What makes energy system modelling 'useful'? Our new paper attempts to shape how people think about their model design and QA onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.10… UKERC wileyengineering OpenMod Initiative Strathclyde Engineering

A glance at gridwatch tells me that we're permanently on weekend-level use. A glance at ToU prices shows that this means wholesale prices are ~20% lower than usual. This means that the retailers are currently profiting from all their fixed tariff customers. Not a good look!

Remote walking

In a new UKERC blog, we look at the impact of week 1 of lockdown on national electricity demand, and discuss the readiness of the sector to deal with the challenge of maintaining supply through COVID-19 ukerc.ac.uk/news/covid-loc… EEE Strathclyde

Similar findings from colleagues over at Uni of Birmingham - interesting observation that the significant depression in fuel prices might lead to a significant rebound in energy use/emissions once restrictions are relaxed

2019: *ping* ah, an email has arrived 2020: *ping* right, which one of the 37 online collaboration apps I've had to install is it this time

Latest issue of Energy World really pushing the envelope here. Can't see it catching on myself

In this week's newsletter, Jonathan Bowes, a ClimateXChange Research Fellow offers an overview of the #Scottish Climate Change Plan which presents a path to meet Scotland's #climatechange targets to 2032 and beyond. bit.ly/3sJDWfw

While I appreciate some aspects of working from home, presenting to 200 people from my kitchen cupboard will never not be weird.

From myself and Prof Keith Bell: what should we be learning from the Texas rolling blackouts and why, when we look at the future climate, we should be careful about thinking it can't happen here ukerc.ac.uk/news/preparing…

For anyone in HE disengaged from the whole pensions debate (and who can blame you with everything else going on), this graph neatly summarises the preposterousness of USS' case for cutting your defined benefits by a 1/3rd

Yesterday, university employers voted to push through devastating cuts to the pensions of our members in USS. But we have forced them to retreat before & we can do it again if we stick together. To join the fightback, join UCU today. #OneOfUsAllOfUs ucu.org.uk/join

As well as the cash crisis for existing PhD students, this is having a clear impact on student recruitment. Trying to live for 3+ years in a high rent city/university town on £15k is not an attractive proposal to someone with a good bachelors/masters who will have other options.