In February of 2025, the Climate Change Committee released the 7th Carbon Budget, advising Government on new pathways to decarbonizing the UK by 2050.

Topics Discussed;

In this episode we dive into the budget as outlined and discuss topics;

• The key strategies in the budget and how likely we are to achieve them.
• Carbon removal and carbon capture technologies
• The jobs and skills needed to achieve a large-scale transition, and
• Challenges for government, industry and public

Host

• Dr. Nadine Moustafa - Research Associate at Imperial, specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies.

Guest 

• Dr Aidan Rhodes – Research Fellow at Imperial and Energy Policy Briefing Paper Fellow at Energy Futures Lab.

Timecode & Chapters;

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

00:41 - What is the Carbon Budget?

03:20 - The Seventh Carbon Budget: Scope and Significance

04:11 - Decarbonizing the Power Sector and Beyond

05:51 - Heating and Households: The Heat Pump Challenge

10:52 - From Technology to Implementation: Public Engagement and Policy

14:28 - Industry and Investment: Long-Term Business Models

18:00 - Carbon Markets and Carbon Removal Technologies

21:20 - No Silver Bullet: A Multi-Technology Approach

23:47 - Adaptation and Climate Resilience

28:22 - Challenges to Reaching Net Zero

32:03 - Supply Chains, Skills, and Workforce Transition

36:00 - Granular Planning and Regional Considerations

39:03 - Financing the Transition: Public and Private Roles

43:01 - Conclusion: A Call to Action and Optimism

Nadine's links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/

Imperial profile - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.mou...

Aidan’s Links  - Aidan Rhodes Profile | Imperial College London

Aidan Rhodes | LinkedIn

Produced by Annemarie van Basten

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn

Additional Links 

• Seventh Carbon Budget link - https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/the-seventh-carbon-budget/#:~:text=Our%20recommended%20level%20for%20the,the%20importance%20of%20the%20task
• Climate Change Committee link - https://www.theccc.org.uk
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) link -

In 2025, the UK generated over 14 billion kilowatt-hours of solar electricity, enough to power more than 5 million homes. With solar technology evolving faster than ever, could the next leap in solar power come from labs pushing the boundaries of energy science?

Host - Prof. Christos Markides - Clean energy technologies in the department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial

Guest  - Dr Flurin Eisner - Lecturer and researcher in Green Energy and Sustainable Engineering at Queen Mary University

Topics Discussed 

• Technology improvements in solar cells
• Generation capacity for manufacturing solar technologies
• Growth rate of PV industry
• Technical dive into converting solar power to energy
• Solar heat converted to cooling technologies
• UK’s Solar PV generation vs that of Europe.

Timecode & Chapters;

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

00:45 - Meet the Hosts: Christos Markides and Flurin Eisner

02:00 - Overview of Solar Energy Potential and Global Usage

04:30 - Growth of Photovoltaics (PV) and Silicon Dominance

07:00 - Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline Silicon

08:30 - Emerging Solar Technologies: Perovskites and Organics

11:00 - Advantages and Challenges of Perovskite Solar Cells

13:30 - Tandem Solar Cells and Efficiency Gains

15:00 - Organic PV: Flexibility, Colour Tuning, and Indoor Use

17:30 - Energy Payback Time and Sustainability of New Technologies

19:30 - Hybrid PV-Thermal Systems and Heat Recovery

22:00 - Thermal Storage and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

24:30 - Grid Integration and the Role of Storage

26:30 - Desert Tech and International Solar Projects

28:00 - Challenges in Grid Infrastructure and Distribution

30:00 - Capacity Factors and Renewable Energy Intermittency

32:00 - Solar for Cooling and Building Integration

34:00 - Light Management and Spectral Tuning in PV

36:00 - Material Design and AI in Solar Research

38:00 - Policy, Funding, and the UK’s Role in PV Innovation

40:00 - Solar Panel Adoption in UK Homes and Feed-in Tariffs

42:00 - Final Thoughts: The Solar Revolution is Here

43:00 - Outro and Energy Futures Lab Mission

Christo's links: LinkedIn - Christos Markides | LinkedIn

Imperial profile - Christos Markides Profile | Imperial College London

Flurin’s links: LinkedIn - Flurin Eisner | LinkedIn

Produced by Annemarie van Basten

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn

Additional Links 

Joint Article Publication by Prof. Christos Markides and Dr. Maria Herrando

Hybrid PV and solar-thermal systems for domestic heat and power provision in the UK: Techno-economic considerations

In this episode, we invited the co-authors of our latest briefing paper to come discuss the lessons learned and opportunities gained from the world’s largest off-shore wind farm.

