Chaitanya Kumar
@chaitanyakumar.bsky.social
Campaigner and policy wonk on all things climate and energy. Current head of economy and environment at the New Economics Foundation. Formerly at Green Alliance and 350.org
Some more thoughts on today's warm homes plan from the government. A much welcome refresh to the retrofit strategy albeit with some gaps. 👇👇 chaitanyakumark.substack.com/publish/post...
RIP Fabric-First? A closer look at the UK's new retrofit strategy
The what, why, who and how of the new Warm Homes Plan.
chaitanyakumark.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Some more thoughts on today's warm homes plan from the government. A much welcome refresh to the retrofit strategy albeit with some gaps. 👇👇 chaitanyakumark.substack.com/publish/post...
Carney is the poster child for economic liberalism, a true 'Davos man'. Now he's effectively calling for abandoning neoliberalism to save political liberalism.
Mark Carney's speech really is terrific: full text is here and very much worth your time.
The Carney doctrine
Open comment thread on the PM's Davos speech
paulwells.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Carney is the poster child for economic liberalism, a true 'Davos man'. Now he's effectively calling for abandoning neoliberalism to save political liberalism.
Very pleased to read the PR for the Warm Homes Plan this morning.
The best insurance against energy price volatility is a solar + battery combo for a household. So it's excellent to see an ambition of tripling rooftops with PV. Combine it with a battery and its magic!
www.gov.uk/government/n...
The best insurance against energy price volatility is a solar + battery combo for a household. So it's excellent to see an ambition of tripling rooftops with PV. Combine it with a battery and its magic!
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Families to save in biggest home upgrade plan in British history
Government launches Warm Homes Plan to upgrade the nation's homes, help families cut their energy bills, and tackle fuel poverty.
www.gov.uk
January 21, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Very pleased to read the PR for the Warm Homes Plan this morning.
The best insurance against energy price volatility is a solar + battery combo for a household. So it's excellent to see an ambition of tripling rooftops with PV. Combine it with a battery and its magic!
www.gov.uk/government/n...
The best insurance against energy price volatility is a solar + battery combo for a household. So it's excellent to see an ambition of tripling rooftops with PV. Combine it with a battery and its magic!
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Chaitanya Kumar
The rising cost of finance played a big role in the higher prices we saw at this auction.
But this is something the government can and should start to address. @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social explains.
neweconomics.org/2026/01/maki...
But this is something the government can and should start to address. @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social explains.
neweconomics.org/2026/01/maki...
Making progress on clean power, but at what price?
The latest offshore wind auction secured a record 8.4GW of new capacity, but the cost of finance has pushed up prices
neweconomics.org
January 20, 2026 at 11:15 AM
The rising cost of finance played a big role in the higher prices we saw at this auction.
But this is something the government can and should start to address. @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social explains.
neweconomics.org/2026/01/maki...
But this is something the government can and should start to address. @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social explains.
neweconomics.org/2026/01/maki...
Following on from this thread, a more detailed post about my frustrations with the latest auction round for offshore wind - open.substack.com/pub/chaitany...
January 15, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Following on from this thread, a more detailed post about my frustrations with the latest auction round for offshore wind - open.substack.com/pub/chaitany...
Record breaking offshore wind auction results today! Whopping 8.4 GW of capacity secured. This is great news for keeping the clean power mission on target and making Britain a clean energy superpower.
Quick thoughts and a few big BUT's 👇
Quick thoughts and a few big BUT's 👇
January 14, 2026 at 8:02 AM
Record breaking offshore wind auction results today! Whopping 8.4 GW of capacity secured. This is great news for keeping the clean power mission on target and making Britain a clean energy superpower.
