £2bn on green energy and create 300 new jobs during 2019.
Labour seeks input from unions for green revolution
Labour unveils plans to gather evidence from unions, industry leaders and academics in order to establish plans for the decarbonisation of the UK economy.
AROUND THE WEB
Stories from around the web that may be of interest for professionals working in renewables.
The EU has launched a €10bn fund to invest in low-carbon and innovative green technologies with a view towards helping bring new products to the market.
A working wind turbine has been fitted with a superconductor instead of permanent magnets for the first time ever, reports Chemistry World. This advance could lead to lighter, smaller and cheaper turbines.
X (a Google offshoot that explores radical technologies) has been investigating the use of molten salt to create a grid-scale energy storage solution.
In mid-February, the world's biggest offshore wind farm starting supplying power to the UK's electricity grid, reports the Guardian. Hornsea One is the first of four planned wind farms off the Yorkshire coast.
Wired reports on a material called perovskite, which is being used to create thinner, lighter and more efficient solar cells. Its potential could see it being incorporated into windows, vehicles, electronics, or even clothing.
PROSPECT PUBLICATIONS
Prospect launched a new pamphlet on renewable energy at a special Parliamentary event in December attended by MPs, industry leaders and Prospect members.
The pamphlet includes five key recommendations for the government to support and expand the renewables sector in the UK.
Prospect is working alongside three other unions, who together represent 200,000 members across the energy sector, on a "Just Transition" initiative.
Just transition is about the fair treatment of workers and communities who will be most affected by the energy sector’s shift towards a lower carbon world.
EnergyEye is Prospect's regular 8-page printed newsletter for members working across the energy sector.
The latest issue features an interview with Northern Powergrid's Rod Gardner, who was recently awarded an OBE, and a guest column from Audrey Gallacher, director of policy at Energy UK
PASS ON THE RENEWABLES NEWSLETTER
If you have colleagues working in renewables, or who are interested in learning more about the sector, they can subscribe to get future issues delivered to their inbox.
Non-members are also welcome to sign-up. The next issue will be out in Spring.