Simon Evans
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
Press Gazette energy & environment journalist of the year 2022
Highly commended:
Society of Editors 2025
Shortlisted:
Press Awards 2025
Press Gazette 2025
AOP 2025
Deputy Ed + Snr Policy Ed, Carbon Brief
[email protected]
Highly commended:
Society of Editors 2025
Shortlisted:
Press Awards 2025
Press Gazette 2025
AOP 2025
Deputy Ed + Snr Policy Ed, Carbon Brief
[email protected]
Pinned
Simon Evans
@drsimevans.carbonbrief.org
· Nov 23
🚨 JUST PUBLISHED: CARBON BRIEF’S #COP30 SUMMARY 🚨
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
It's an EPIC 20,000 words of top-notch, plain-english reporting…
–Global mutirão
–Adaptation finance
–Fossil-fuel roadmap
–China
+Much more
Very proud of team CB for getting this out so fast
www.carbonbrief.org/...
still sad about Islabikes going bust (although as we've never bought new it doesn't affect us – yet)
it prob doesn't help their business model that they're such good bikes and can make it through multiple generations – we've only ever bought 2nd-hand (more like 10th hand??)
it prob doesn't help their business model that they're such good bikes and can make it through multiple generations – we've only ever bought 2nd-hand (more like 10th hand??)
February 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM
still sad about Islabikes going bust (although as we've never bought new it doesn't affect us – yet)
it prob doesn't help their business model that they're such good bikes and can make it through multiple generations – we've only ever bought 2nd-hand (more like 10th hand??)
it prob doesn't help their business model that they're such good bikes and can make it through multiple generations – we've only ever bought 2nd-hand (more like 10th hand??)
Reposted by Simon Evans
Grazalema, Spain, received over 2,000 mm (78 inches) of rain in just the last 20 days.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
February 9, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Grazalema, Spain, received over 2,000 mm (78 inches) of rain in just the last 20 days.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
Over a year’s worth of rain — and it’s only early February. This is hydrologically absurd.
Reposted by Simon Evans
Nearly 5GW of solar contracted in UK govt auction. Biggest ever in capacity and confirms solar as the cheapest power in Britain. More solar = lower bills.
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
February 10, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Nearly 5GW of solar contracted in UK govt auction. Biggest ever in capacity and confirms solar as the cheapest power in Britain. More solar = lower bills.
Reposted by Simon Evans
A great day for cheap power enthusiasts as 5GW of solar comes in at £65/MWh and 1.3GW of onshore wind comes in at £72.24/MWh. Both prices are in £2024 and are below the wholesale price, meaning that these projects will cut costs.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698a0d...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698a0d...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
February 10, 2026 at 7:42 AM
A great day for cheap power enthusiasts as 5GW of solar comes in at £65/MWh and 1.3GW of onshore wind comes in at £72.24/MWh. Both prices are in £2024 and are below the wholesale price, meaning that these projects will cut costs.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698a0d...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698a0d...
Reposted by Simon Evans
Good to see solar and onshore wind coming in a lot cheaper than offshore here. They are by some distance the cheapest new electricity generation capacity we can build in Britain.
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
February 10, 2026 at 7:33 AM
Good to see solar and onshore wind coming in a lot cheaper than offshore here. They are by some distance the cheapest new electricity generation capacity we can build in Britain.
This follows the record 8.3GW offshore wind secured in the first part of this auction in January
www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-uks-...
www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-uks-...
Q&A: What UK’s record auction for offshore wind means for bills and clean power by 2030 - Carbon Brief
A record-breaking amount of new offshore wind capacity has been secured at the UK’s latest auction for renewable energy projects.
www.carbonbrief.org
February 10, 2026 at 7:35 AM
This follows the record 8.3GW offshore wind secured in the first part of this auction in January
www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-uks-...
www.carbonbrief.org/qa-what-uks-...
I believe projects must have a grid connection agreement to bid, but don't know the full details
February 10, 2026 at 7:32 AM
I believe projects must have a grid connection agreement to bid, but don't know the full details
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
February 10, 2026 at 7:25 AM
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
Reposted by Simon Evans
This is the key point that is lost in so much Westminster bubble talk on net zero. It is popular. It’s hugely popular with Labour’s base and with the progressive voters it needs to vote tactically to defeat Reform. And it’s even popular with Tories who Labour needs not to switch to Reform.
…as well as being supported by the vast majority of Lab/Lib/Gn voters, almost all Labour MPs, a 2-1 majority of voters overall and – even now – a healthy majority of Con voters
February 8, 2026 at 10:16 PM
This is the key point that is lost in so much Westminster bubble talk on net zero. It is popular. It’s hugely popular with Labour’s base and with the progressive voters it needs to vote tactically to defeat Reform. And it’s even popular with Tories who Labour needs not to switch to Reform.
No it's fine! Just so very tired of it all 😜 Very good thread, should be compulsory reading for all politicos. Inability to understand counterfactuals should be disqualifying.
