Learned Society Update
Claudia Flavell-While updates on the progress of IChemE’s learned society activities
Features
Climate Crisis Explainer
Amanda Doyle discusses COP26 and why it is important
Climate crisis explainer: what is COP26 and why is it important?
In November, the 26th UN Conference of Parties (COP) climate summit will take place in Glasgow, U...
The Carbon Collision Course
Andrew Perry looks at the challenges of tackling global carbon emissions, and asks when the worl...
New narrative needed for CCS
Obtaining wider support for CCS by emphasising its importance in decarbonising numerous industrie...
Policy Perspective: Sustainable Transitions
Elena Demou explains how IChemE is supporting members to influence policy
Carbon: Feeling the Pinch
Raymond Tan and Dominic Foo explain how pinch analysis techniques can be used to optimise decarbo...
Step by Step
Stephen Drew reports on why classic pinch technology used in the NZ food industry is just as vali...
Policy Perspective
Samson Yosef explains how IChemE is supporting members to influence policy
Strategy 2024
IChemE President Ken Rivers explains the purpose of Strategy 2024 and why it is fundamental to t...
Policy Perspective
Nooryesha Choudhury explains how IChemE is supporting members to influence policy
Policy Central
Nick Starkey of the Royal Academy of Engineering explains why engineering input is so crucial for...
What to do About Waste?
Conclusions from the Royal Society of Chemistry’s summit on future waste science policy.
Stressed British Steel Must Not be Allowed to Fail
Adam Duckett says Government must stand strong with British Steel
Immigration and Engineering in the UK
What does the latest Immigration White Paper mean for the UK engineering industry?
Keeping it Local
David Simmonds explains the challenges of pursuing major projects sustainably
Time Has Run Out on CCS Delays
Adam Duckett urges action on CCS
UN report calls for urgent action to tackle chemical pollution
INDUSTRY will not achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste by 2020 without...
Deal or No Deal – Brexit and UK Energy Policy
A look at the the likely impact of a Brexit deal/no deal on the UK’s energy sector
Rigs-to-Reef: Policy Waters Muddied
UK Government needs to take a lead on forming evidence-based policy on rigs-to-reef decommissioni...
Carbon Capture and Storage: Are We There Yet?
Amanda Doyle travels to Norway on a CCS safari
Deal or No Deal?
No deal is now the base case – are you ready for Brexit?
Developing Policies: What Can We Do?
Increasing chemical engineering contributions to sustainable policy development: an Australian ...
Step Up and Share
As lessons emerge following the Grenfell Tower review, chemical engineers have a duty to share th...
Dame Judith Hackitt and Erin Johnson talk fire safety
Chemical engineers are well suited to assessing fire safety by applying systems thinking and a ri...
What is it Like Being a Chemical Engineer in Parliament?
Erin Johnson, Ashok Kumar Fellow, talks to IChemE’s Rachael Fraser
Brexit: The Impact on Energy and Climate Change
What are the likely effects in the immediate and long term?
IChemE: a Learned Society and a Review of Policy Work
Working with members to develop a more effective strategy for policy
Brexit: The Impact on Energy and Climate Change
Since Brexit negotiations have entered full force, concerns are growing about the future of the U...
Landfill vs Skyfill
How landfill might be the better option for disposal of low-grade plastics
It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas
H21: why we need bold thinking for a greener, cleaner, low-cost future
Shale Gas: Friend or Foe?
An overview of the scientific and technical challenges that have surfaced because of shale gas
Securing a Safe Future for Gas
Hydrogen: a way to provide safe, sustainable and clean energy to satisfy rising demand and meet ...
A South African Challenge
Mobilising chemical engineering resources to mitigate drought
Get Ready
Chemical engineers: start answering climate change questions now
A Greener Future for IChemE
The BioFutures Programme will address the opportunities and challenges faced by the chemical engi...
An urgent request: new decommissioning head must bring fresh-thinking to wrong-headed plans
THE appointment this week of a new head of decommissioning at the UK’s Oil & Gas Authority (OGA) ...
Scotland’s Fracking Ban – Politics Trumps Expert Advice
THE Scottish government’s recent announcement on fracking was no surprise. No amount of evidence-...
Ambition Made Real
Adam Duckett praises Norway's industrial vision
News
Teesside industry evolves its CCS pitch and pushes plans to host net zero cluster
A CONSORTIUM operated by BP is pitching for the UK Government to support the development of a net...
UK confirms £800m for carbon capture clusters
THE UK has confirmed in its budget today that it will invest £800m (US$1bn) in a carbon capture a...
