Innovation, sustainability and the future of cities
This week is my first anniversary as a battery electric vehicle driver. My previous car had reached the end of its economic life and I had promised myself that my next vehicle would be electric. There is little to say
In 1892 the wonderfully named Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey became lead engineer and steam engine designer for Willans and Robinson. The efficiency of steam engines was a hot topic, and he needed to understand and communicate where the
There are many kinds of innovation. Some hit you with a flash of light as you realise that there is a simple, practical and clever solution to a pervasive problem. The kind of innovation that makes you slap your head
Like many people I have watched the TV footage of the wildfires in Australia with shock. So much damage done so quickly, and over such a wide area. I also thought back to last year’s California wildfires and asked myself,
Using the electricity stored in an Electric Vehicle battery to smooth and manage demand on the electricity grid was a big topic at this year’s Low Carbon Vehicles exhibition and conference in September at the Millbrook proving ground. This Vehicle
Every year I try to get to the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicles show at Millbrook proving ground. It’s a great way to take the pulse of the industry and to learn more about the future of transport. You find out
We have a problem with household waste in the UK. The stuff that gets collected at the kerbside. In 2017 we collected about 27 million tonnes of waste from our homes. We are getting better recycling, and just over 45%
Tackling the Housing Deep Retrofit Challenge Report of a workshop on deep retrofit organised jointly by the Future Cities Catapult, Innovate UK and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. 120 people attended an event titled “Homes fit for the future
As the world’s population becomes more urban, access to nature becomes more important to our wellbeing. From the pollinators that provide our food to the public parks that are the ‘green lungs’ of many towns and cities. Access to nature
Over the last 12 months, we have seen increasing interest in the climate crisis. We hear explicit warnings on climate risks from respected commentators like David Attenborough. Greta Thunberg is energising younger people to campaign for their future. Activists like
Since the IET published our report “Scaling Up Retrofit 2050” several people have asked me why the emphasis on ‘deep retrofit’? Taking today’s properties and upgrading them to 2050 energy efficiency standards in one step. Wouldn’t it be better to
The challenge of retrofitting 26 million homes In the UK we face a stiff challenge. The Climate Change Act of 2008 sets a legal target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050. Every part of the UK economy
A large part of the world’s population has experienced a dramatic heatwave in the summer of 2018. We have felt the impact of high temperatures and low rainfall, and we have seen dry rivers, empty reservoirs, and wildfires from all over
[This article was co-authored by Darren Ragheb of CPI and Richard Miller] At the end of 2017 the natural history programme, Blue Planet II, dramatically pushed the impact of waste plastics on the oceans into public eye. Since then, the topic
Last week I visited the Rushlight Summer Showcase in London. This brings together clean technology companies looking for investment and potential investors. The companies give a series of five-minute pitches to an investor panel, and there is also an exhibition
There is a real challenge right at the heart of climate change policy in the UK. The Climate Change Act requires us to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, compared to a 1990 baseline. All parts of our economy
“Prediction is difficult, especially of the future.”; a quote so useful that it has been linked to everyone from Yogi Berra to Niels Bohr. Yes, prediction is difficult, but when we innovate it is essential. We should be thinking not only about the
To make progress towards a circular economy we need innovation. New products and services, new methods and new approaches. The challenge is, first of all, to find inspiration for innovative ideas, and secondly, to be able to compare different options
The topic of plastic waste and its environmental impact has rocketed up the political agenda in the last few weeks. Blue Planet II alerted the public to the impact of our waste plastics on the oceans and the life in
Over the last few years, there has been a significant growth in interest in 3D printing. It has moved from clever demonstrations of technical capability, producing objects impossible by conventional methods, to commercial usefulness. Initially used for the creation of
The cost of renewable energy continues to fall, and more and more of our electricity comes from renewables and low-carbon sources. On one day in June the renewable electricity supply peaked at over half the UK’s demand, and National Grid
There is a tendency among many people to see sustainability as a moral crusade; the right way to run your business and lead your life. Others put it together with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as about being a good neighbor,
On 7th September I visited the CENEX Low Carbon Vehicles event at Millbrook to find out what was going on in the world of low carbon transport. This was the 10th year, and in that time the topic has moved
I did not know that! Looking out into Liverpool Bay from my home in North Wales, I can see several arrays of offshore wind turbines. I did not know that the latest turbines in the Burbo Bank Extension are so
A week ago, I returned from the 2017 Clean and Cool Mission to San Francisco and the Bay Area. Twenty of the best young UK clean technology companies, selected by open competition, spending an intensive week studying, debating and learning,
The right story in front of the right people If you are an ambitious company with plans for rapid growth, one key task is to get the right story about what you have to offer in front of the right
On 2nd December 2016 I was delighted to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for contributions to clean and green technology at the 2016 businessGreen Technology Awards ceremony held at the IET in London. James Murray, editor of businessGreen, made some
Innovate UK boss: ‘Innovation is always a conversation’ Governments can play a role in innovation by formulating problems and linking people up so that innovators can come up with solutions, Richard Miller told EurActiv Slovakia. Richard Miller is Deputy Director
“Platform Chemicals from Crops”. Opportunities to build a new chemical industry based on conversion of crops to key chemicals. Society will continue to need the products of the chemical industry to deliver the quality of life expected by the developed
Future Urban Living Report from the Birmingham Policy Commission on Future Urban Living Recommendations Taking all of the evidence together, the Commissioners advocate the following six recommendations for change: Citizens should be empowered to combine with those who govern and
“Biorefining Opportunities in Wales: From Plants to Products” Understanding the potential for building a sustainable biomass based economy in Wales, using plants as a renewable source of key commodities (chemicals, transport fuels and energy). Co-authors on this report establishing that
“Advice on the Economic and Environmental Impacts of Government Support for Biodiesel Production from Tallow” Report exploring the environmental impact of government support to the use of tallow for biodiesel, and its potential economic impact on certain sectors including the
“The Biorefinery Opportunity: a North East England view” This study was commissioned to consider the potential strategic impact of biorefining on the process industries in North East England. This study confirms that the North East’s unique combination of research and
“Platform Chemicals from Biomass Fermentation” Table showing the main platform chemicals and derivatives that could be derived from processing of plant biomass in a biorefinery, including glycerol generated as a by-product from bio-diesel. The material name, structure, applications and current
“Landscape for Biopolymers” Packaging is a potentially important market for biopolymers. The global packaging industry is worth about £300bn and the UK industry over £9bn. Every person in the UK consumes 160kg of packaging each year of which 25kg is
“Green Chemical Technology Roadmap” The UK chemical industry is a vital part of our economy. It accounts for 2% of UK GDP and 10% of manufacturing gross value added. It is UK manufacturing’s largest exporter. The industry’s products pervade our
“Sustainability of the Chemical Industry” The chemical industry is an important engine of wealth creation. Its products are often key to the way in which human society meets its needs and can offer solutions to other sectors of industry in