Andy Frew

BIG DEAL! Gov UK has massively raised the carbon price at which it "pays" policymakers to take action. Now easier to justify home retrofit; renewable district energy funding. Re-run calculations may now show fossil gas pipeline and some road building schemes to be non-starters

'Around four or five years ago, it became cheaper to generate electricity from the sun and wind than it is by setting things on fire. Renewable energy has been getting so plentiful, to the point that some governments are literally giving it away.' thenational.scot/politics/25650…

"We cannot be neutral between victim and aggressor. Standing with Ukraine is standing on the right side of history." 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 -Annalena Baerbock🇩🇪 President of the United Nations General Assembly Do you agree with her? I do...😉

In 1940 Hungary joined the Tripartite pact with Germany Italy and Japan to get back territory. How did that work out Viktor?

“What does Putin want to do with his operations in America? He wants to divide America and turn Americans against each other … That is exactly what Murdoch has done: divided Americans against each other…” - Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian PM (2024)

Here’s my plan: Russian soldiers go home. They leave Ukraine , Georgia and Moldova. Russia honors the many international treaties they have signed to recognize the sovereignty of their neighbors. Russia stops making long-range missiles and caps its army at 500,000. For the first time in 2 decades, Russia holds free and fair elections. Ukraine agrees to respect the territorial integrity of the Russian empire and will not push for independence of Russian republics.

Fairness in politics doesn’t happen by accident. A cap on donations would help ensure no single donor can shape our democracy in their own image. buff.ly/Zps1eVo

Welcome to the Siemens turbine factory in Hull, BRITAIN, Richard. Skilled BRITISH labour manufactures the largest handmade objects in the world there. Wind power alone directly provides 20,000 jobs in BRITAIN, against 26,000 for the whole of oil and gas. Have some shame man.

The combination of big river source heat pumps and warm water storage under or above ground can decarbonise heat 95+% by using electricity from wind and solar.

