(And yes, I told myself it was “research”. Mostly, it was an excuse to avoid writing.)

The internet, ever helpful, was full of people asking their children profound questions like: 

“What made you feel proud this year?”
“What did you learn about yourself?”

My teenager looked up from her phone, unimpressed: 

“Mum, I only remember yesterday’s ice-skating experience.”

Fair enough.

So we tried it ourselves. Not for wisdom. Just to remember.

We scrolled through our photos.

And suddenly — there it was.

Not grand events. Not milestones. Just… moments.

• Our family Costco haul!
• Her Christmas dance!
• My first parkrun — on a freezing Saturday. I ran (well, I walked!). But I finished.
• Wallace Monument from my home office window — photographed regularly. Same view. Different light. Different clouds. Always beautiful. A quiet ritual that reminds me: beauty doesn’t need fanfare. It just needs noticing.

I also remembered Chappel Roan’s concert in August — the kind of night you think will stay etched forever. Until it doesn’t.
It took flicking back through photos — glitter on our coats, the way the crowd swayed under neon lights — to feel it again. 

That’s what this year taught me: We don’t live just in the moment.
We live in the memory of it.
And if we wait too long to record it? The magic fades.

So I’ve started taking pictures. Not for Instagram. Just for us. For when the hype has settled, and all we have left is the feeling.

The Work That Moves Me

This year, I was lucky enough to speak at IMechE and IET events — standing in front of brilliant people who care as much about energy systems as I do. My team won the Strathclyde R&KE Impact Awards 2025. I co-authored two journal papers and four conference pieces — which, frankly, means I drank more Tea than water.

My work doesn’t change the world overnight.
But maybe — just maybe — it helps make the world feel a little less cold.

Books That Stayed With Me

I listened to 27 audiobooks this year. 

Some were life-changing. Some were… curious choices (How to Legally Rob Credit-Card Companies!). But every one was an act of self-care — quiet time in the car, during walks, while folding laundry, while cooking (yes, really).

I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time. And fell deeply in love with Elizabeth Bennet’s wit and Mr Darcy’s terrible social skills. It felt like meeting old friends after decades apart.

I devoured The Psychology of Money — not because I wanted to get rich, but because it finally explained why money feels so emotional.

And yes — I still haven’t read The Tibetan Book of the Dead.
It’s on my bedside table. Next to the art project I haven’t finished. And the book I started reading in January.

That’s okay.

Because sometimes, the best stories aren’t about finishing.
They’re about returning.

So here’s to 2026:

More walks.
More family nights.
More Costco chaos.
More photos of the Wallace Monument.
More conversations that make you feel seen.

More work that matters.
More books that linger.

And more permission — from myself — to simply be.

Thank you for reading these small, imperfect reflections.

Wishing you a New Year filled with warmth, wonder, and zero guilt about doing absolutely nothing at all.

With fondness,
Priya 🌅📚🧶

It was a beautifully choreographed confluence of three distinct tracks: power systems, decarbonisation pathways, and innovation; each feeding into one another like well-oiled cogs in a grand net-zero machine. Truly a celebration of systems thinking, which, if you’ve read any of my previous ramblings, is rather close to my heart.

The keynote came courtesy of none other than Chris Stark, Head of Mission Control, whose calm, data-driven presence was both reassuring and slightly intimidating. He reminded us that progress isn’t measured in isolation; it’s about context. For instance, when we look at renewable electricity generation from 2000 to 2025, the UK made impressive strides between 2010 and 2020… only to plateau since then. Meanwhile, China’s growth has been nothing short of exponential across the same period. So, for the UK to catch up and truly join the global clean energy league table? We’ll need more than ambition—we’ll need cost trajectories that match the pace of change. (See attached figure—yes, it’s dramatic, but also very real.)

Chris also touched on the Clean Power Mission and how streamlining the connections process could unlock much-needed capacity. But what really caught my eye was the slide on consumer-led flexibility—a gap of around 8 GW. Now, back-of-the-envelope maths suggests that, if this relies solely on smart EV chargers, we’d need roughly 3 million households onboarded by 2027. That’s about 10% of all UK homes—or nearly every single EV in the country!