February 8, 2026 at 10:21 PM
No it's fine! Just so very tired of it all 😜 Very good thread, should be compulsory reading for all politicos. Inability to understand counterfactuals should be disqualifying.
Is this frustration in relation to something general, specific, or both…? (He asks with trepidation)
February 8, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Is this frustration in relation to something general, specific, or both…? (He asks with trepidation)
Reposted by Simon Evans
Going to reconcile myself to the fact that the “cost of net zero” debate will always be annoying.
Mainly because:
a) net zero isn’t a discrete spending line (e.g., you mainly buy an EV for the car bit);
b) you need a counterfactual (what would it cost if we don’t do net zero?) and that’s hard
Mainly because:
a) net zero isn’t a discrete spending line (e.g., you mainly buy an EV for the car bit);
b) you need a counterfactual (what would it cost if we don’t do net zero?) and that’s hard
February 8, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Going to reconcile myself to the fact that the “cost of net zero” debate will always be annoying.
Mainly because:
a) net zero isn’t a discrete spending line (e.g., you mainly buy an EV for the car bit);
b) you need a counterfactual (what would it cost if we don’t do net zero?) and that’s hard
Mainly because:
a) net zero isn’t a discrete spending line (e.g., you mainly buy an EV for the car bit);
b) you need a counterfactual (what would it cost if we don’t do net zero?) and that’s hard
Yes that too, but let's not jump the gun Adam, please
February 8, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Yes that too, but let's not jump the gun Adam, please
Replace "they were"with "McSweeney was" and you'd be on to something
February 8, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Replace "they were"with "McSweeney was" and you'd be on to something
I don't think the oil and gas industry were the ones lobbying for nuclear TBF. And as to whether they've shafted long term storage, we should maybe wait to see results of first Ofgem tender, no?
February 8, 2026 at 7:29 PM
I don't think the oil and gas industry were the ones lobbying for nuclear TBF. And as to whether they've shafted long term storage, we should maybe wait to see results of first Ofgem tender, no?
…as well as being supported by the vast majority of Lab/Lib/Gn voters, almost all Labour MPs, a 2-1 majority of voters overall and – even now – a healthy majority of Con voters
February 8, 2026 at 7:26 PM
…as well as being supported by the vast majority of Lab/Lib/Gn voters, almost all Labour MPs, a 2-1 majority of voters overall and – even now – a healthy majority of Con voters
They say it'd be +1% out to 2050 and I think from a quick read that's in total rather than annually, tho would need to double check
February 3, 2026 at 4:18 PM
They say it'd be +1% out to 2050 and I think from a quick read that's in total rather than annually, tho would need to double check
Reposted by Simon Evans
How much will it cost the UK to reach an 87% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040?
In a new letter, @thecccuk.bsky.social confirms about £4bn a year (£26bn a year of costs minus £22bn a year of savings).
www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/u...
87% by 2040 is a stepping stone to net zero by 2050
In a new letter, @thecccuk.bsky.social confirms about £4bn a year (£26bn a year of costs minus £22bn a year of savings).
www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/u...
87% by 2040 is a stepping stone to net zero by 2050
February 3, 2026 at 10:40 AM
How much will it cost the UK to reach an 87% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040?
In a new letter, @thecccuk.bsky.social confirms about £4bn a year (£26bn a year of costs minus £22bn a year of savings).
www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/u...
87% by 2040 is a stepping stone to net zero by 2050
In a new letter, @thecccuk.bsky.social confirms about £4bn a year (£26bn a year of costs minus £22bn a year of savings).
www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/u...
87% by 2040 is a stepping stone to net zero by 2050
😬 ‘Rush’ for new coal in China hits record high in 2025 as climate deadline looms
www.carbonbrief.org/rush-for-new...
www.carbonbrief.org/rush-for-new...
February 3, 2026 at 9:16 AM
😬 ‘Rush’ for new coal in China hits record high in 2025 as climate deadline looms
www.carbonbrief.org/rush-for-new...
www.carbonbrief.org/rush-for-new...
Reposted by Simon Evans
A 60% jump in EU LNG imports from the U.S. in 2025 managed to drive up greenhouse gas emissions on both sides of the Atlantic - in the EU from the burning of the gas, and in the U.S. by prompting a shift to coal-fired generation as prices rose.
January 31, 2026 at 5:31 AM
A 60% jump in EU LNG imports from the U.S. in 2025 managed to drive up greenhouse gas emissions on both sides of the Atlantic - in the EU from the burning of the gas, and in the U.S. by prompting a shift to coal-fired generation as prices rose.
Overall, UK solar growth in 2025 reached the highest level in a decade, but is yet to recover from the crash that followed the then-Conservative "cutting the green crap" in the 2010s
www.carbonbrief.org/...
2/3
www.carbonbrief.org/...
2/3
January 29, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Overall, UK solar growth in 2025 reached the highest level in a decade, but is yet to recover from the crash that followed the then-Conservative "cutting the green crap" in the 2010s
www.carbonbrief.org/...
2/3
www.carbonbrief.org/...
2/3