The UK Government has released a new report identifying the research and technology required to reach net zero by 2050, setting out a ‘best estimate’ of what is needed in key emitting sectors.

The Net Zero Technology Outlook report covers eighteen sub-sectors within the UK’s major emitting sectors, including industry, transport, agriculture, energy, and buildings.

For each sub-sector, the uncertainty and current readiness of technologies that might be part of the mix in 2050 have been assessed, with some sub-sectors including ‘wildcard’ technologies – novel and nascent technologies that are uncertain but potentially transformative.

The report also sets out R&D challenges for cross-cutting areas, including hydrogen, biomass, greenhouse gas removals and carbon capture and storage.

Among the solutions identified in the report is the use of advanced sorting tech to improve the quality of scrap steel, using biochar as a coke replacement in manufacturing, and the use of deep geothermal heat, which uses far fewer materials than other renewables. 

For the transport industry, which the report claims accounts for 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions (far more than any other sector identified), the Government believes that battery technology, electrification, green hydrogen, and even biofuel made from algae could make the difference in meeting net-zero.

Surprisingly, AI is not included much in the Government’s outlook, beyond being an area of further R&D development. On the other hand, however, advanced modular reactors are considered potentially transformative across multiple sub-sectors, providing clean heat and power for industry.     

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That puts the Government’s thinking squarely in line with Big Tech firms, as Google, Amazon and Meta have all ramped up their investments into nuclear energy projects as part of plans to safeguard their power supplies while staying on the right side of international emission policies.  

“The UK faces one of the most important challenges of our time – climate change – and we need brilliant ideas and innovations to help tackle it,” said Professor Dame Angela McLean, the UK Government’s chief scientific adviser.

“The Net Zero Technology Outlook is our best estimate of the future when it comes to the technology, research and development needed to reach net zero. 

“I hope policymakers and researchers alike will use this report as a guide for their work to help ensure the best possible outcome on our path towards that target.