🚨🚨🚨President Zelensky has released a very serious video🚨🚨🚨 ''Ukrainians! There comes a moment in the life of every nation when everyone needs to talk things through. Honestly. Calmly. Without speculation, rumors, gossip, without anything extra. Just as things are. Just as I’ve always tried to speak to you. Right now is one of the hardest moments in our history. Right now, Ukraine is under some of the heaviest pressure yet. Right now, Ukraine may find itself facing a very tough choice. Either the loss of our dignity or the risk of losing a key partner. Either the difficult 28 points, or an extremely hard winter – the hardest yet – and the dangers that follow. A life without freedom, without dignity, without justice. And that we trust someone who has already attacked us twice. They will expect an answer from us. Though the truth is, I already gave that answer.'' ''On May 20, 2019, when taking an oath of loyalty to Ukraine, I notably said: “I, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, elected by the will of the people as President of Ukraine, pledge with all my actions to defend the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, to uphold the rights and freedoms of its citizens, to abide by the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine, to fulfil my duties in the interests of all my compatriots, and to strengthen Ukraine’s standing in the world.” For me, this is not a protocol formality to check off – it is an oath. And every day, I remain true to every word of it.'' ''And I will never betray it. Ukraine’s national interest must be respected. We’re not making loud statements. We will work calmly with the United States and with all our partners. There will be a constructive search for solutions with our main partner. I will lay out the arguments. I will persuade. I will offer alternatives. But one thing is certain: we will not give the enemy reasons to claim that Ukraine doesn’t want peace, that it is sabotaging the process, and that it is Ukraine that is not ready for diplomacy. That will not happen. Ukraine will work fast. Today, on Saturday and Sunday, all next week, and for as long as it takes – 24/7 – I will fight to ensure that, among all the points of the plan, at least two are not overlooked: these are the dignity and freedom of Ukrainians.'' ''Because everything else rests on this – our sovereignty, our independence, our land, our people. And Ukraine’s future. We will – and must – do everything so that, as a result, the war ends, but Ukraine does not end, Europe does not end, nor does global peace. I’ve just spoken with Europeans. We count on our European friends who fully understand that Russia is not somewhere far away – it’s right next to the EU’s borders, that Ukraine today is the only shield separating comfortable European life from Putin’s plans. We remember: Europe stood with us.'' ''We believe: Europe will stand with us. Ukraine must not live through a déjà vu of February 24, when we felt alone, when no one could stop Russia except our heroic people, who stood like a wall against Putin’s army. And of course it was nice to hear the world say: Ukrainians are incredible; God, how they, Ukrainians, fight; how Ukrainians stand; what titans they are. And it’s true. Absolutely. But Europe and the whole world must also understand another truth: Ukrainians are, first of all, human beings. And for almost four years of full-scale invasion, we have been holding back one of the largest armies on Earth.'' ''And we are holding a frontline stretching thousands of kilometers. And our people endure nightly shelling, missile attacks, ballistic missile strikes, and "shahed" strikes. And every day, our people lose their loved ones. And our people desperately want this war to end. Yes, we are made of steel. But any metal, even the strongest, can give way. Remember this. Stay with Ukraine. Stay with our people – and that means stay with dignity and freedom.'' ''Dear Ukrainians! Remember that first day of the war. Most of us made our choice. The choice for Ukraine. Recall our feelings back then. What was it like? Dark, loud, heavy, painful. For many – terrifying. But the enemy did not see our backs running away. They saw our eyes – full of resolve to fight for what is ours. That is dignity. That is freedom. And this is truly the most terrifying thing for Russia: seeing the Ukrainians’ unity. Back then, our unity was focused on defending our home from the enemy. And now, we also need unity more than ever, so that there can be a dignified peace in our home. I am addressing all Ukrainians now. Our people, citizens, politicians – everyone. We need to pull ourselves together. Regain our senses.'' ''Quit the squabbling. Stop the political games. The state must function. The parliament of a country at war must work in unity. The government of a country at war must work effectively. And all of us together must not forget – and must not confuse – who exactly is the enemy of Ukraine today. I remember how, on the first day of the war, various “messengers” brought me different plans, points; there were ultimatums for ending the war. They said: either this way, or no way. Either you sign it, or you will simply be eliminated and an “acting President of Ukraine” will sign it instead of you. We all know how that ended. Many of those “messengers” later became part of our exchange fund and were sent, together with their proposals and points, back home to their “native harbor.” I did not betray Ukraine then. I truly felt your support behind me – of every single one of you.'' ''Of every Ukrainian, every soldier, every volunteer, every medic, diplomat, journalist, our entire nation. We did not betray Ukraine then. We will not betray it now. And I know for certain that in this truly one of the most difficult moments in our history, I am not alone. I know that Ukrainians believe in their state, that we are united. And in every future format of meetings, discussions, negotiations with partners, it will be far easier for me to secure a dignified peace for us and to persuade them, knowing with absolute certainty: the people of Ukraine stand behind me. Millions of our people, people of dignity, people fighting for freedom, and those who have earned peace. All our fallen heroes, who gave their lives for Ukraine, who are now in heaven, and deserve to see from above that their children and grandchildren will live in a dignified peace. And that peace will come. Dignified, effective, long-lasting. Dear Ukrainians! The coming week will be very difficult, full of events.'' ''You are a mature, wise, conscious nation that has proven this many times. And you understand there will be enormous pressure this time – political pressure, informational, all kinds. Designed to weaken us. To drive a wedge between us. The enemy never sleeps – and will do everything to make us fail. Will we let them do this? We have no right to. And we won’t. Because those who seek to destroy us don’t know us well. They don’t understand who we truly are, what we’re about, what we stand for, what kind of people we are. There is a reason we mark the Day of Dignity and Freedom as a national holiday. It shows who we are. It shows our values. We will work in the diplomatic arena for our peace. We must act in unity within the country for the sake of our peace. For our dignity. For our freedom. And I believe – and I know – that I am not alone. With me is our nation, our society, our warriors, our partners, our allies, all our people. Dignified. Free. United.'' ''Happy Day of Dignity and Freedom. Glory to Ukraine!''

Incredible speech from the UN Security Council. UKRAINE IS NOT FOR SALE. “Ukraine has officially received from the American side a draft plan. We outline the fundamental principles that matter to our people. We agree to work on the plan's provisions in a way that would bring about a just end to the war.” “In this context, allow me to make several critical points.” “1. First, while Ukraine stands ready to engage in meaningful negotiations to end this war including at the leaders’ level our red lines are clear and unwavering. There will never be any recognition, formal or otherwise, of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as Russian. Our land is not for sale.” “Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defense or on the size and capabilities of our Armed Forces. Nor will we tolerate any infringement on our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join. Any genuine peace process must respect a fundamental principle: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about Europe without Europe.” “And let me be equally clear: we will not reward the genocidal intent that underpins Russian aggression by undermining our identity, including our language.” “2. Second, support for Ukraine is indispensable. Peace requires strengthened security and sustained financial assistance to Ukraine. Reinforcing Ukraine's defense capabilities is not an escalation — it is the only path to compelling Russia to engage constructively in international peace efforts. In this regard, we express profound gratitude to all partners and allies. This support is an investment in the rules-based international order and global peace.” “3. Third, the Kremlin regime will not stop unless it is stopped through unyielding and concerted pressure. There is only one realistic path to ending this war: Russia must be compelled to retreat — economically, politically, and militarily.”

