Thread by @delivernetzero

We are excited to share our first report from the Delivering Next Zero project ✅
bit.ly/3A9p1P8

We identify eight key themes to emerge from workshops with the academic community in relation to delivering #netzero 💡

An overview🧵below 👇

#EnergyTwitter

Earlier this year, we convened 42 academics to explore a shared narrative on short term (next 10 years) & long term (following years up to 2050) measures for #netzero 0⃣

Experts represented the topic areas of energy supply 🏭 energy demand 🚄 & greenhouse gas removal (GGR) 🌲

Initial analysis of the workshop transcripts has revealed eight overarching themes in relation to building a narrative around delivering #netzero

These are summarised below with a brief insight into each:

1⃣ The need to develop social legitimacy for an ambitious decarbonisation pathway

It was identified that a more active public debate around #netzero could help socialise the lifestyle adjustments required for rapid decarbonisation within specific sectors.

2⃣ Different perspectives on the social and political feasibility of solutions

There was a split between ‘realist’ & ‘idealist’ measures, with some favouring less disruptive short-term solutions, esp. for demand reduction, while others advocated more drastic lifestyle changes.

3⃣ The role of technological optimism and systems change

There was a split in priorities in relation to developing techs, programmes+ policies to sit within current socio-technical systems vs the need for more dramatic systemic change to drive rapid emissions reductions.

4⃣ The need to rapidly roll out ‘ready to go’ infrastructure and technologies

For example, updating electricity networks, improving system flexibility and scaling up offshore wind were highlighted as ‘safe bets’ for decarbonising energy supply.

5⃣ The need to improve ‘readiness’ of solutions and roll out infrastructure for the long term

This was particularly prominent in GGR groups, where deploying infrastructure for CCUS & developing robust monitoring, reporting+ verification protocols were seen as high priorities.

6⃣ The need to upskill and capacity build in the workforce, government and civil service

For example, energy supply groups expressed the need to upskill workers to deploy infrastructure, which could form part of the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

7⃣ The need for a more active and interventionist policy approach

For example, the development of a whole system plan to implement decarbonisation across government departments, linked to regulatory intervention, was viewed as a priority.

8⃣ The need for continued investment into new, potentially disruptive technologies and solutions

Viewed as particularly important by the energy supply+ GGR groups, discussing increased investment in BECCS, DACs, energy storage, marine RE, offshore hydrogen+ system flexibility.

More insights and a comparison between workshop results are available in the full report: bit.ly/3A9p1P8

Thank you for reading 🙏 Let us know your thoughts.

These themes will be explored further in our next round of academic workshops 💡