Simon Evans

Press Gazette energy & environment journalist of the year 2022

Deputy Editor + Senior Policy Editor
@CarbonBrief

simon.evans@carbonbrief.org

Website: www.carbonbrief.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/drsimevans
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/simon-evans-53091614/
Author page: www.carbonbrief.org/author/simonevans/

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Last Notes

2026-07-28 14:29:52 UTC

Wind and solar have just overtaken fossil-fuel power in Germany
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-wind-and-solar-power-overtake-fossil-fuels-in-germany-for-first-time-ever
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/998/077/964/210/311/original/b5b8654d69f41239.png

2026-07-06 13:38:00 UTC

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This means the extra £15k “eco” home upgrade cost will be paid back in about 8yrs*, not the 25 years in the Times headline
(*but since we’re being pernicketty, I will look at interest costs too, in next post)
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/873/303/176/327/439/original/8c44a81d306d16f4.png

2026-07-06 13:37:54 UTC

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A more accurate accounting for the “eco” upgrade is the net upfront cost
(fossil-fueled minus low-carbon)
But this is only £15,000, BORING!
Next, we would look at the running cost savings, which are in fact £1,800, not £1,200
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/873/302/797/008/451/original/f2ecdd7d62dfafb7.png

2026-07-06 13:37:48 UTC

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The online version of the article makes two further errors, which are revealing
1) it describes the analysis, from the independent CCC, as “the government says”
2) it states incorrectly that the CCC analysis “doesn’t factor in upfront costs”
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/873/302/419/852/173/original/3273bef54b10adaa.png

2026-07-06 13:37:43 UTC

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Next, the Times takes the CCC figure for annual savings from the “eco” home, which is £1,200
Sadly the Times does not mention – or apparently realise – that this ALREADY INCLUDES the higher upfront costs of heat pumps & solar panels
So they’re counting upfront costs twice!
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/873/302/036/057/916/original/c694f8586ec63670.png

2026-07-06 13:37:37 UTC

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The Times adds up the “eco” tech to a total of £30,000…
…but ignores the cost of fossil-fuelled alternatives, which come to £15,000
So, yes, an “eco-home” upgrade would cost £30k
(as long as petrol cars and gas boilers are free – and they last forever)
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/873/301/657/316/377/original/288abc271c75c4a0.png

2026-07-06 13:37:31 UTC

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The Times article is based on a CCC report, which found that low-carbon homes could save £1,200 a year
It says the CCC assumed a used EV, costing £12,639, a heat pump £7,717 after grant, etc
But the Times ignores the cost of petrol cars and gas boilers…implying they are free!
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/873/301/284/937/553/original/8b81e4683ef589e1.png

2026-07-06 13:37:25 UTC

FACTCHECK: A guide to manufacturing headlines, by the Times
1) highlight upfront costs of an “eco” home (EV, heat pump, solar)
2) pretend that petrol cars and gas boilers are free (yes really)
3) count upfront “eco” costs twice, for good measure
4) that’s it!
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/873/300/892/324/328/original/f5f1465ac5a9d280.png

2026-06-26 16:41:55 UTC

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I'm not an expert on interpreting REMIT notices – would love an expert take
https://bmrs.elexon.co.uk/
The ones I listed aren't the only ones either – more here, some saying output down due to "Other", for eg
https://bmrs.elexon.co.uk/remit?timeRangeType=Previous&timeRangeLength=24h&endpoint=event&revisionHistory=latest-only&from=2026-06-25T16%3A30%3A00.000Z&to=2026-06-26T16%3A30%3A00.000Z&unavailabilityType=Unplanned&eventType=Production+Unavailability&fuelType=Fossil+Gas
2/2
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/817/403/183/449/625/original/8056a50c3801e2ec.png
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/817/403/237/106/552/original/5440236712f8f6be.png
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/817/403/236/257/756/original/6cd1b17031f44cbf.png
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/817/403/230/695/440/original/715aa6bd124a0400.png