I’ll admit, I blinked twice. How on earth are we supposed to do that in under four years? Then I remembered: most new home chargers are already smart. So perhaps it’s not quite as daunting as it first seemed. A small victory for progress, perhaps?

🎤 On Stage: Why Hydrogen Isn’t Just a Technology Problem — It’s a Systems Challenge

In my session, titled “Why Hydrogen isn’t just a technology problem — It’s a systems challenge”, I shared PNDC’s whole-energy systems approach to hydrogen adoption. Let me be clear: it’s not enough to build better electrolysers or fuel cells. The real magic—and the real risk—lies in how these technologies integrate across production, storage, transport, and end-use.

Drawing from hands-on testing of a hydrogen fuel cell truck and analysis of green hydrogen injection into the UK gas grid, we explored how system-level thinking can uncover hidden interdependencies before they become costly failures. Spoiler: de-risking deployment isn’t just technical—it’s systemic.

The talk was warmly received, with several thoughtful follow-up questions (including one asking whether our model could scale to regional grids—yes, but only if we stop treating each sector like a silo!). Honestly, it felt like being part of a conversation rather than a lecture—a rare and lovely thing at conferences!

📸 Conference Snapshots

Other delightful nuggets from the day:

• 🏺 Archaeologists are now essential in nuclear development! Yes, before any site can be commissioned, there must be an archaeological survey. With a shortage of skilled archaeologists, these surveys risk becoming lengthy delays in an industry already known for its… let’s say, leisurely pace.
• 💻 The generational divide in AI perception is fascinating. Younger engineers seem to treat controllers like Xbox remotes—no second glance needed, just press play and trust the robot knows what’s up. It’s both charming and slightly terrifying.
• 🔋 And finally, CIGRE’s definition of resilience hit me right between the eyes: “The ability to limit the extent, severity, and duration of system degradation following an extreme event.”
  Quite poetic, really—like a power grid with emotional intelligence.

And because we’re all about balance here (and because no conference would be complete without a book or podcast recommendation), here are some gems I picked up:

• The Thinking Game (documentary) – described as “a masterclass in how decisions get made at scale” — very compelling indeed.
• The Rest Is Classified (podcast) – called “the hidden stories behind policy and security”, which sounds utterly gripping.
• Beyond the Wall by Katja Hoyer – recommended as “a vivid portrait of East Germany’s quiet revolutions” — already halfway through, and it’s brilliant.

I’ve added all three to my list, and honestly? They’re exactly the kind of content that makes you pause mid-cook, sip your tea slowly, and wonder how we got here—and where we go next.

So, dear reader — if any of these sound familiar, or better yet, if you’ve read them or listened to them already… I’d be absolutely delighted to hear your thoughts! What did you take away? Any others you’d recommend along similar lines?

After all, sharing ideas is half the fun — whether they’re about hydrogen systems or history told through the eyes of a former border guard. 😉

On my current reading list? Halfway through Thriving in a Male-Dominated Workplace (HBR Women at Work Series). It’s insightful, honest, and occasionally infuriating in the best way. Expect a proper blog post on it soon — unless something even more exciting comes along… like, say, a surprise garden gnome invasion. (We’ve had one before.)

So there you have it—a little science, a touch of whimsy, a sprinkle of reality check, and a whole lot of tea.

Thank you for being here. Whether you’re tuning in from a lab bench, your kitchen table, or somewhere between a crocheting session and an audiobook break—I’m so glad we’re sharing this journey together.

Until next time,
Warmest regards,
Priya

🎥 1. Electrolyser Horizons: Reshaping Hydrogen Strategy Across the UK

The week began with the closeout meeting for the Electrolyser Horizons project, hosted at the impressive Fife Renewables Innovation Centre. A great venue — but sunlit seas and the anglers outside made it clear that this wasn’t your average office environment! Thanks, Anna Morris and Cameron Mitchell, for hosting us at FRIC.

The project — a collaboration between SGN, University of Surrey, University of St Andrews, University of Strathclyde (PNDC, and the Centre for Energy Policy) — has been focused on creating a national techno-economic evaluation framework for electrolytic hydrogen production.

