Toby Morgan
@tcmorgan.bsky.social
Climate change and energy professional. Eternal optimist. Ex-London, now Cornwall.
Reposted by Toby Morgan
1. Some good news at last. This week’s column is about the amazing thing a couple of us stumbled into three years ago, which we’ve now developed into a global research programme. It doesn’t change everything, of course, but it could help change quite a lot. + 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Over a pint in Oxford, we may have stumbled upon the holy grail of agriculture | George Monbiot
I knew that a revolution in our understanding of soil could change the world. Then came a eureka moment – and the birth of the Earth Rover Program, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:55 AM
1. Some good news at last. This week’s column is about the amazing thing a couple of us stumbled into three years ago, which we’ve now developed into a global research programme. It doesn’t change everything, of course, but it could help change quite a lot. + 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Toby Morgan
✨ A few years back I stood outside Wells Cathedral for a full day and photographed the impact of the light on the front facade. I was amazed at the outcome - at how a single entity could morph and change under the changing light. 🌅 #thread
November 28, 2025 at 7:13 AM
✨ A few years back I stood outside Wells Cathedral for a full day and photographed the impact of the light on the front facade. I was amazed at the outcome - at how a single entity could morph and change under the changing light. 🌅 #thread
Reposted by Toby Morgan
🚀 Huge step forward for decarbonising heat: Construction has started on world’s largest seasonal thermal energy storage facility in Vantaa, Finland.
Massive underground caverns will store 1.1m m³ of hot water — around 90 GWh of heat, enough to warm an entire town through winter.
Massive underground caverns will store 1.1m m³ of hot water — around 90 GWh of heat, enough to warm an entire town through winter.
November 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
🚀 Huge step forward for decarbonising heat: Construction has started on world’s largest seasonal thermal energy storage facility in Vantaa, Finland.
Massive underground caverns will store 1.1m m³ of hot water — around 90 GWh of heat, enough to warm an entire town through winter.
Massive underground caverns will store 1.1m m³ of hot water — around 90 GWh of heat, enough to warm an entire town through winter.
Reposted by Toby Morgan
That's quite a contrast of headlines in the news on the same report
It arises because of the way that the International Energy Agency is choosing to report its scenarios
🧵🧵 1/3
www.ft.com/content/8696...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
It arises because of the way that the International Energy Agency is choosing to report its scenarios
🧵🧵 1/3
www.ft.com/content/8696...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
November 12, 2025 at 7:08 AM
That's quite a contrast of headlines in the news on the same report
It arises because of the way that the International Energy Agency is choosing to report its scenarios
🧵🧵 1/3
www.ft.com/content/8696...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
It arises because of the way that the International Energy Agency is choosing to report its scenarios
🧵🧵 1/3
www.ft.com/content/8696...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Toby Morgan
We have the results of a cool new trial out today, a collaboration between Nesta and OVO.
I'll put some key charts in a thread, but the tl;dr is:
- 58 customers let us operate their heat pump remotely
- We flexed the heat pumps to lower the cost of electricity
- Most people were fine with it
I'll put some key charts in a thread, but the tl;dr is:
- 58 customers let us operate their heat pump remotely
- We flexed the heat pumps to lower the cost of electricity
- Most people were fine with it
The future of heat
How to drive decarbonisation with innovative tariffs and automated flexibility
www.nesta.org.uk
October 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
We have the results of a cool new trial out today, a collaboration between Nesta and OVO.
I'll put some key charts in a thread, but the tl;dr is:
- 58 customers let us operate their heat pump remotely
- We flexed the heat pumps to lower the cost of electricity
- Most people were fine with it
I'll put some key charts in a thread, but the tl;dr is:
- 58 customers let us operate their heat pump remotely
- We flexed the heat pumps to lower the cost of electricity
- Most people were fine with it
Reposted by Toby Morgan
Have started listening and right from the off we have claims from Coutinho that she was the first Energy Secretary to question net zero and that net zero is 'making emissions worse'.
The UK has delivered the fastest emissions reductions in the G20.
The UK has delivered the fastest emissions reductions in the G20.
In latest Nick Robinson pod, Claire Coutinho sets out why her love of maths and data convinced her to call for abandoning climate change act, net zero targets and chase more fossil fuels extraction.
Curious, I’ve been using AI to examine these claims …
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
Curious, I’ve been using AI to examine these claims …
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/p...
Net Zero has become a religion: Claire Coutinho on climate, identity and cooking
Podcast Episode · Political Thinking with Nick Robinson · 17/10/2025 · 42m
podcasts.apple.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Have started listening and right from the off we have claims from Coutinho that she was the first Energy Secretary to question net zero and that net zero is 'making emissions worse'.
The UK has delivered the fastest emissions reductions in the G20.
The UK has delivered the fastest emissions reductions in the G20.
