The world, which sometimes seams a terrible place these days, is feeling a much better place with @norcrosscricket.bsky.social and Alex Hartley on my radio again.

There are a lot of horrible things happening in the world. I can't offer answers, or even cat pics. But I have been having a go at taking some cave pics while away at new year. First time for a while. Hopefully you will like them.

What are the key things in the Warm Homes Plan? The headline is a big emphasis on electric technologies (sold, batteries, heat pumps), with less focus on insulation. That will reduce bills - we think getting the full solar-battery-heat pump combo saves £1,000 on a typical yearly energy bill…

I have been on a literally and social media holiday. While away I appeared on the One Show (segment recorded before Christmas) talking about heat pumps. Its great that such a mainstream show is covering this important topic. Should be available on iPlayer for another couple of weeks. #PumpItUp

Listening to a discussion about AI in university education with Amol Rajan & Prof Duncan Iveston on Radio 4 Today. Too short to get into the nuance of course, but an observation that copilot can do a literate review for you very quickly perfectly illustrates one of my main concerns with AI…1/1

📌 Gaping Gill is the highest unbroken underground waterfall in the UK Fell Beck crashes 100m to the floor of the cavern before draining through to Ingleborough Cave. The main chamber measures 129m long, 31m high, and 25m wide. 📸Martyn Farr #ChristmasCalendar #YorkshireDales

Almost a year since the Bridgewater Canal embankment failure. Canal embankments are the oldest of UK infrastructure, are deteriorating & at risk from climate change. Impounding water, they have high potential failure consequences. We more action to understand their condition and improve resilience.

Leeds is the largest city in Europe without some sort of rapid mass transit system. And they build the Christmas market on the cycle routes making it harder for me to get to work for 6 weeks of the year. Roll on the tram.

NEW RESEARCH: UK heat pumps can perform far better than many think. Our analysis of HeatPumpMonitor.org data shows well-designed systems achieve ~40% higher efficiency than past trials (SCoP 3.86 vs 2.81), cutting bills (~£224/yr) and emissions. Open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Literally the most important story in UK politics today. A low discount rate unlocks public investment in a much bigger array of infrastructure projects, as it changes how Government accounts for the future benefits of them.

Using old coal mines to heat homes? Gateshead is doing it. Their mine-water project—the UK’s largest—draws 15°C water from boreholes, uses heat pumps to boost it to 80°C, and sends that heat through an underground network. The system now warms 350+ homes and 23 buildings.

📢 ThreeLeeds students were involved in the University of York’s Deep Geothermal Project. The geophysics undergraduates gained hands-on field-work experience installing seismic sensors and learning how seismic surveys operate. 👀 Learn more about their experience: tinyurl.com/4mtxrhx8

“Underground worlds – caves of the Yorkshire Dales and Vietnam” is a new exhibition showcasing how Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and the Yorkshire Dales boast some of the largest and longest cave systems 👇 https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/international-caving-exhibition-opens-in-hawes/

In case you missed it, Prof Fleur Loveridge @undertheground.bsky.social and Dr Emma Bramham presented at the GeoGrid Show & Tell event organised by project partner LCP Delta @lcp-delta.bsky.social at the end of September. 🎧 Listen to the talk: tinyurl.com/2vthca6h

We have a new (open access) paper on the opportunities (and challenges) for ground source heat pumps systems using shared ground loops (SGL). doi.org/10.1016/j.rs...

Prof Fleur Loveridge @undertheground.bsky.social will present the University of Leeds Geothermal Campus project at the West Midlands Regional Group of the Geological Society of London. 📅 09 December 2025 ⌛ 18:30 - 19:30 📍 Mott MacDonald offices, Birmingham & online Register 🔗 bit.ly/4rynn4y

🌍 Shaping a Low-Carbon Future 🌍 Our colleagues, Dr Adam Booth @geophysics-adam.bsky.social and Prof Fleur Loveridge @undertheground.bsky.social, are helping unlock the potential of geothermal energy in UK cities through the SmartRes project. More about the project👉 tinyurl.com/39bsbnww

So, good that electricity prices are coming down, but a missed opportunity to further incentivise heat pumps by also bringing down the elec to gas price ratio. Its a start, but more work needed.