New Hydrogen Taskforce calls for £1bn commitment from the UK Government
IN A report to mark its launch, the Hydrogen Taskforce – which involves energy majors Shell and B...
BP to leave three US trade associations due to misalignment of climate policies
BP HAS announced that it will leave the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), the...
New President announced for COP26 climate summit
ALOK Sharma has been announced as the new President for the COP26 climate summit, which is due to...
COP26 launch overshadowed by political arguments
THE COP26 climate summit, due to take place in Glasgow in November, was officially launched on 4 ...
Uncertainty remains over UK chemicals regulations after Brexit
UNCERTAINTY remains over the future of chemicals regulations in the UK as the UK will only remain...
South African engineers call for more renewables
THE South African Government has been urged to restart its renewable-energy procurement programme...
UK announces new fast-track visa for world-leading researchers
THE UK Government has announced the details of a new fast-track visa scheme to attract overseas r...
Communication troubles are holding back UK biotech
ENGINEERING biology must learn to communicate better if the breakout discipline is to achieve its...
IEA calls for ‘bold’ action to achieve emissions savings through energy efficiency
ENERGY efficiency can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but with efficiency improvements slow...
South Africa unveils 2030 power plan
SOUTH Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has updated its Integrated Resou...
UK gives international students two years to stay following graduation
INTERNATIONAL students at UK universities will now be able to extend their stay up to two years a...
BP on continuous hunt for methane leaks
BP says it is deploying technology to continuously detect, measure and reduce methane emissions f...
Food, fuel and drug supplies at no-deal Brexit risk, Government warns
THE UK Government has warned in a document it has been forced to disclose that a no-deal Brexit c...
Oil and gas majors are undermining climate goals, report warns
OIL and gas companies have approved US$50bn of investment since 2018 in major projects that under...
Engineering profession calls for action to secure the UK’s future economy and society
THE National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) has published a manifesto for a prosperous and secu...
Report reveals policy gaps in UK Government’s net zero pledge
THE Science and Technology Committee (STC) has highlighted policy gaps in the Government’s plans ...
UK will fast track visas for top scientists post-Brexit
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that top scientists will be allowed to apply for fa...
Report calls for swapping fossil fuel subsidies for renewables to boost green energy
A REPORT by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has found that just 10...
UK Government criticised for lack of progress implementing biofuels
THE All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Bioethanol has released a report saying that...
Nuclear industry calls on European policy makers to work together towards net zero emissions
NUCLEAR industry representatives from across the supply chain have issued a manifesto outlining s...
EU fails to agree a net zero emissions target for 2050
FOUR countries have blocked an EU proposal which aims to set a net zero emissions target for the ...
EPA’s new energy plan gives boost to coal-fired plants
THE US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced a new energy rule that will extend th...
UK sets target for net zero emissions by 2050
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that the UK will legislate to reduce CO2 emissions to...
UK Chancellor criticised for trying to change decarbonisation targets
THE UK Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, has come under criticism for claiming that adopting a strateg...
Call for evidence on CCS ahead of UK spending review
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for carbon capture and storage has issued a call for evi...
Exelon to shut down Three Mile Island
THE infamous Three Mile Island nuclear power plant is set to shutdown due to government inaction.
Zero emissions by 2050: government’s climate experts urge action
THE UK’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has said the country could feasibly emit no emissions ...
UK government needs clear strategy to deploy CCUS
A CROSS-PARTY report from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee has criti...
MPs call for government support on hydrogen and CCS
MEMBERS of Parliament speaking at an event to showcase clean energy have noted that in the wake o...
UK launches new CCUS Advisory Group
THE Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has formed a new CCUS Advisory...
Warnings new UK coal mine undermines green ambitions
THE UK’s first deep coal mine in 30 years has been given the go ahead by Cumbria County Council, ...
Chemical engineers quiz MPs on science funding and single-use plastic
IN a reversal of roles, chemical engineers took the opportunity yesterday to quiz UK policy leade...
Chemical engineer briefs UK politicians on chemical weapons
CHEMICAL engineering postgraduate Jeni Spragg has produced a report to help UK parliamentarians m...
A matter of cost
The fatal Brazil dam collapse highlights failings in the mining industry. Amanda Jasi speaks to e...
UK Government warned that no-deal Brexit REACH plans are ‘vague and insufficient’
THE UK Government has published draft legislation for chemical registration in the event of a no-...