Reposted by Toby Morgan
Here comes the sun, little darlin’! For a refreshing and heartening view of unstoppable progress on the road to a clean energy, @billmckibben.bsky.social gives us this solar gem. Thanks Bill! www.newyorker.com/news/annals-... 4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment | The New Yorker
4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment
In the past two years, without much notice, solar power has begun to truly transform the world’s energy system.
www.newyorker.com
July 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Here comes the sun, little darlin’! For a refreshing and heartening view of unstoppable progress on the road to a clean energy, @billmckibben.bsky.social gives us this solar gem. Thanks Bill! www.newyorker.com/news/annals-... 4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment | The New Yorker
Late to this excellent essay, well worth a read.
July 16, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Late to this excellent essay, well worth a read.
Reposted by Toby Morgan
Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill | Chris Packham | The Guardian www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill | Chris Packham
Large parts of Dartmoor have been denuded of wildlife, harmed by farming and a mess of government schemes that are costly in every way, says naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham
www.theguardian.com
July 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill | Chris Packham | The Guardian www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Toby Morgan
The Conservative Party’s official position is that Great Britain - the crucible of the first Industrial Revolution, a G7 economy, and home to some of the world’s greatest scientists and entrepreneurs - is too small and pathetic to do anything to tackle the greatest challenge of the age.
Bowie says: “Global warming is a global challenge, and his plans will have a negligible or negative impact on global emissions, I'm afraid....We are telling the difficult truths they are running from reality.”
Miliband: "I just feel incredibly sad listening to the to the honourable gentleman."
Miliband: "I just feel incredibly sad listening to the to the honourable gentleman."
July 14, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The Conservative Party’s official position is that Great Britain - the crucible of the first Industrial Revolution, a G7 economy, and home to some of the world’s greatest scientists and entrepreneurs - is too small and pathetic to do anything to tackle the greatest challenge of the age.
Reposted by Toby Morgan
My column in tomorrow’s paper: on the magical thinking that has emerged on net zero and what drives it:
How magical thinking came for net zero critics
Badenoch shows the temptation of just putting all this climate unpleasantness behind us
www.ft.com
July 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
My column in tomorrow’s paper: on the magical thinking that has emerged on net zero and what drives it:
Reposted by Toby Morgan
Bleakly funny that what so many in British politics seem to envisage is a scenario in which we go 'we're too small to stop climate change ourselves' and rather than going 'so we will spend even more money on mitigation', the planet agrees to put all this unpleasantness behind us.
UK sea level rising faster than global average, study finds
Britain is getting wetter and warmer as new temperature records become norm
www.ft.com
July 14, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Bleakly funny that what so many in British politics seem to envisage is a scenario in which we go 'we're too small to stop climate change ourselves' and rather than going 'so we will spend even more money on mitigation', the planet agrees to put all this unpleasantness behind us.
Reposted by Toby Morgan
2000 years ago: the Romans would let an aqueduct destroy the Gardon Valley. We need clean water, but at what cost?
July 14, 2025 at 8:40 AM
2000 years ago: the Romans would let an aqueduct destroy the Gardon Valley. We need clean water, but at what cost?
Reposted by Toby Morgan
If you want to know what OBR really said on all this, I wrote a brief summary
TL;DR: Since net-zero is much cheaper than thought and unchecked global warming is far more costly than thought, climate action makes even more sense than thought
www.carbonbrief.org/...
6/6
TL;DR: Since net-zero is much cheaper than thought and unchecked global warming is far more costly than thought, climate action makes even more sense than thought
www.carbonbrief.org/...
6/6
OBR: Net-zero is much cheaper than thought for UK – and unchecked global warming far more costly - Carbon Brief
Reaching net-zero will be much cheaper for the UK government than previously expected – and the economic damages of climate change far more severe.
www.carbonbrief.org
July 10, 2025 at 9:28 AM
If you want to know what OBR really said on all this, I wrote a brief summary
TL;DR: Since net-zero is much cheaper than thought and unchecked global warming is far more costly than thought, climate action makes even more sense than thought
www.carbonbrief.org/...
6/6
TL;DR: Since net-zero is much cheaper than thought and unchecked global warming is far more costly than thought, climate action makes even more sense than thought
www.carbonbrief.org/...
6/6
Reposted by Toby Morgan
Some genuinely good news in the Spending Review for net zero, climate action, and tackling fuel poverty.
June 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Some genuinely good news in the Spending Review for net zero, climate action, and tackling fuel poverty.
Reposted by Toby Morgan
In any other major city in Europe the streets of Soho would obviously be pedestrianised and businesses/visitors on a glorious day like today could enjoy al fresco dining. But thanks to Westminster Council and the way we give outsized power to absurd local complaints, not here!
May 1, 2025 at 9:25 AM
In any other major city in Europe the streets of Soho would obviously be pedestrianised and businesses/visitors on a glorious day like today could enjoy al fresco dining. But thanks to Westminster Council and the way we give outsized power to absurd local complaints, not here!
Reposted by Toby Morgan
Six months ago, at least 227 people died in floods in Valencia, Spain.
Was it a natural disaster, or a human-made one?
For the FT Weekend, I wrote about a judge's investigation that may hold public officials accountable www.ft.com/content/45dc...
Was it a natural disaster, or a human-made one?
For the FT Weekend, I wrote about a judge's investigation that may hold public officials accountable www.ft.com/content/45dc...
When is a natural disaster human-made?