2026-06-26 16:41:48 UTC

HEATWAVE HITS GAS POWER? Amid tight GB supplies, looks like gas plants cutting output due to heat?
Carrington – unplanned 16% reduction due to "ambient conditions"
Keadby 2 – 34% due to "weather"
Staythorpe – 18% due to "ambient conditions"
Grain – 12% "environmental" cause
1/2
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/817/402/766/663/022/original/f764592ef128fd6c.png

2026-05-01 10:54:50 UTC

THREAD: A heat-pump tumble dryer could save households more than £700
Lots of overblown reaction to govt phasing out standard dryers – reminds me of when 2009 Mail frontpage wailed about "beloved" incandescent bulbs
But heat pump dryers are just a much better technology
1/5
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/498/949/046/894/420/original/fb9f1bc5e87ceec4.png

2026-04-20 05:00:05 UTC

THREAD: The IEA global energy review 2026
* CO2 record high, but growth nearly ground to halt
* Clean energy shaved 3bn tonnes off CO2
* Fossil-fuel power pushed into reverse
* Age of Electricity "confirmed"
* "Extraordinary" solar growth
* Batteries up 40%
* EVs up 20%
1/10
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/435/268/626/100/377/original/6d3164f1552061ca.png

2026-03-06 14:49:00 UTC

😬I'm sure this will be fine😬 "Pace of global warming has nearly doubled since 2015, reveals study"
https://www.carbonbrief.org/pace-of-global-warming-has-nearly-doubled-since-2015-study-says/
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/116/182/780/467/416/386/original/af6bdf96be55ac28.png

2025-11-21 07:59:29 UTC

COP30 BREAKING NEWS
The presidency has just dropped a new package of texts including the "global mutirão" cover, which makes no mention of fossil fuels or roadmaps
Here's my snap analysis (pic)
https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Mutir%C3%A3o_cop30.pdf
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/115/586/627/578/563/803/original/5606b5d4e6ca73ef.png

2025-11-05 20:18:47 UTC

A reminder of what happened last time a UK govt tried to reduce bills by "cutting the green crap"
Analysis: Cutting the ‘green crap’ has added £22bn to UK energy bills since 2015
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-cutting-the-green-crap-has-added-22bn-to-uk-energy-bills-since-2015/
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/115/498/937/670/803/879/original/409c64a7b8d88efd.png

2025-08-07 14:27:45 UTC

Oops! The Times has had to issue an embarrassing correction over supposedly "sluggish" EV sales 😳
❌ It said EV sales to private buyers fell 10.8% this yr
✅They actually GREW…by 62%
Yet Times articles still claim a "big fall", "collapse" & "slide" in private EV sales 🤔
1/7
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/987/949/262/061/640/original/fca753295f7238ce.png

2025-08-01 08:33:26 UTC

Request: Could anyone share the PDF of this paper with me?
TIA!
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-025-00658-x

2025-07-04 16:16:40 UTC

NEW CHART: Trump's "big beautiful bill" & other efforts to dismantle climate policy means the US will add an extra 7bn tonnes of emissions to the atmosphere from now until 2030, compared to meeting its former climate pledge under the Paris Agreement 🫠
https://www.carbonbrief.org/chart-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-blows-us-emissions-goal-by-7bn-tonnes/
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/795/859/163/694/636/original/0d4ef6a3464669ad.png

2025-06-24 13:59:50 UTC

The UK government is "set to drop" plans for zonal electricity pricing, Bloomberg reports
NB this choice has been a long time coming and still not quite over the line – story quotes DESNZ saying "no decision has been made"
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-24/uk-set-to-drop-regional-power-price-plan-hated-by-industry?sref=Oz9Q3OZU

2025-06-12 14:57:30 UTC

Apropos of nothing in particular, just resharing this chart showing why North Sea gas is drying up (we burned it all already)
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/670/977/060/163/709/original/6e91bb94c7390a18.jpeg