Host

Dr. Aidan Rhodes, Research Fellow at imperial and policy briefing paper fellow at Energy Futures Lab

Guest 

Dr. Kaylen Camacho-McCluskey, an MSc Environmental Technology graduate from Imperial

Topics covered;

- Challenges: Technical & logistical, macroeconomics and global events like Covid and the war in Ukraine.

- Lessons Learned - Standardised approach and collaboration between developers

- Recommendations for Government and for developers.

Timecode & Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Energy Futures Podcast

00:45 - Meet the Guests: Dr. Aidan Rhodes & Dr. Kaitlyn Camacho McCluskey

02:00 - Kaitlyn’s Journey into Environmental Policy

04:00 - Background on Dogger Bank Wind Farm

05:30 - What is HVDC and Why It Matters

07:30 - Innovations at Dogger Bank: Unmanned Converter Stations

09:30 - Challenges in HVDC Deployment

11:00 - Impact of COVID-19 on Construction

12:30 - Supply Chain Disruptions and Global Events

14:00 - Successes: Collaboration and Standardised Phasing

16:00 - Lessons from the Phased Approach (A, B, C)

17:30 - Planning and Permitting Challenges

19:00 - Government Recommendations for Offshore Wind

20:30 - Grid Upgrades and Transmission Planning

21:30 - Developer Recommendations: Standardisation and Skills

23:00 - Final Thoughts and Where to Find the Report

24:00 - Outro and Call to Action

Aiden's links

Imperial profile

LinkedIn

Kaylen's links

LinkedIn

Produced by Annemarie van Basten

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn

Additional Links 

Briefing Paper

Press Release

Financing Decarbonisation Ep 31: Dr Nadine Moustafa & Paul Davies

Is Carbon capture an investable industry, and can it be financeable?

Host

• Dr. Nadine Moustafa, Research Associate at Imperial, specialising in carbon management and decarbonisation technologies.

Guest 

• Paul Davies - Director at 7CO2: The Severnside Carbon Capture and Shipping Hub

Topics Discussed 

• Government's role in financing decarbonisation
• The public and private sector contributions to decarbonisation industries
• Innovation in carbon capture lending itself to investment
• Policies and the market.

Timecode & Chapters;

00:02:21 – Introduction & Guest Background

00:02:47 – What Makes Financing Decarbonization Different?

00:03:53 – Role of Government & Carbon Pricing

00:04:36 – Public-Private Collaboration

00:06:19 – Evolving Risk & Government Support

00:08:10 – Negative Emissions & Market Potential

00:09:05 – Business Models for Carbon Capture

00:11:24 – Infrastructure Scaling Challenges

00:12:14 – Why CCS Projects Lag Behind

00:14:03 – Government’s Role in Mitigating Risk

00:15:25 – Financial Close & Project Rollout

00:17:09 – Non-Pipeline Transport Solutions

00:19:16 – Modular vs. Mega Projects

00:21:29 – Importance of Long-Term Policy Signals

00:23:01 – Sector-Specific Financing Opportunities

00:25:10 – Aviation & Consumer Offsets

00:27:36 – Revenue-Driven Sectors Will Lead

00:28:13 – Cross-Sector Financing Mechanisms

00:30:31 – Residual Emissions & Net Zero

00:33:31 – Long-Term Use of Fossil Fuels

00:34:39 – Advice for Stakeholders

00:36:03 – The Magic Wand Question

00:37:11 – Social Acceptability & Political Support

00:38:23 – Closing Thoughts

Nadine's links:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-moustafa-ph-d-5831a1a7/

Imperial profile - https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/n.mou...

Paul's links:

7CO2: The Severnside Carbon Capture and Shipping Hub -

What are the key challenges in manufacturing wind turbines, and is the lifespan of wind turbines impacting the sustainable nature of wind farming?

Host

• Dr. Aidan Rhodes, Research Fellow and Briefing paper at Energy Futures Lab

Guest 

• Cristina Fernández Alonso, a product service engineer – and Blade Project manager at GE Vernova
• Sara Jiménez Alfaro, an aeronautical Engineer and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford and Imperial College

Topics Discussed 

• The ongoing construction and targets of the largest wind farm in the world.
• Challenges to the construction, operation and maintenance of wind turbines.
• Innovative research into the lifespan of these offshore giants.
• Wind power as a leading innovator in renewable energy.

