Clean, sustainable energy harnessed from natural sources that replenish faster than they are consumed.
In the 4 billion years since our planet began its long series of revolutions around the sun, humanity has mostly been a passive observer of solar energy. We’ve watched the seasons shift, but only recently have we learned to "plug in" to that cosmic engine.
Millions of teenagers are genuinely worried about climate change. Some are doing the big things - protesting, going vegan, badgering their parents to switch energy supplier. But one quietly practical idea is gaining traction: a plug-in portable battery bank, charged overnight on cheap electricity, used to power your bedroom setup during the evening peak. Does it actually reduce carbon emissions? And does it save any money? We ran the numbers for both the UK and the USA.
The UK is building one of the world's most ambitious battery storage networks, yet its grid operator has just awarded zero contracts to battery projects in a critical stability auction - despite spending £323 million proving the technology works. It is the latest chapter in a story of institutional systems failing to keep pace with the clean energy transition.