Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 3h

self-defeating proposal by Government to lower fees for universities judged to have lower teaching quality. Lower fees will mean fewer staff which will reduce staff-student ratios and reduce student contact time for teaching www.thetimes.com/uk/education...

Tuition fees set to be lowered at universities with poor teaching

Labour is considering bringing the cap below £9,000 a year on campuses where standards aren’t met

www.thetimes.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 11h

Campaigners argue against proposed ‘small modular reactor’. pembrokeshire-herald.com/124146/campa... But how feasible are SMRs? See ‘Why small modular reactors do not exist - history gives the answer’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/why-small-...

Campaigners warn of ‘dangerous experiment’ as nuclear plans face backlash

Climate Camp Cymru supports Llynfi Valley protest against small modular reactors – campaigners urge Pembrokeshire to stay alert ENVIRONMENTAL activists from across Wales – including several from Pembr...

pembrokeshire-herald.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 11h

Base Power hauls in $1B for mass deployment of huge home batteries www.canarymedia.com/articles/bat...

See also ‘How economists get it wrong about the value of home solar pv and batteries’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/how-econom...

Base Power hauls in $1B for mass deployment of huge home batteries

It’s a standout fundraise for the current cleantech market. The Texas startup will use the money to beef up manufacturing and install batteries even…

www.canarymedia.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 2d

The German electricity network operator reports increasing network reliability as renewables increase their share of generation www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/P...
See also ‘Renewables based systems are reducing blackouts in UK and USA!’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/renewables...

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 2d

‘EVs reach record 98.3 pct share of new car sales in Norway, surge across Europe’ thedriven.io/2025/10/09/e...
See also how increasing EV use will reduce overall energy consumption in ‘How small increases in renewables produce big cuts in carbon emissions’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/how-small-...

EVs reach record 98.3 pct share of new car sales in Norway, surge across Europe

The sale of electric vehicles (EVs) took off in September across Europe, led as always by Norway, but also with strong showings in key markets such as the UK, Denmark and Spain.

thedriven.io

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 3d

Germany awards just under 500 MW of solar plus storage projects at little more than 5 eurocents per kwh pv-magazine.com/2025/10/08/g...
See also ‘How falling battery prices and renewables will slash electricity bills’
davidtoke.substack.com/p/how-cheape...

Germany wraps up solar-plus-storage tender with average price of €0.0531/kWh

Germany has concluded a new renewables tender for innovative projects, securing 485 MW of capacity at final prices ranging from €0.0479 ($0.0557)/kWh to €0.0559/kWh

pv-magazine.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 3d

‘Overvoltage key factor in Iberian blackout’ - a law (changed after the blackout) actually prevented renewables from contrbuting to voltage control renews.biz/103454/overv...
See also ‘Renewables based systems are reducing blackouts in UK and USA!’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/renewables...

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 4d

‘The US and UK governments’ attack on the integrity of their own nuclear safety regulators makes no sense....' www.newcivilengineer.com/opinion/a-go...
See also ‘Why small modular reactors do not exist - history gives the answer’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/why-small-...

A ‘Golden Age’ of nuclear? | New Civil Engineer

The reason is simple. Nuclear costs are huge and rising and significant delays are the norm. The result is that nuclear power faces the same fundamental

www.newcivilengineer.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 4d

Hungary is the surprise leader in terms of proportion of electricity coming from solar PV. ember-energy.org/latest-insig...
See also Which 'country' is leading the world in solar PV and battery power - and why’ - California would be tops if it were a country! davidtoke.substack.com/p/who-is-lea...

Turning to the sun: Solar rise in Central Europe | Ember

ember-energy.org

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 5d

Twe public reaction would come if anyone tried to do this!

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 6d

If this really were to happen, which I doubt, London would become a war zone for years www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Newspaper headlines: 'Tory 'ICE' force would deport 150,000 a year' and 'Tony of Arabia'

The Tory party's immigration plans and former PM Tony Blair's possible role in Gaza make Sunday's papers.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 7d

'How wind power cuts UK wholesale electricity prices by a quarter' davidtoke.substack.com/p/how-wind-p...

How wind power cuts UK wholesale electricity prices by a quarter

A new analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) has calculated that in 2024 UK wholesale electricity prices would have been over 30 per cent higher if there had been no wind power ge...

davidtoke.substack.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 8d

UK Power networks to use heat from data centres to heat homes and replace gas boilers www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/news/uk-powe... See also: 'How data centres will cut carbon emissions, not increase them' davidtoke.substack.com/p/how-data-c...

UK Power Networks helping SHIELD vulnerable customers from Fuel Poverty

Customers struggling with energy bills could soon benefit from low-cost heating, thanks to an award-winning UK Power Networks innovation that re-uses heat from mini data centres.

www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk

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Christian Breyer @christianonre.bsky.social · 13d

Podcast on Beyond the Grid - How Solar Home Systems Could Revolutionise Africa's Electrification youtu.be/yYKaUI8ZbSA for this paper from 2017 doi.org/10.3390/en10...
@lut.fi

Beyond the Grid - How Solar Home Systems Could Revolutionise Africa's Electrification

YouTube video by Christian Breyer

youtu.be

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Christian Breyer @christianonre.bsky.social · 15d

@shoysniemi.bsky.social @jmkorhonen.fi @david-moser.bsky.social @davidtoke.bsky.social @aukehoekstra.bsky.social @ckemfert.bsky.social @wpschill.bsky.social @jenspv.bsky.social @michabloss.bsky.social @holzheustefan.bsky.social @jgkoomey.bsky.social @volkerquaschning.bsky.social

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 23d

‘Privatisation premium’: billions from UK energy bills paid to shareholders’ www.theguardian.com/politics/202...?
See also: ‘Why have UK energy prices been so high? Privatisation and liberalisation is largely to blame’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/why-have-u...