Chapters & Timestamps 

 01:43 - Episode Introduction: Offshore Wind Farms

Host introduces the topic and guests.

02:06 - Guest Introductions: Cristina Fernandez & Jose Jimenez Alfaro

Backgrounds and roles in offshore wind energy.

03:01 - Cristina’s Career Journey

From Spain to Imperial College and her role at GE Vernova.

05:05 - Long-Term Wind Turbine Maintenance

Cristina discusses her passion for turbine maintenance and customer collaboration.

05:45 - Sara’s Research Journey

From aeronautical engineering to fracture mechanics in offshore wind.

07:04 - Fatigue and Corrosion in Wind Turbines

Sara explains his research on extending turbine lifespan.

08:11 - Overview of the Dogger Bank Project

Cristina describes the scale and significance of the world’s largest wind farm.

10:00 - Wind Turbine Efficiency and Capacity

Technical details on turbine design and energy output.

11:10 - Advances in Materials Science

Discussion on fracture mechanics and material properties.

12:24 - Collaboration on Dogger Bank Project

Multi-stakeholder coordination and logistics.

14:10 - Logistics and Transportation Challenges

Moving massive turbine components across Europe.

16:31 - Offshore Wind Challenges

Structural and environmental challenges in offshore installations.

Aidan’s Links  - Aidan Rhodes Profile | Imperial College London

Aidan Rhodes | LinkedIn

Cristina’s links - Cristina Fernández Alonso | LinkedIn

Sara’s links - Sara Jiménez Alfaro | LinkedIn

Produced by Annemarie van Basten

Annemarie Van Basten | LinkedIn

Additional Links 

• Dogger Bank

The World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm - Dogger Bank Wind...

To reach net zero, we need to electrify transport—from personal vehicles to heavy goods trucks.

In this episode, Edoardo Taricco, a mechanical engineer and recent graduate of the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures programme at Imperial College London, explores the future of electric vehicles and sustainable travel.

Guests

• Gregory Offer – Professor in electrochemical science and engineering at Imperial College London. His work focuses on battery, fuel cell, and supercapacitor technologies for transport applications.
• Jade Edwards – Head of Insights at Zapmap, a leading source of EV charging data and analysis. Her team examines EV charging infrastructure, driver behavior, and industry trends.

Topics Discussed

• The evolving EV market – Trends in consumer behavior, policy, and global adoption.
• Charging infrastructure – Innovations, accessibility, and user experience.
• Electrifying heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) – Technological challenges, emerging solutions, and alternatives beyond batteries.
• The role of EVs in grid stability – How bidirectional charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology could reshape energy systems.
• Decarbonizing transport – The need for smaller EVs, active transport, and better public transit integration.

Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:42 – Meet our guests

03:20 – The shift to EVs: consumer trends and policy drivers

06:40 – Overcoming range anxiety and lifestyle changes with EVs

12:17 – The potential of EVs in supporting the energy grid

19:51 – Charging infrastructure: accessibility, investment, and rollout challenges

30:35 – Standardization and payment systems in EV charging

40:03 – Battery technology, thermal management, and future improvements

50:01 – The relationship between EV sales and charging infrastructure growth

53:05 – The rise of SUVs and challenges in decarbonizing transport

58:34 – Electrifying heavy goods vehicles: challenges and solutions

1:02:34 – Future of fleet charging and shared infrastructure

1:03:06 – Closing thoughts and where to find our guests

Edoardo’s Links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edoardo-taricco-9a77a2205/

Greg’s links

Imperial profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/gregory.offer

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-offer-3180379/?originalSubdomain=uk

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/electrochem-sci-eng/

Jade’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-edwards-0a16b51/

https://www.zap-map.com/

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Additional Links

• Ultra-rapid EV charging, powered by Sainsburys

https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/sustainability/plan-for-better/our-stories/2023/sainsburys-ultra-rapid-electric-vehicle-charging

• Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)

In this episode, Dr. Aidan Rhodes, Research Fellow at Imperial College London and Energy Policy Briefing Papers Fellow at Energy Futures Lab, is joined by Tom Luff, Practice Manager at Energy Systems Catapult. Together, they explore the crucial role of consumers in shaping the transition to a net-zero energy system.