Quick thoughts and a few big BUT's 👇
Quick thoughts and a few big BUT's 👇
Thoughts on the Chancellor's big, hugely consequential budget. The fiscal headroom chatter will be put to rest for a couple of years (despite the arbitrariness of these targets) but some key energy and cost of living decisions in the budget. Thoughts below 👇
November 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Thoughts on the Chancellor's big, hugely consequential budget. The fiscal headroom chatter will be put to rest for a couple of years (despite the arbitrariness of these targets) but some key energy and cost of living decisions in the budget. Thoughts below 👇
Reposted by Chaitanya Kumar
inspired by this, I have done a free extract of this section of the book here. it is about understanding that *with all its problems* the BBC is as important for our intellectual health as the NHS is for our physical health:
naomialderman.substack.com/p/the-bbc-an...
naomialderman.substack.com/p/the-bbc-an...
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 AM
inspired by this, I have done a free extract of this section of the book here. it is about understanding that *with all its problems* the BBC is as important for our intellectual health as the NHS is for our physical health:
naomialderman.substack.com/p/the-bbc-an...
naomialderman.substack.com/p/the-bbc-an...
This is terrible and worrying but calls to scrap ECO scheme altogether are knee jerk at best and won't do anything to ramp up the rate of insulation measures.
Suspend rogue installers publicly + gradually move away from a supplier led delivery model.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Suspend rogue installers publicly + gradually move away from a supplier led delivery model.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Almost all external insulation fitted under Tory scheme needs repair or replacing, report finds
Homeowners who took advantage of government programmes left with cladding likely to cause damp
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:33 AM
This is terrible and worrying but calls to scrap ECO scheme altogether are knee jerk at best and won't do anything to ramp up the rate of insulation measures.
Suspend rogue installers publicly + gradually move away from a supplier led delivery model.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Suspend rogue installers publicly + gradually move away from a supplier led delivery model.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Like stamp duty, council tax is reviled on the right and the left. Calls for reforming it are welcome and the govt. should at least get the ball rolling on that this budget. We propose:
☑️Proportional property tax
☑️Scrap SDLT
☑️Reform business rates with land tax
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
☑️Proportional property tax
☑️Scrap SDLT
☑️Reform business rates with land tax
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Labour MPs call on Rachel Reeves to scrap council tax
Exclusive: 13 mainly northern MPs say a new system should better account for higher house prices in south-east
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Like stamp duty, council tax is reviled on the right and the left. Calls for reforming it are welcome and the govt. should at least get the ball rolling on that this budget. We propose:
☑️Proportional property tax
☑️Scrap SDLT
☑️Reform business rates with land tax
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
☑️Proportional property tax
☑️Scrap SDLT
☑️Reform business rates with land tax
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The conservatives making a pig's breakfast of everything. Exhibit 121. 👇👎
The Tories' plan to scrap the Climate Change Act would be an act of national self harm, says @chaitanyakumar.bsky.social. Read NEF's full reaction here: neweconomics.org/2025/10/scie...
October 2, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The conservatives making a pig's breakfast of everything. Exhibit 121. 👇👎
Looking forward to celebrating this moment! Small bit significant win of it happens
The National Energy System Operator has a separate target to run the GB grid without fossil fuels for at least 30 minutes, before the end of 2025
NESO told CB it was "confident" of hitting "zero-carbon operation", most likely in Q4
We'll be watching closely
5/7
NESO told CB it was "confident" of hitting "zero-carbon operation", most likely in Q4
We'll be watching closely
5/7
September 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Looking forward to celebrating this moment! Small bit significant win of it happens
As speeches go, that was pretty good from Starmer. Low on policy detail and high on story telling and taking it to Reform, which was absolutely the right tenor for the moment he and the govt. finds themselves in.
Enough to stave off any internal rebellion till the May election!
Enough to stave off any internal rebellion till the May election!
September 30, 2025 at 2:45 PM
As speeches go, that was pretty good from Starmer. Low on policy detail and high on story telling and taking it to Reform, which was absolutely the right tenor for the moment he and the govt. finds themselves in.
Enough to stave off any internal rebellion till the May election!