‘Privatisation premium’: billions from UK energy bills paid to shareholders

Analysis reveals £416 of average bill of £1,719 taken as pre-tax profits by the major energy industries last year, rather than being reinvested

www.theguardian.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 24d

IEA says that ‘more oil and gas investment may be needed’ www.tbsnews.net/world/iea-sa...
Just how green is the IEA? See also ‘How the IEA is still grossly biased against renewables’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/how-the-ie...

IEA says more oil and gas investment may be needed

The International Energy Agency said in a report that its analysis of 15,000 oil and gas fields showed that output was declining more rapidly than in the past, which has "implications for markets and ...

www.tbsnews.net

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 26d

Two stories: 1) How SMRs may curb nuclear development and... 2) Why Reform can't cancel UK's renewable energy projects davidtoke.substack.com/p/two-storie...

Two stories: 1) How SMRs may curb nuclear development and... 2) Why Reform can't cancel UK's renewable energy projects

Two posts in one!

davidtoke.substack.com

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Nick Johnston @nifjnick.bsky.social · 26d

See also @davidtoke.bsky.social substack on this

davidtoke.substack.com/p/why-small-...

Why small modular reactors do not exist - history gives the answer

I'm the urban spaceman, baby; here comes the twist-- I don't exist (Bonzo Dog Doo-dah band)

davidtoke.substack.com

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Sustainable Us @havantenviro.bsky.social · 28d

"Electrification of transport, heating and industry will create a more efficient system, experts say’ "

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 28d

‘The reshaping of energy consumption…..Electrification of transport, heating and industry will create a more efficient system, experts say’ www.ft.com/content/d857... See also ‘How small increases in renewables produce big cuts in carbon emissions’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/how-small-...

The reshaping of energy consumption

Electrification of transport, heating and industry will create a more efficient system, experts say

www.ft.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 28d

‘Growth of renewable energy heralds the rise of supercables’ www.ft.com/content/db0a... See also ‘Why we are heading for a globally connected electricity system based on renewable energy’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/why-we-are...

Growth of renewable energy heralds the rise of supercables

Projects are under way to connect regions and countries creating a new era of energy ties between economies

www.ft.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 28d

Academic Study co-authored by former Chair of US Nuclear Regulatory Commission doubts future of ‘small modular reactors’. See www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... See also ‘Why small modular reactors do not exist - history gives the answer’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/why-small-...

Challenges of small modular reactors: A comprehensive exploration of economic and waste uncertainties associated with U.S. small modular reactor designs

This article presents a comprehensive analysis and review of the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and nuclear waste generation from small modular …

www.sciencedirect.com

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Nick Johnston @nifjnick.bsky.social · 29d

@davidtoke.bsky.social called it!

davidtoke.substack.com/p/why-small-...

Why small modular reactors do not exist - history gives the answer

I'm the urban spaceman, baby; here comes the twist-- I don't exist (Bonzo Dog Doo-dah band)

davidtoke.substack.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · 29d

‘Rise in energy prices leaves 1m UK households behind on bills’ www.theguardian.com/money/2025/s...
See also ‘Why have UK energy prices been so high? Privatisation and liberalisation is largely to blame’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/why-have-u...

Rise in energy prices leaves 1m UK households behind on bills

Energy debts have more than doubled in last 12 years, finds report, as Ofgem signals it will raise cap on bills

www.theguardian.com

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Justin Guay @guayjg.bsky.social · Sep 11

For the first time ever China will sell more electric cars than the US sells of gas and electric cars combined 🤯

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · Sep 8

Not just that - it’ll cut EV costs by 30% with its Lithium Ferrous Phosphate (LFP) qualities, use common elements and cut down the fire risk by large amounts. Oh, and CATL are promising just 9 per cent battery degradation after 200,000 km of driving

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · Sep 8

Is this the battery that will break the fossil fuel car? CATL have launched their ‘Shenxing Pro’ battery’ to EU based EV manufacturers to give a range of 758 km and - half of that can be charged in 10 minutes cnevpost.com/2025/09/08/c...

CATL launches Shenxing Pro battery for European EV market

The Shenxing Pro is the first product featuring CATL's latest NP 3.0 technology, targeting Europe's EV market with high safety, ultra-fast charging, and long range.

cnevpost.com

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · Sep 7

‘Africa's solar energy potential makes for a bright future for renewable power’ www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/art...
See also ‘Which 'country' is leading the world in solar PV and battery power - and why’ davidtoke.substack.com/p/who-is-lea...

Africa's solar energy potential makes for a bright future for...

UPINGTON, South Africa (AP) - Deep in South Africa´s Northern Cape province, south of the Kalahari Desert, a beaming light towers above dozens of solar...

www.dailymail.co.uk

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Reader David Toke @davidtoke.bsky.social · Sep 7

Solar production made a giant surge in the first five months of 2025, up by over a third compared to the same period in 2024. davidtoke.substack.com/p/global-sol...

Global solar PV increase surges by a third in 2025 - and much of this is down to decentralised power

Solar production made a giant surge in the first five months of 2025, up by over a third compared to the same period in 2024.

davidtoke.substack.com

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