Topics covered:

• How consumer participation can drive Net Zero efforts
• The impact of flexibility measures like smart appliances, time-of-use tariffs, and renewable assets on energy costs
• Addressing equity, trust, and the needs of vulnerable consumers in the energy transition

Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and episode overview

01:10 - Meet the guests: Dr. Aidan Rhodes and Tom Luff

02:35 - Mission 2030: The UK’s ambitious Net Zero target

05:55 - Challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing the energy system

09:00 - Balancing supply and demand: Too much vs. not enough electricity

13:28 - Planning challenges: How do we bring communities along?

18:15 - Consumer participation: Why it’s essential for Net Zero

21:48 - Energy flexibility: Smart tariffs, EVs, and demand shifting

29:00 - The role of smart meters in energy transition

34:07 - Energy market reform and locational pricing

38:50 - Emerging business models: Peer-to-peer energy trading and energy-as-a-service

44:06 - Future outlook: The most exciting changes in the next five years

45:20 - Where to learn more

Tom’s links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-luff-aa6aa279/?originalSubdomain=uk

Energy Systems Catapult

https://es.catapult.org.uk/

Aidan’s links

• Imperial profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/aidan.rhodes
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-rhodes-06b16030/?originalSubdomain=uk

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

Additional links

ESME (Energy System Modelling Environment)

https://es.catapult.org.uk/tools-and-labs/our-national-net-zero-toolkit/energy-system-modelling-environment/

Living Lab

https://es.catapult.org.uk/tools-and-labs/living-lab/

Dunkelflaute

https://www.sunsave.energy/blog/dunkelflaute

Ofgem

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/

Octopus Agile

https://octopus.energy/smart/agile/

Guest: Adam Hearne, CEO & Co-founder of CarbonChain

Host: Dr. Gbemi Oluleye, Lecturer at Imperial College London

In this episode, we explore the complexities of industrial decarbonisation and how energy-intensive sectors can transition to a net-zero economy.

Key Topics Discussed:

- The technical challenges in industrial decarbonisation

- The role of innovative technologies in reducing carbon footprints

- How carbon accounting software enables businesses to track and manage emissions

The impact of smart policies and financial incentives on industry transitions

The importance of hidden heroes—leaders driving sustainability from within

Chapters & Timecodes

00:00 – Introduction – The mission of Energy Futures Podcast

00:31 – Guest Introduction – Dr. Gbemi Oluleye introduces Adam Hearne

01:58 – What is Industrial Decarbonisation? – Defining the challenge

03:16 – Carbon Accounting for Heavy Industries – Adam’s work at CarbonChain

05:18 – Realistic Decarbonisation Pathways – Sector-specific strategies

08:18 – Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) Debate – Is CCS a viable solution?

09:51 – Biggest Challenges in Industrial Decarbonisation – Policy instability and market incentives

12:46 – Smart Policy for Industrial Decarbonisation – Designing effective regulations

15:25 – Carbon Pricing & Border Adjustment Mechanisms – The UK and global landscape

17:30 – Should Policy Be Technology Agnostic? – Designing effective support mechanisms

19:39 – What Can Industry Do Now? – Actions despite policy gaps

22:04 – Biggest Opportunities from Industrial Decarbonisation – Economic and job growth

26:30 – Lessons for Other Sectors – What non-heavy industries can learn

27:54 – The UK vs Global Industrial Decarbonisation Landscape – Strengths and weaknesses

30:52 – The Role of Carbon Accounting – The ‘underdog’ of industrial sustainability

34:20 – The Power of Hidden Heroes – Leaders making change happen

40:28 – Encouraging Innovation in Deep Tech – The need for long-term vision

43:17 – Advice for the Academic Community – Bridging research and policy

45:11 – Exciting Future of Industrial Decarbonisation – Workforce transformation and consumer impact

47:07 – Smart Finance & Resource Allocation – Retrofitting vs. new industry

51:34 – Collaboration for Net Zero – Academia, startups, and government

53:31 – Closing Thoughts & Call to Action – How to get involved

Adam’s Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhearne/

CarbonChain- https://www.carbonchain.com/

Gbemi’s links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbemi-oluleye-amicheme-fhea-phd-16a5963b/

Imperial profile: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/o.oluleye

Stay Connected

Produced by Jonny Prest

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonnyprest/

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