Perkins report finds scant progress on engineering skills
FIVE years on from the publication of his engineering skills review for the UK Government, former...
IChemE launches energy and resource efficiency guide
ICHEME has launched an energy and resource efficiency guide which outlines how engineers and orga...
UK relaunches search for a GDF site
The UK has relaunched its search for a site to bury its nuclear waste after previous plans were h...
Negotiators agree on rulebook for Paris Agreement at United Nations meeting
A SET of rules for enacting the Paris Agreement to limit climate change was agreed by 196 countri...
Scepticism over the UK bioeconomy strategy
INDUSTRY has expressed mixed reactions towards the recently-released UK Bioeconomy Strategy. The ...
UK government publishes additional REACH guidance in case of no-deal Brexit
THE UK government has published additional documentation on how the UK will manage chemical regul...
Shell commits to stricter targets on cutting emissions
SHELL has given in to pressure from investors to commit to specific goals in limiting climate cha...
UK moving forward with CCUS plans
THE UK government has unveiled an action plan for developing carbon, capture, utilisation and sto...
Report assesses the role of biomass in meeting climate change targets in the UK
A REPORT by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has said that biomass has a role to play in a l...
House of Lords calls on government to take urgent action to clarify chemical regulations
THE House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee has published a report expressing conc...
UK and Canada sign agreement for civil nuclear cooperation
THE UK and Canada have signed a bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) which will ensure t...
Report finds more ‘D’ needed in UK R&D
A Royal Academy of Engineering report has found that more support is needed for the final develop...
European Parliament calls for tougher stance on emissions
MEMBERS of the European Parliament have called on the EU to improve its climate change commitment...
Chemicals coalition calls on EU leaders to allow UK to remain within REACH
A COALTION of European chemicals NGOs has called on politicians negotiating the terms of Brexit t...
UN climate experts warn society must make unparalleled shift
LIMITING global warming to 1.5°C requires rapid and unprecedented changes to society, UN climate ...
UK government releases document on chemical regulation in case of no-deal Brexit
THE UK government has outlined a framework for regulating chemicals if a no-deal Brexit occurs, s...
Trump administration scraps methane emission laws
THE Trump administration has rolled back two Obama-era laws on reducing methane emissions in the ...
Chemical engineer to brief parliamentarians on chemical weapons
JENNIFER Spragg, a postgraduate student in bioenergy at the University of Leeds, UK, will advise ...
IChemE chair meets Malaysian minster to promote expert input
THE chair of IChemE’s Malaysia board, Christina Phang, has met with the country’s new energy mini...
Joint report calls for immediate action to remove greenhouse gases
The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) have released a joint report outli...
No deal Brexit will hit chemicals sector hard, government warns
THE UK Chancellor has warned that the chemicals sector will be one of the hardest hit by a ‘no de...
Monsanto ordered to pay US$289m to cancer patient
A JURY has ruled in favour of a terminally ill cancer patient who claimed that Monsanto’s glyphos...
EPSRC funds Inclusion Matters initiative
THE EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) has announced that it is giving a ...
CCUS report urges UK government to act now
THE carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) cost challenge taskforce has released a report settin...
Chinese insulation production thought to be source of rise in ozone-damaging chemical
A REPORT by the Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA) has discovered widespread use of the ba...
UK outlines £200m nuclear sector deal
THE UK government has unveiled a £200m (US$262m) deal in partnership with the nuclear industry th...
EPA limiting evaluation of chemical risks
THE US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised how it determines risks associated with ...
Chemical engineers talk fire safety
FIRE safety is important to all of us, both in residential buildings and on industrial sites, and...
Stemming the flow of plastic waste
EUROPE has proposed a law banning or restricting single-use plastics, the UN has released a polic...
UK government considers investment in new nuclear power plant in Wales
BUSINESS secretary Greg Clark has announced that the UK government will take a £5bn ($US6.7bn) st...
Reopening of UK bioethanol plant could lead to decarbonisation of transport
VIVERGO, the UK’s largest bioethanol plant, has reopened after a four-month shutdown period. Howe...
Chemical companies review lessons learned from Hurricane Harvey
AN INDUSTRY forum held in Texas has discussed the response of chemical companies to Hurricane Har...
National Grid report says gas can decarbonise heat, transport, and industry
THE UK’s gas and electricity operator, National Grid, has set out its long-term goals in its repo...
Liveris to step down as chair of DowDuPont in April
CHEMICAL engineer Andrew Liveris will step down in April as executive chair of DowDuPont, the hol...
