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The world is becoming more complex for policymakers and researchers alike as climate change, new technology and digitalization drive unprecedented energy-system change. Understanding one another is paramount if we are to address the challenges they present.
Production of fuels from water and CO2 using renewable energy could provide energy storage solutions and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. This month, we showcase recent efforts to advance understanding in this area.
UK policy on decentralized energy has shifted from community energy to local energy. This signals reduced support for grassroots, citizen-led action in favour of institutional partnerships and company-led investments, which puts at risk the urgent, long-term social and technological transformations required in a climate emergency.
China is the biggest manufacturer of solar photovoltaics, and with declining local costs coupled with potential pollution reduction and health co-benefits, domestic use of solar photovoltaics might surge even more dramatically in the very near future.
Access to rich, high-quality datasets is widely considered to be vital for energy research and public policy. While smart metering has the potential to revolutionize access to energy consumption data, coordinated efforts are needed from government, funding bodies and researchers to overcome the barriers to data access.