I’ve been in the room with Putin. He calls Ukrainians “Russians with accents.” His real fear isn’t NATO expansion, it’s democracy expansion. It shatters his entire argument for dictatorship at home. Because if Ukrainians embrace freedom, Russians may demand the same. Clip from this weekend's talk with @AVindman at the 2025 @TexasTribune Festival.

3/5 Even more disturbing: there is now proof that Epstein was advising Russians on how to handle Trump, basically acting as a Russian asset. This suggests Russia had leverage over Trump and could blackmail him if it wanted to

This is truly mind-blowing: Norway has gone from near-zero sales of non‑emitting battery electric vehicles to now close to 100% of all new passenger car sales—achieved in about 13 years. What makes this transformation remarkable isn’t just the headline number, but how it happened: - Clear long‑term policy signals (tax incentives, toll exemptions, parking perks) that made EVs the rational default. - Serious charging infrastructure—fast chargers along highways and dense urban coverage—reducing range anxiety. - Collaboration across government, utilities, automakers, and consumers to remove friction at every step. - A consistent focus on total cost of ownership, not just sticker price.

@bbcnickrobinson @BorisJohnson @BBCr4today The promotion of Farage by senior BBC placemen can also be part of a campaign, to erode liberal support for the BBC & the license fee. I now watch France 24 for news free of Russian and fossil fuel talking points.

Hands up all those who think @BorisJohnson is well placed to lecture anyone else on upholding standards & admitting mistakes.  As I said this morning on @bbcr4today “it’s clear that there is a genuine concern about editorial standards and mistakes. There is also a political campaign by people who want to destroy the organisation…Both things are happening at the same time”

UK Energy Regulator seeks a new leader of networks and energy futures. The All-Island power system needs a renewable reset for decarbonised heat and transport. @heatpolicyrich @janrosenow @CIBSE @IrelandDEA uregni.gov.uk/vacancy/direct…

GOOD NEWS: A new £95 million low-carbon heat network in Milton Keynes, UK will use waste heat from data centres and large heat pumps to provide heating for buildings across the city, including Milton Keynes University Hospital. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

According to the EnergyCloud Ireland dashboard (based on real time EirGrid data) there was enough surplus energy (73,726 MWh) to heat 24.5 million water tanks during the past week. The estimated value of the energy curtailed was €29.49million.

We are recruiting for a Director of Networks and Energy Futures. As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, you’ll play a key role in strategically leading the organisation to deliver on our statutory duties, Corporate Strategy and Forward Work Programmes. This is a significant leadership role, where you’ll act as a visible and inspirational senior leader, building inclusive, high-performing teams and promoting good governance and corporate best practice. Within the Networks and Energy Futures Directorate, you’ll drive the delivery of regulatory and organisational projects while maintaining quality and value for money. In addition, you’ll lead the development and implementation of regulatory services that support consumer protection, market integrity and net zero objectives. As Director, you will foster a high-performance, consumer-focused culture that reflects our values, inspires staff and promotes proactive engagement and communication across all levels. You’ll provide collaborative leadership that values innovation, staff contributions and cross-functional teamwork, whilst championing equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring all staff can contribute meaningfully and thrive. This role is well suited to values-driven leaders with: ➡️Outstanding communication and strong interpersonal skills. ➡️Strong negotiation and influencing skills. ➡️The ability to build and sustain strong relationships with key external and internal stakeholders to achieve shared objectives. ➡️A high level of analytical skills and intellectual capabilities, with the commercial acumen to assess risks, identify opportunities and make sound decisions. Interested? You’ll find more information about this role and details on how to apply on our website: tinyurl.com/zfzrjha8

One of the key barriers to electrification is the price ratio of electricity to fossil gas prices. In part, this price ratio is affected by political choices: the tax rate on electricity used in industry is much higher in most European countries than the tax rate on fossil gas. That creates a disincentive for electrification and an incentive for a continuation of the status quo. There are many options for reforming taxes and levies which I and colleagues looked at here: sciencedirect.com/science/articl… Source: @ember_energy

Why Venezuala? 1 Venezuela has the largest reserves of oil on the planet. 2 Venezuela has the largest reserves of oil on the planet. 3 Venezuela has the largest reserves of oil on the planet. 4X of Saudi Arabia. Oil autocrats don't need your votes 2 rule mailchi.mp/gregpalast/new…