I’ll be sharing a full summary soon — but the key takeaway for now: proper infrastructure planning + local knowledge = a cleaner, scalable future.

🚨 2. H100 Fife: A Hydrogen Powerhouse in Plain Sight

Just hours later, we got a front-row seat to the H100 Fife site — a world-first hydrogen gas network delivering zero-carbon heat to 300 homes. The technology includes a hydrogen production facility, offshore wind power, and hydrogen-ready boilers and hobs.

James Carroll and Joshua Ayobami shared fascinating insights into the site’s evolution, from coal mining to an oil rig logistics base and now as a beacon of renewable transition. Their storytelling gave us more than just technical details—they gave context that made the hydrogen fire warm.

🍳 3. Pancakes, Hydrogen Showdown, and Colours of Flame

The highlight? Susan Day flipped a perfectly golden pancake using a hydrogen-powered hob. As she quipped: “No difference here!” — referring to how similar the cooking and heat was to natural gas. A simple but powerful moment.

And here’s a science note: Yes, the hydrogen flame was orange, not invisible. Turns out, imperfections in the fuel and surroundings can change the flame colour. It’s a lesson in both chemistry and communication — hydrogen doesn’t always behave as textbook diagrams say it does, and our expectations should evolve with each demo.

🤝 4. Reconnection at All-Energy — Timing Truly is Everything

And just like that, the week ended with a welcome reunion. I had the chance to reconnect with Johana Duran Santos, a key collaborator at all stages of the project.

We missed you in the closeout meeting, Johana — but better late than never!

🌞 Final Thoughts

The week was a vivid reminder that hydrogen is more than a fuel — it’s a bridge between past, present, and future. In Fife, you can almost feel the history in the air. And if we learned anything from Susan’s pancake demo, it’s that hydrogen is not only ready for real-world use — it’s ready for the kitchen too!

Stay tuned for more insights and stories on research, random books, gardening and others. Have a tale of your own where energy and community collide? Please share below.

Online Interactive Tool

The UK has a net zero target by 2050, as enshrined in law, and with transport being the largest emitting sector, accelerating electric vehicle (EV) uptake is fundamental to reaching that target. Luckily, the adoption of new technologies is rarely linear; instead, has been shown to follow an S-curve as uptake moves from tech-savvy to mainstream. As part of the Park and Charge Oxfordshire research project, we undertook an S-curve analysis to understand the potential trajectories (see Enabling the Acceleration of Electric Vehicle Adoption (Policy Brief 1, February 2022)).

After a long hiatus from EV uptake analysis, we recently ventured to re-run the s-curve analysis (initially published in December 2021). Unsurprisingly, the data formats and granularity have changed since then. Although this meant an entire rejig of the code, the higher geographical granularity across the datasets meant more regional insights than before. The primary data file includes the cumulative number of electric vehicles and all vehicles by counties from 2010 through Quarter 4, 2023, from the UK Government’s Department for Transport (VEH0105.ods). It was processed using Python. 

The figure below shows the cumulative EV uptake forecasts for England, Scotland and Wales. As can be seen, EV growth forecasts for Scotland and England are quite similar and the vehicle fleet is on target to be nearly 100% electric by 2045. However, Wales is lagging by almost 8 years.

As our initial interest was in Oxfordshire, we plotted the forecasts for England and Oxfordshire, which are also incredibly similar. Then we took advantage of the higher geographic granularity now available to look further within Oxfordshire. We plotted the five district councils (Oxford City Council, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, and West Oxfordshire). Though initial uptake was slower, Cherwell has picked up the pace in the last 5 years and is leading the way in achieving all EV status sooner than the rest of the districts in the county.

On the other hand, this analysis tells us little about why uptake is faster or slower in different places. We know from other research that commercial fleets and company car schemes are dominating the new EV market in the UK. Cherwell has the highest economic activity rate and the second highest number of jobs in Oxfordshire after Oxford City, where major employers like the University tend to promote non-car commuting. Could this be why they also have higher EV adoption rates?

The S-curve analysis also does not account for external events or national policy changes – until any changes in adoption rates enter historic data.