Enough to stave off any internal rebellion till the May election!
Reposted by Chaitanya Kumar
“The numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt.”
NEF’s @alchap.bsky.social on Heathrow for ITV.
“Similar figures were promoted last time round and were later discredited by the government’s own advisers.”
🔗 itv.com/news/2025-07-31/heathrow-reveals-plan-for-third-runway-but-will-it-take-off
NEF’s @alchap.bsky.social on Heathrow for ITV.
“Similar figures were promoted last time round and were later discredited by the government’s own advisers.”
🔗 itv.com/news/2025-07-31/heathrow-reveals-plan-for-third-runway-but-will-it-take-off
itv.com
August 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM
“The numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt.”
NEF’s @alchap.bsky.social on Heathrow for ITV.
“Similar figures were promoted last time round and were later discredited by the government’s own advisers.”
🔗 itv.com/news/2025-07-31/heathrow-reveals-plan-for-third-runway-but-will-it-take-off
NEF’s @alchap.bsky.social on Heathrow for ITV.
“Similar figures were promoted last time round and were later discredited by the government’s own advisers.”
🔗 itv.com/news/2025-07-31/heathrow-reveals-plan-for-third-runway-but-will-it-take-off
David Mencer has to be the most insufferable human being on the planet!
July 25, 2025 at 7:44 AM
David Mencer has to be the most insufferable human being on the planet!
Reposted by Chaitanya Kumar
We found that Reform's plans to attack renewable energy industries could wipe £92bn off the UK economy and destroy 60,000 jobs by the end of the decade.
These plans would damage our economic health and the health of our climate. 1/2
These plans would damage our economic health and the health of our climate. 1/2
July 17, 2025 at 10:22 AM
We found that Reform's plans to attack renewable energy industries could wipe £92bn off the UK economy and destroy 60,000 jobs by the end of the decade.
These plans would damage our economic health and the health of our climate. 1/2
These plans would damage our economic health and the health of our climate. 1/2
Reposted by Chaitanya Kumar
Who is benefitting from this government's airport expansion drive? ✈️
Meet... the ultra-frequent flyer. @alchap.bsky.social breaks down everything you need to know about this group, and how the are taking more than their fair share of flights. 1/2
Meet... the ultra-frequent flyer. @alchap.bsky.social breaks down everything you need to know about this group, and how the are taking more than their fair share of flights. 1/2
June 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Who is benefitting from this government's airport expansion drive? ✈️
Meet... the ultra-frequent flyer. @alchap.bsky.social breaks down everything you need to know about this group, and how the are taking more than their fair share of flights. 1/2
Meet... the ultra-frequent flyer. @alchap.bsky.social breaks down everything you need to know about this group, and how the are taking more than their fair share of flights. 1/2
There's a lot to dig into the government's new industrial strategy policy paper. But a few quick thoughts on the 'clean energy sector plan' published today. 👇 assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685878...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
June 23, 2025 at 10:19 AM
There's a lot to dig into the government's new industrial strategy policy paper. But a few quick thoughts on the 'clean energy sector plan' published today. 👇 assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/685878...
You've heard of frequent flyers, but we've got some new research for you on the idea of ultra- frequent flyers.
Exciting work from my colleague @alchap.bsky.social where he makes a compelling case as to why this new class of flyers is not paying it's fair share of tax and how we can fix it. 👇👇
Exciting work from my colleague @alchap.bsky.social where he makes a compelling case as to why this new class of flyers is not paying it's fair share of tax and how we can fix it. 👇👇
This government wants to expand airports up and down the country. But who will this really benefit? Ultra-frequent flyers.
@alchap.bsky.social spoke at today's Environmental Audit Committee.
@alchap.bsky.social spoke at today's Environmental Audit Committee.
June 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
You've heard of frequent flyers, but we've got some new research for you on the idea of ultra- frequent flyers.