2025-05-20 10:42:47 UTC

FACTCHECK: Why expensive gas – not net-zero – is keeping UK electricity prices so high
Many seem determined to obfuscate the very obvious reason why UK power is still so pricey. Molly Lempriere and I set out the facts + options to cut bills.
https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-why-expensive-gas-not-net-zero-is-keeping-uk-electricity-prices-so-high
1/10
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/539/742/281/832/531/original/41091f07d7ba452b.jpeg

2025-05-15 12:28:15 UTC

Could this be the biggest climate story of the year?
For the first time on record, China's emissions are falling due to clean energy growth, not slow power demand
Full analysis + outlook by Lauri Myllyvirta:
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-clean-energy-just-put-chinas-co2-emissions-into-reverse-for-first-time/
1/7
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/511/845/466/119/873/original/8dab8e1cf2d7304c.png

2025-05-02 10:03:32 UTC

Lord knows there's already been way to much ink spilt over *that* report from the Tony Blair Institute, but I thought it might be useful to share this chart from the IPCC, showing the emissions-cutting potential of different energy technologies
https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-the-ipccs-sixth-assessment-on-how-to-tackle-climate-change/#costsbenefits
1/5
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/437/666/417/289/382/original/ef990f5c313119b3.png

2025-04-03 14:30:40 UTC

Latest on "stalling" UK market for EVs
* Passenger EVs +38% to new record
* Electric vans +32%
* Electric trucks +159%
* Tesla sales "fell by 1% in a steeply rising market"
All from New Automotive
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/274/509/781/016/242/original/8753d2effe794252.png

2025-03-27 13:00:56 UTC

NEW: Govt data CONFIRMS our estimate that UK greenhouse gas emissions fell by 4% to 371MtCO2e in 2024
As we said earlier this month, this took UK emissions to lowest level since 1872 – with coal use at its lowest since 1666 (!)
Our analysis: https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-fall-3-6-in-2024-as-coal-use-drops-to-lowest-since-1666/
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/234/520/781/467/194/original/704f3ffa579bb4e6.jpeg

2025-03-18 17:41:20 UTC

FACTCHECK: Why Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is wrong about UK's net-zero goal
In which I take a look at the evidence contradicting Badenoch's speech, from the science on the 2050 target to fact gas is causing high electricity prices + much much more
https://www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-why-conservative-leader-kemi-badenoch-is-wrong-about-uks-net-zero-goal/
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/184/662/536/763/471/original/310fa3406cffa247.png

2025-03-12 12:27:26 UTC

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The UK's emissions in 2024 were 54% below 1990 levels, while the size of the economy has nearly doubled over the same period
Still, emissions would need to fall even faster to meet 2035/2050 targets
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-fall-3-6-in-2024-as-coal-use-drops-to-lowest-since-1666/
8/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/149/454/396/896/197/original/7d7eaa6627737fcd.png

2025-03-12 12:27:20 UTC

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Gas demand fell overall but there were competing trends…
* Gas for heat was up despite warmer temps, likely due to lower prices
* Gas for power down, replaced by low-carbon sources + cheap imports
* LNG imports halved, cutting 1.5TWh off demand for regasification
7/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/149/454/018/583/134/original/5cbdba3c138695d6.png

2025-03-12 12:27:14 UTC

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Another 1/3 of drop in UK emissions in 2024 was due to lower demand for oil & gas
Oil dropped 1.4%, despite higher traffic, as EVs ate into demand for petrol/diesel
* EVs on the road up 40% in 1yr (!)
* EV drivers saved ~£800 each
* Total saving ~£1.7bn in lower fuel costs
6/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/149/453/642/978/587/original/28beecab92b14b7f.png

2025-03-12 12:27:09 UTC

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Falling steel prices due to supply exceeding demand are causing havoc for global industry, from UK to South Africa & even China
So not at all clear Port Talbot's blast furnaces could've been saved…either way Tata's pledged £1.25bn for electric arc furnaces at the site
5/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/149/453/260/657/368/original/e6f0bc90b52aaa5b.png

