It was my great pleasure this week to spend some time in conversation with one of my go-to sources for informed background and context on the latest in green energy policy, Dr David Toke, reader in Energy Politics at Aberdeen University and author of the always-excellent
on Substack.For David, this was a chance to ‘show a bit of leg’ and reveal more about the man behind the analysis, including his road to academia where he arrived later on in life after not just one but two prior careers.
And for me, it was a privileged opportunity to get into the juicy topics of energy policy, technology shifts and political and media challenges in the race to net zero in the UK and beyond, with a bonafide expert.
This was a really fun, candid and of course, informative, chat and I really hope you enjoy it. And if you do, we also floated the possibility of doing a follow up Live video taking questions from subscribers, so if you like the sound of that do let us know in the comments 😃
Here’s a quick overview of the topics we covered:
David’s career journey from journalism and teaching to energy politics and academia
Shifts in public and policy perceptions of renewable energy, especially solar and wind
Contrasts between nuclear and renewable power, including debates over small modular reactors
The role of electrification (vehicles, heat pumps) and why energy demand trends don’t always match forecasts
How net zero goals and renewable policy have become politicised in the UK, and the impact on public opinion
Experiences with different modes of public science communication - academic vs popular writing and building engagement through Substack
And lastly, if you did want to seek out a copy of the 1990 Green Energy book David mentions (the best selling book he’s ever written!) it’s currently available from World of Books for less than a fiver…
Huge thanks to David for giving up his time. And if there’s anyone else you’d love to see me talking to do let me know - I’m very open to suggestions and always up for a chat!
Watch my film on Netflix & Disney+ (UK/Europe only) or Vimeo-on-demand- or see trailer, reviews & bonus content HERE