As can be seen below, when we first started this research in 2019, the time until full adoption was much longer. Then the pandemic and energy crises hit, and the UK government set a 2030 target to end sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and vans.

There has also been substantial investment from the Government and industry in public and private EV charging. Has this pulled the S-curves forward in time, as well as making the exponential growth phase steeper? And what impact has the subsequent push-back of targets and mixed messages had since late 2023? We don’t yet have the data to be able to see any more recent changes in our S-curve analysis.

With the political landscape in the UK altering overnight and the 2030 phase-out date for ICE vehicles potentially back in the frame, the mixed messages may have little to no impact. However, with car dealers reporting that EV sales are still below the Zero Emissions Mandate target, we think our S-curve analysis could help the government in Westminster, local authorities, and industry see where there is still work to do to get adoption on track across the country. Have a look at our online tool for your area of interest and see if you agree!

What do you think? We would welcome questions and comments on the applications of S-curve analysis to EV adoption in the UK, on the influence of different geodemographics or policy changes, and thoughts about avenues for further research. Please respond to this post here or on the cross-post on LinkedIn.

After a minor hiccup, I reached the Goldsmiths’ centre in central London just in time to join the first interactive session of the day, launched by Nina Skorupksa and Catherine Mitchell drawing on their experiences of being women in the energy sector. The speakers shared their experience of being at the receiving end of “because you are a woman”.  The attendees – who came from a variety of career pathways including early career researchers, seasoned academics, lawyers, journalists and company directors – also shared some of the challenges they faced, such as being told “you only got this job because you are a woman”, “you are here for diversity”, or “who did you sleep with to reach here?”.

Realising that women in the energy sector still face these struggles even though they work in developed nations in the 21^st century made me feel very desolate. However, there were some useful takeaways from this interactive session, including:

• Don’t feel embarrassed about yourself at any stage;
• Don’t say sorry for anything, unless you know you’ve really done something wrong;
• You have every right to be there as much as any other male counterpart; and
• Speak up for equal representation and talk to event organisers if you feel women are underrepresented.

Following on from these encouraging and bold tones, we set off on a journey exploring the best ways to maximize the impact of our work on policy. The speakers Rebecca Willis and Caterina Brandmayr highlighted some useful things to keep in mind when interacting with decision makers’, in particular:

1. Start from where your audience are. Try to understand what motivates them and what they want to hear.
2. Engage, don’t translate. Make sure to ask questions to engage policy makers. This creates a two-way communication rather than pushing them into receiving mode.
3. Make friends. Talk to people.
4. Be opportunistic. As soon as you have done your literature review you are an expert in that field compared to many policy makers. Claim it! Don’t wait until you have got your results. Definitely, don’t wait until you publish. If there is a consultation coming in, respond to it.
5. Plan ahead. Form alliances with people and plan for collaborations. Don’t wait until the consultation is out to meet people.

The third session was a panel discussion on energy system challenges with panellists Rebecca Ford, Poppy Maltby and Emma Pinchbeck. This session really stood out for me because it took an unusual approach and flipped the order in which panels usually work. While the general theme for discussion was around energy systems challenges, the session chair took 8-10 questions from the audience at a time, and then offered the panellists the opportunity to talk around the themes that emerged and that piqued their interest the most.

These covered aspects as broad as whether 1.5 degrees is actually achievable and how market structures might evolve to support changes in energy infrastructure, to specific topics around taxation for electric vehicles, long term energy storage, fuel poverty, smart heat, and how energy companies can better engage customers. Policy also played a central theme in the discussion, and panellists were asked for their thoughts on gaps in current energy policy, how future decision making may become increasingly decentralised, and what implications the shifting policy environment may have on energy sector jobs.

The event ended with an open space that facilitated a healthy discussion on different themes and opportunities to engage with policy makers within the energy sector. The main take-home messages from the event for me were:

• Say Yes! Get comfortable with being uncomfortable;
• Read the book “Feminist fight club”;
• Don’t just look at energy – pick up from other domains;
• Move fast; and
• Don’t get stuck with a single solution – any single solution is not a panacea!

Green Alliance received funding for this initiative from UKERC and EPSRC