2025-03-12 12:27:03 UTC

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Drop in steel production was due to closure of final blast furnace at Port Talbot steelworks in Wales and pause in production at Scunthorpe works
No other stuff didn't help, but worth noting big drop in steel prices in past couple of years due to flooded global mkt…
4/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/149/452/875/325/626/original/8d688cd47c434099.png

2025-03-12 12:26:57 UTC

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UK coal use fell by 54% in 2024 to 2m tonnes, the lowest level since 1666
Of this…
* One-third due to end of coal power
* Two-thirds due to lower steel production
This accounted for around half the drop in UK emissions overall
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-fall-3-6-in-2024-as-coal-use-drops-to-lowest-since-1666/
3/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/149/452/485/250/449/original/0122701644b7c968.png

2025-03-12 12:26:51 UTC

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The latest 14MtCO2e / 3.6% drop in UK greenhouse gas emissions takes them down to 371MtCO2e in 2024, which is the lowest since 1872
That year, Queen Victoria was on the throne and Wanderers beat Royal Engineers in the first-ever FA Cup final
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-fall-3-6-in-2024-as-coal-use-drops-to-lowest-since-1666/
2/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/149/452/089/072/644/original/e850b1df0fc8654b.png

2025-03-12 12:26:45 UTC

📢ANALYSIS: UK emissions fell 3.6% in 2024 to lowest since 1872
🏭Coal lowest since 1666, when Great Fire ravaged London
🚗EVs pushed oil down despite more traffic, saving £1.7bn
🌇Gas down on "cleanest ever" power
📈📉Since 1990, CO2 -54% / GDP +84%
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-emissions-fall-3-6-in-2024-as-coal-use-drops-to-lowest-since-1666/
1/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/114/149/451/682/340/960/original/8264a1ae7bea1c5b.png

2025-01-02 09:01:53 UTC

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UK electricity generation from fossil fuels has more than halved in a decade, falling to 91TWh in 2024 – the lowest level since 1955 and making up the lowest ever share of the total, just 29%
Meanwhile, renewable output has more than doubled, up 122% since 2014 to 143TWh
2/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/113/757/946/748/687/270/original/16c7f9d76cb64925.png

2025-01-02 09:01:47 UTC

+++NEW ANALYSIS+++
UK electricity was the cleanest ever in 2024, with emissions per unit falling by more than two-thirds in a decade
Highlights:
🏭end of coal power after 142yrs
🔥fossil fuels at record-low 29% share
🌄renewables at record-high 45%
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uks-electricity-was-cleanest-ever-in-2024
1/9
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/113/757/946/273/664/730/original/d2e5d5c076322de0.png

2024-11-24 19:26:57 UTC

I'm so proud of the Carbon Brief #COP29 team for finishing our big summary of the talks
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–NCQG
–Stocktake
–Article6
–China
+Much more
…delivered in record time after a brutal fortnight of sleep deprivation!
https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop29-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-baku
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/113/539/574/499/058/044/original/64e3bd9ce89bad5a.png

2024-11-07 09:55:45 UTC

If this chart says to you "the climate/1.5C was screwed either way", then you've missed a fundamental truth about global warming:
–every fraction of a degree matters
–every tonne of CO2 counts
–every delay makes escalating climate impacts on people + planet harder to avoid
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-trump-election-win-could-add-4bn-tonnes-to-us-emissions-by-2030/
https://sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/cdn.mastodon.energy/media_attachments/files/113/441/069/118/021/171/original/343c41d5952d91d0.jpeg

2024-10-30 13:08:25 UTC

Reminder: Repeated fuel-duty freezes since 2011 have cost the govt at least £80bn and raised UK CO2 emissions by as much as 7%
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-fuel-duty-freezes-have-increased-uk-co2-emissions-by-up-to-7/