Exciting work from my colleague @alchap.bsky.social where he makes a compelling case as to why this new class of flyers is not paying it's fair share of tax and how we can fix it. 👇👇
Exciting work from my colleague @alchap.bsky.social where he makes a compelling case as to why this new class of flyers is not paying it's fair share of tax and how we can fix it. 👇👇
Reposted by Chaitanya Kumar
The official report on the blackout in Spain and Portugal was just released. I'll give a quick summary of findings and provide some additional info.
TL;DR
conventional power plants didn't control the voltage as planned
over-voltage caused renewables to turn off as required
TL;DR
conventional power plants didn't control the voltage as planned
over-voltage caused renewables to turn off as required
June 17, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The official report on the blackout in Spain and Portugal was just released. I'll give a quick summary of findings and provide some additional info.
TL;DR
conventional power plants didn't control the voltage as planned
over-voltage caused renewables to turn off as required
TL;DR
conventional power plants didn't control the voltage as planned
over-voltage caused renewables to turn off as required
Reposted by Chaitanya Kumar
Folks, CBO estimate of the distributional effect of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is out: www.cbo.gov/system/files...
It's grotesque
It's grotesque
June 12, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Folks, CBO estimate of the distributional effect of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is out: www.cbo.gov/system/files...
It's grotesque
It's grotesque
This is an unfortunate headline. There's no 'raiding' of the GBE budget for nuclear. The disappointment is its official classification as an investment vehicle and not a generator that builds, operates and fully owns energy assets. That was the original vision!
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
GB Energy’s promised £8.3bn budget raided to pay for small nuclear reactors
National energy company effectively loses £2.5bn to separate body tasked with spearheading nuclear renaissance
www.theguardian.com
June 12, 2025 at 9:59 AM
This is an unfortunate headline. There's no 'raiding' of the GBE budget for nuclear. The disappointment is its official classification as an investment vehicle and not a generator that builds, operates and fully owns energy assets. That was the original vision!
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Looks like GB energy is a public finance institution after all! Oh well, that is disappointing. The vision was to have a publicly owned generator of mature tech, now it will offer loans and buy equity. The OG vision deferred to the 2030s or beyond.
June 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Looks like GB energy is a public finance institution after all! Oh well, that is disappointing. The vision was to have a publicly owned generator of mature tech, now it will offer loans and buy equity. The OG vision deferred to the 2030s or beyond.
Reposted by Chaitanya Kumar
NEW: Our latest analysis reveals that Reform's anti-environmental policies could cost the country £92bn in lost revenue and wipe out more than 60,000 jobs by the end of the decade.
May 30, 2025 at 12:11 PM
NEW: Our latest analysis reveals that Reform's anti-environmental policies could cost the country £92bn in lost revenue and wipe out more than 60,000 jobs by the end of the decade.
This is what you get when technocrats wade into a knife fight with a spreadsheet (a weak one in this case).
They think they’re depoliticising the climate debate, but all they’re really doing is laundering right-wing talking points in the language of reason.
They think they’re depoliticising the climate debate, but all they’re really doing is laundering right-wing talking points in the language of reason.
"We need to depoliticise the climate debate" says that Tony Blair report ...
.... the main impact of which has been to deepen the right wing culture war against net zero by describing the climate debate as "hysteria"
#climatecrisis
institute.global/insights/cli...
.... the main impact of which has been to deepen the right wing culture war against net zero by describing the climate debate as "hysteria"
#climatecrisis
institute.global/insights/cli...
The Climate Paradox: Why We Need to Reset Action on Climate Change
The Climate Paradox: Why We Need to Reset Action on Climate Change
institute.global
April 30, 2025 at 10:09 AM
This is what you get when technocrats wade into a knife fight with a spreadsheet (a weak one in this case).
They think they’re depoliticising the climate debate, but all they’re really doing is laundering right-wing talking points in the language of reason.
They think they’re depoliticising the climate debate, but all they’re really doing is laundering right-wing talking points in the language of reason.