With a bow wave of renewable energy projects either in, or about to enter the planning and consenting process we ask the question of whether the present system is appropriate and robust for the net zero opportunity. Jonathan and Phil speak with Jadine Berry and Owen Francis from Turley and explore the current system with a net zero lens. What route do projects take through the planning process? Is there an engineering bias by project developers that can over look some of the complexities in stakeholder engagement? When should a project consider the planning and consenting process? How does the process vary between the devolved nations? Listen to this episode and find answers to all these questions and more.

In the first edition of What On Earth! Phil and Jonathan chatted with Chris McMahon of Bristol University on the challenges of sustainability and a circular economy from an engineering perspective. Can we engineer ourselves out of the net zero challenge with continued human ingenuity? Or have we reached the peak of incremental change that has now created complex systems and processes which now heighten our circularity challenges. Learn about Jevons paradox and the multi-polar trap that explain our current challenges as society and possibly add a few titles to your reading list!

Or The Phil Westmorland Interview! Over A Barrel welcomes our new co-host Phil Westmorland. In this episode we understand what makes Phil tick; his background and work at Apollo. We explore what shaped him growing up on a chicken farm and draw parallels from these experiences to his work today as Apollo's Decarbonisation Director.
This will be the last episode under the Over A Barrel format as we seek to embrace the net zero challenge nationally across the UK and the opportunities and challenges this presents. More of that in next episode. Watch this space!