UK carbon dioxide emissions fall to same level as 1890
AN ANALYSIS by climate science website Carbon Brief has shown that the UK's carbon dioxide emissi...
UK must remain within REACH as it exits EU
ICHEME has backed calls for the UK to remain within the EU’s chemicals regulation (REACH) despite...
Chemical engineering importance highlighted in Brexit summit
FORMER IChemE president Geoffrey Maitland has spoken to MPs about the impact of Brexit on chemica...
BP’s crystal ball suggests oil demand plateau and electric car increase
BP has released its annual Energy Outlook report, which suggests a significant increase in the us...
Singapore to introduce carbon tax from 2019
THE Singapore budget has revealed that companies emitting more than 25,000 t/y of greenhouse gase...
Paris Agreement targets can’t be reached with negative emission technologies
A REPORT has evaluated the potential of negative emission technologies (NETs) in the context of m...
Climate alliance seeks more engineering institutions
THE Future Climate-Engineering Solutions (FC-ES) project, of which IChemE is a member, has releas...
Trump proposes opening most US waters to drilling
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s administration has revealed a plan to open almost all US offshore waters...
French bill banning fossil fuel exploration passes in parliament
A BILL banning new fossil fuel exploration licences in France immediately and all fossil fuel ext...
UK’s largest bioethanol facility shuts down in face of political instability
THE UK’s largest bioethanol producer has halted production at its plant in East Yorkshire, blamin...
Warwickshire to host £80m UK battery research centre
UK BUSINESS secretary Greg Clark has announced that Coventry and Warwickshire will host the UK’s ...
Government outlines plan to make UK world’s most innovative nation
THE UK government has published its long-awaited Industrial Strategy as it seeks to boost industr...
Tees Valley £123m Budget boost
UK CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond announced in his 2017 budget on Wednesday an investment of £123m (US...
‘Grave strategic errors’ in Hinkley Point C deal
THE UK government made “grave strategic errors” in its approach to Hinkley Point C, the UK’s firs...
Bioengineering opportunities and risks
MAJOR issues that could face industry, society and the environment as a result of the growing bio...
Global Status of CCS report warns ‘more to be done’
THE Global CCS Institute says that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is vital to meeting the Paris...
COP23: Evidence-based climate change solutions needed
SPEAKERS at an IChemE-hosted event at the COP23 UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, ha...
Patrick Vallance is named UK chief scientific adviser
THE UK government has announced that it has appointed Patrick Vallance as its chief scientific ad...
Advanced nuclear design gets Canadian approval
THE Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has given the first regulatory nod to a commercial ...
Natural gas emissions threaten EU carbon budget
METHANE emissions from natural gas have been underestimated by governments, and the “bridging fue...
IChemE Energy Centre responds to UK Clean Growth Strategy
THE IChemE Energy Centre has welcomed the UK’s Clean Growth Strategy and investment in carbon cap...
Russia signs nuclear agreements with Nigeria
RUSSIA has signed agreements to build a nuclear power plant and a research centre housing a multi...
Singapore will use advanced manufacturing to cement chemicals future
SINGAPORE has put innovation and building skills at the heart of a new strategy to boost its ener...
Australia to set new national energy policy
A NEW proposal from the Australian government seeks to remove renewable energy subsidies and prom...
Fracking banned in Scotland “indefinitely”
THE SCOTTISH government has announced an effective ban on fracking activities, following “overwhe...
Founders of £65m UK battery research institute named
SEVEN British universities have been named as founding partners of the £65m Faraday Battery Insti...
Key US coal and nuclear announcements
AMERICA’S power markets could move away from renewables and natural gas towards coal and nuclear,...
UK offers £5m funding for North Sea exploration
NORTH Sea oil and gas exploration will receive £5m (US$6.7m) in funding from the UK government in...
Engineering better healthcare
AN ENGINEERING approach towards designing and managing complex systems could transform health and...
UK and US sign science agreement
A SCIENCE and technology agreement between the UK and US was signed yesterday, which is the first...
IChemE Fellow on UK Council for Science and Technology
CHEMICAL engineer Max Lu has been appointed to the UK Council for Science and Technology (CST), a...
Sarawak to set up own oil company
SARAWAK’S state government plans to set up its own oil exploration company, despite the national ...
Singapore pharma innovation programme launched
A MEMORANDUM of understanding between three industry giants and Singapore’s public sector was sig...
DNV GL: Energy demand will plateau in 2030
RISK MANAGEMENT firm DNV GL predicts that global energy demand will peak in 2025 and plateau afte...
