New report sets out technology and research needed to reach net zero

A new government-backed report has outlined the research and technology priorities needed for the UK to meet its 2050 net zero target, setting out the innovation pathways that will underpin long-term clean energy infrastructure.

The Net Zero Technology Outlook, published by the Government Office for Science, provides an independent assessment of the technology mix most likely to deliver decarbonisation across the UK’s highest-emitting sectors. It highlights the research and development (R&D) investment required to accelerate deployment and bring forward scalable solutions in industry, transport, power generation, heat and buildings, and land use.

Designed as a resource for both policymakers and the research community, the report is intended to guide decisions on where targeted investment will deliver the greatest impact. The analysis also underpins the government’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission, which seeks to expand homegrown low-carbon technology while strengthening energy security and supporting UK supply chains.

The Outlook assesses technologies at different stages of readiness, from established solutions to nascent innovations described as “wildcards” – potentially transformative but uncertain in terms of commercialisation. The review also identifies three cross-cutting areas that will be critical to delivery: hydrogen, biomass, and carbon capture and storage (CCS), alongside greenhouse gas removal technologies.

Professor Dame Angela McLean, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, said the report offered “our best estimate of the future when it comes to the technology, research and development needed to reach net zero” and would provide policymakers and researchers with a clearer framework for prioritisation.

For the construction and infrastructure sectors, the report signals areas where sustained investment will be essential. Industrial decarbonisation, electrification of transport, retrofitting of buildings for low-carbon heating, and the scaling-up of renewable power generation will all demand long-term collaboration between government, industry and supply chains. The R&D challenges identified include not only technology development, but also the delivery models and policy mechanisms needed to ensure timely adoption at scale.

The report draws on interviews and peer reviews with over 60 experts, as well as industry modelling and policy analysis, giving it weight as a reference point for planning. By aligning R&D priorities with infrastructure requirements, it provides a roadmap that can help bridge the gap between innovation and deployment.

The Net Zero Technology Outlook positions infrastructure at the heart of the UK’s clean energy transition – from carbon capture facilities and hydrogen networks to renewable generation and upgraded building stock – and points towards the scale of investment and coordination required if the 2050 target is to be met.

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