I mean, if men can't bat properly, maybe they shouldn't be allowed to play test cricket.

Mine water district heating schemes provide an opportunity to involve communities in their energy futures.

Time to remember one of the best official football songs youtu.be/2T68AXsUAEI?...

Including with responsibility for geothermal energy.

More geothermal in the news: this time mine water heat and its potential to heat homes across much of the UK. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

We need a lot more of the utility model showcased here to get our heating decarbonised: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Today is a good day to remind people that it is an order of magnitude safer to travel by train than by car.

A train has derailed near to Shap in Cumbria in northern England after it struck a landslide. Fortunately, it remained upright, so there is no loss of life. Some people have suffered minor injuries. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz...

Lots of noise (rightly) about Gaza. Some about Ukraine. But always less about Sudan and Myanmar. The world must not stand by and forget about these places.

A pleasure to participate in the discussions this morning about how our transition to net zero can improves peoples' lives and the role that geothermal energy can play.

Some spectacular cloud conditions this weekend.

Sport, friendship, exploration, and some of the most beautiful places on the planet. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Almost home after 10 days on the road in Europe talking geothermal energy. Nice to finish it seeing some drill rigs and pumping tests for a new aquifer thermal energy storage system.

I had been watching this develop from afar and wanted to say a massive well done to all the northern cave rescue teams and others assisting. It was a huge effort in a challenging location and conditions. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

There are way worse places to be on a work trip.

🏗️Tech developed by @drleonblack.bsky.social & Prof Theo Hanein at @universityofleeds.bsky.social will help recycle rubble in Ukraine into building materials. Lviv researchers, collaborating on the project, visited the University for training & knowledge exchange. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... 🧵⬇️

Summer is definitely over in this country

I am waiting for the Highland Chieftan. Somehow adventures are always better when you go by train. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlan...

I suspect when you are a Black Sea state its easy to know what side you are on.

A lovely morning to be in London!. And an excellent day at the Ground Engineering Sustainability & Resilience event, presenting on the @universityofleeds.bsky.social @geosolutions.bsky.social Geothermal Campus. Very uplifting to see the real enthusiasm & actions for a lower carbon industry.

Hollie for England captain

Last week I stood atop Paglia Orba. Known as the Matterhorn of Corsica, although obviously much much easier else I would not have been there. It felt like the beginning of the end of five months of struggle, in which I have had few adventures to share on here.

Had an unexpected stab of sorrow today. Realised it was the anniversary of VJ day. 80 yrs to the day since my mum was concieved as my grandparents celebrated the end of the war. Born mid May the following year. She would have been 79 now, but passed away 10 years ago. Miss her still.

📣Job alert: geophysicist required for seismic interpretation at shallow geothermal research sites. Its only a short term role, but is on the existing SmartRes Project (www.imperial.ac.uk/earth-scienc...) with @geophysics-adam.bsky.social @geosolutions.bsky.social. jobs.leeds.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

BGS has launched the UK Geothermal Platform, which provides national- to local-scale information on geothermal potential. Geothermal technologies have the potential to decarbonise heating and cooling, supporting the energy transition to net zero in the UK. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/new-pla...

It's no exaggeration to say that heating will determine whether the UK can meet its climate obligations over the next few years. We've made some progress over the last year, but there is a daunting amount still to do...

The Climate Change Committee has put out its annual progress report today. While it highlights some progress on EVs and heat pumps, some things haven’t changed: a) heating is still the big problem child b) make electricity cheap is still the top policy rec www.theccc.org.uk/publication/...

And substantially about buildings and substantially about heat. We know what to do. Its time to do it.

Too late for both my parents, but very pleased indeed to see this happen.

Just returning from a few days in Bochum, Germany, learning about progress towards underground thermal energy storage. The last German hard coal mine closed in 2018, so using mine cavities for sustainable heat potentially represents an exciting new phase for areas such as these.