The mud has been cleared in Valencia. But questions remain about last year’s deadly floods
www.ft.com
April 26, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Six months ago, at least 227 people died in floods in Valencia, Spain.
Was it a natural disaster, or a human-made one?
For the FT Weekend, I wrote about a judge's investigation that may hold public officials accountable www.ft.com/content/45dc...
Was it a natural disaster, or a human-made one?
For the FT Weekend, I wrote about a judge's investigation that may hold public officials accountable www.ft.com/content/45dc...
Reposted by Toby Morgan
I spend 98% of my time pointing to garbage media nonsense on energy.
Welcome to the 2% club, this article:
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Welcome to the 2% club, this article:
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Why the UK’s electricity costs are so high – and what can be done about it
From nationalising gas plants to boosting renewables, how soaring prices could be tackled
www.theguardian.com
April 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I spend 98% of my time pointing to garbage media nonsense on energy.
Welcome to the 2% club, this article:
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Welcome to the 2% club, this article:
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Toby Morgan
In 2024, UK EPCs recommended fossil fuel boilers in 120,000+ homes.
Heat pumps recommended? Zero. Zilch. Nada.
We @regassistproj.bsky.social flagged this already in 2019. Gov't working on it, but old rules still rule.
Why EPCs ignore heat pumps foresightmedia.com/historie/swp...
HT James Twallin
Heat pumps recommended? Zero. Zilch. Nada.
We @regassistproj.bsky.social flagged this already in 2019. Gov't working on it, but old rules still rule.
Why EPCs ignore heat pumps foresightmedia.com/historie/swp...
HT James Twallin
April 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
In 2024, UK EPCs recommended fossil fuel boilers in 120,000+ homes.
Heat pumps recommended? Zero. Zilch. Nada.
We @regassistproj.bsky.social flagged this already in 2019. Gov't working on it, but old rules still rule.
Why EPCs ignore heat pumps foresightmedia.com/historie/swp...
HT James Twallin
Heat pumps recommended? Zero. Zilch. Nada.
We @regassistproj.bsky.social flagged this already in 2019. Gov't working on it, but old rules still rule.
Why EPCs ignore heat pumps foresightmedia.com/historie/swp...
HT James Twallin
Reposted by Toby Morgan
Whose fault is it? Beckett? Blair? Bloody windmills?
Why are British electricity prices so high and how did we get here? I have tried to break this down in a new, rather long Substack and look at the potential factors in our high prices.
Why are British electricity prices so high and how did we get here? I have tried to break this down in a new, rather long Substack and look at the potential factors in our high prices.
Whose fault is it?
Why are GB electricity prices currently so high compared to other countries?
open.substack.com
April 13, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Whose fault is it? Beckett? Blair? Bloody windmills?
Why are British electricity prices so high and how did we get here? I have tried to break this down in a new, rather long Substack and look at the potential factors in our high prices.
Why are British electricity prices so high and how did we get here? I have tried to break this down in a new, rather long Substack and look at the potential factors in our high prices.
Reposted by Toby Morgan
I've been a journalist for 25+ years and I'm not sure I've witnessed as much wilful (and v likely coordinated) disinformation from certain corners of the UK media than over past few days. Sun, Mail and Telegraph have been truly awful - and seemingly shameless
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Rightwing media falsely blame Ed Miliband for UK steel crisis, experts say
Net zero and clean energy can actually help save the steel industry, experts point out
www.theguardian.com
April 14, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I've been a journalist for 25+ years and I'm not sure I've witnessed as much wilful (and v likely coordinated) disinformation from certain corners of the UK media than over past few days. Sun, Mail and Telegraph have been truly awful - and seemingly shameless
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Toby Morgan
🚨Some major errors & misleading claims from experienced presenter Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 Today, when discussing British Steel with Treasury Minister James Murray
I hope these are corrected on tomorrow's programme, and Robinson sticks to the facts in future.
Here's what he got wrong... 🧵
I hope these are corrected on tomorrow's programme, and Robinson sticks to the facts in future.
Here's what he got wrong... 🧵
April 14, 2025 at 10:38 AM
🚨Some major errors & misleading claims from experienced presenter Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4 Today, when discussing British Steel with Treasury Minister James Murray
I hope these are corrected on tomorrow's programme, and Robinson sticks to the facts in future.
Here's what he got wrong... 🧵
I hope these are corrected on tomorrow's programme, and Robinson sticks to the facts in future.
Here's what he got wrong... 🧵
#Entomology Bluesky, is this a hornet or just a big wasp? Found in SW England
April 13, 2025 at 12:02 PM
#Entomology Bluesky, is this a hornet or just a big wasp? Found in SW England
Reposted by Toby Morgan
The government just quietly granted approval for another world-leading UK offshore wind farm. www.businessgreen.com/news/4411901...
Rampion 2: Government gives green light to giant 1.2GW Sussex offshore wind farm
90-turbine project expected to be up and running by 2030, providing a major boost to government's clean power mission
www.businessgreen.com
April 4, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The government just quietly granted approval for another world-leading UK offshore wind farm. www.businessgreen.com/news/4411901...