Internationally recognised expert in the Energy Transition, its strategies, technologies, economics, regulation, markets and politics
Mark Howitt’s expertise covers the entire energy landscape, the various technologies, politics, regulation and incentivisation. He is an advisor to many bodies, including:
- United Nations (UNECE) expert in energy transition strategy, technologies, economics, regulation and politics – invitation below.
- Member of the UK advisory team to the IEA (International Energy Agency).
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Solar Media Green Hydrogen UK Summit – invitation here.
- Member of the Energy Storage Steering Group of the Renewable Energy Association.
- Regular consultee to the British energy ministry, regulator and National Grid.
- Public speaker at conferences and seminars
- Blogger on renewable energy and the energy transition
UNECE Letter of Invitation – Mark Howitt
Mark Howitt Invitation to Join the Green Hydrogen UK Summit Advisory Board
Renewable energy landscape
The world recognises the need to reduce emissions greatly by 2050. It is evident that some sectors of the economy (such as the electricity industry) are easier to decarbonise than others (such as aviation or shipping). Achieving national and global carbon reduction targets requires many trade-offs, so that the easier-to-decarbonise industries approach Net Zero, allowing some headroom for harder-to-decarbonise sectors to under-achieve.
However there are many interest groups that over-focus on a narrow range of technologies, to the detriment of the energy transition / country as a whole. This is because each technology has its optimal uses, and all together form the best system with each doing what it is best able to do. Any over-focus means a narrowing of technology options and many sub-optimal uses of the technology in question and a corresponding loss of the capabilities of those that are crowded out. Then those capabilities need to be procured separately and much more expensively, from specialist suppliers who cannot spread their costs over a broad range of services.
There is no “winning technology”, sought by many: all have their uses, benefits and disadvantages; all together can deliver a cost-effective, reliable and resilient energy transition.
Enabling Net Zero grids
Change is speeding up, especially in the energy industry: yesterday’s working systems are being undermined by the energy transition. Renewables; storage; demand-side response; balancing, stability and ancillary services, EVs, hydrogen; integrating renewables with storage and hydrogen; synthetic fuels; various forms of carbon pricing, taxes, incentives and funding; emissions reduction; international treaties; national, regional and local strategies …
It can be bewildering. Call for support and guidance.
© 2025 Mark Howitt