Jonathan Leake
Verified
As seen in:
Telegraph,
The Telegraph,
LinkedIn,
MSN,
MSN Australia,
MSN Ireland,
MSN UK,
Daily Mail,
Nature,
The Daily Mirror,
The Sunday Telegraph (UK),
Wiley Online Library
and
Journalist specialising in energy, environment, climate and science.
Currently energy editor at the Daily Telegraph, London.
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Jonathan Leake
This summer isn't as bad as the drought of 1976
The pedalos at Alexandra Palace, north London, are out of action because the lake is too low, so Catherine Fish is looking to get her fix in Hyde Park instead. She's come from Bristol for a day out but frankly, London has looked better. In Hyde Park, visitors are sheltering from the heat under English oaks and plane trees while the usually green fields have transformed into bleak, desert-like spaces. “I've baked for hours in the car and all over London on the Tube today,” says Fish, 55.
Thames dusts off £250m desalination plant as drought worsens
Britain's only water desalination plant could be switched on to help London fight drought for the first time. Thames Water, which operates the plant in Beckton, east London, is on alert to activate the facility as the capital battles sweltering temperatures and unprecedented dry spells. The plant is thought to have the capacity to supply 5pc of London's water needs or around 200,000 homes. The £270m facility was completed in 2010.
Eclipse pushes Britain's power bill to £6.2m
Britain's grid operators had to pay £6.2m for extra electricity to keep UK lights on during the solar eclipse. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) had to pay gas-fired power stations premium rates for supplies as it scrambled for extra power on Wednesday. It was forced to pay £6.2m for the extra power – 63pc more than the £3.8m spent the previous day, when conditions were similar but without an eclipse – with the costs ultimately added to bills.
Eclipse pushes Britain’s power bill to £6.2m
; ; ; Continue reading More for You
Eclipse pushes Britain’s power bill to £6.2m
Observers in the UK saw a 95pc eclipse on Wednesday - Toby Melville/Reuters Britain's grid operators had to pay £6.2m for extra electricity to keep UK lights on the day of the solar eclipse. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) had to pay gas-fired power stations premium rates for supplies as it scrambled for extra power on Wednesday.
Burnham's ‘growth in every postcode' promise is already in trouble
Here's the good news: the UK economy appears to have weathered the initial shock of the Iran war. Yes, growth slowed from 0.6pc to 0.4pc in the three months to June. But despite Britain's vulnerability to energy price shocks, households and businesses have so far been resilient. It means growth in the first half of this year was almost certainly the fastest in the G7. The bad news is that it won't last.
Burnham's ‘growth in every postcode' promise is already in trouble
Here's the good news: the UK economy appears to have weathered the initial shock of the Iran war. Yes, growth slowed from 0.6pc to 0.4pc in the three months to June. But despite Britain's vulnerability to energy price shocks, households and businesses have so far been resilient. It means growth in the first half of this year was almost certainly the fastest in the G7. The bad news is that it won't last.
Britain facing £54bn bill for North Sea shutdown
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You Continue reading More for You
Britain facing £54bn bill for North Sea shutdown
Britain's North Sea shutdown costs have surged to £54bn as taxes on the oil and gas industry drive more companies from UK waters A report from the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) said costs had soared amid a shortage of specialised ships needed to clean up abandoned oil rigs. In 2022, the regulator put the decommissioning costs at £36bn.
Thames Water battling 1,000 leaks a week as heatwave bursts pipes
Thames Water is battling at least 1,000 leaks a week as Britain's drought crisis leads to burst pipes across the capital. The company, which has 16 million customers, said it was racing to fix thousands of broken pipes after dry soil put pressure on its infrastructure network. Thames said there were 2,871 burst pipes at street level last month – almost double the number in July 2025, when temperatures were lower.
Thames Water battling 1,000 leaks a week as heatwave bursts pipes
; ; Continue reading More for You Continue reading More for You
Eclipse triggers plea for extra gas to support power grid
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You Continue reading More for You
More than 100,000 homes to be in the shadow of net zero pylons Original
Households affected by the giant pylons are eligible for a £250-a-year power bill discount for 10 years - Stefan Rousseau/PA Britain's electricity grid upgrade will overshadow up to 160,000 homes with giant pylons built within 500 metres from their homes, the Government has admitted. Officials confirmed the first 43 rural communities whose landscapes will be transformed by new pylons, cables and substations – potentially knocking tens of thousands of pounds off house prices.
Heatwave leaves Britain with record bill to import power from Europe
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You Continue reading More for You
Heatwave leaves Britain with record bill to import power from Europe
Drought and heatwaves are forcing Britain to pay hundreds of millions of pounds more for power. Britain has paid record sums to buy electricity from Europe this summer as low river levels force nuclear power stations to power down across the Continent. Experts predict the UK will have to pay high prices again this week as the fifth heatwave of the year hits. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat , with temperatures expected to peak at around 37C in some southern regions.
Drought forces Britain to pay more for power Original
Nearly 70pc of the electricity powering London and the South East was imported on Tuesday - Brook Mitchell/AFP via Getty Images Drought and heatwaves are forcing Britain to pay hundreds of millions of pounds more for power. Britain has paid record sums to buy electricity from Europe this summer as low river levels force nuclear power stations to power down across the Continent. Experts predict the UK will have to pay high prices again this week as the fifth heatwave of the year hits.
Burnham urged to approve North Sea gas field to secure British energy
The Conservatives and Reform UK have called on Andy Burnham to give the go-ahead to the giant Jackdaw gas reserve before a final decision on Monday. The Jackdaw field could supply 6pc of UK gas output from October – a surge that would safeguard the viability of the pipes and platforms processing gas from several neighbouring fields until around 2040.
The Israeli oil pipeline that could solve the energy crisis
Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf's energy producers have a major problem. The main shipping routes to export their barrels of oil and tanks of gas – the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz – have become too dangerous to use. Iran has blockaded Hormuz in the wake of US-Israeli strikes, while exports through Bab-el-Mandeb in the Red Sea face constant attack from Houthi rebels. It has left Saudi Arabia, as well as some of the region's other key oil producers, searching for a solution.
North Sea shutdown to cost Treasury billions in tax relief
The Treasury faces a multibillion-pound hit from Labour's North Sea shutdown, BP's former finance chief has warned. Brian Gilvary, who sat on the board of BP from 2012 to 2020, said punishing tax rates and a ban on new drilling had prompted many oil and gas operators to halt activity in British waters sooner than expected. As a result, companies are ripping pipes and platforms out of the sea far earlier than planned.
Solar eclipse to force Britain to fire up gas power stations
An eclipse of the sun will force Britain to fire up its gas power stations as solar energy plummets The National Energy System Operator (Neso), which manages Britain's electricity grid, expects gas-fired plants to step up production as solar output falls by up to 1.3 gigawatts (GW). This is similar to losing the output of two of the UK's operating nuclear reactors. The solar eclipse , which will occur on Wednesday Aug 12, will be the largest visible in the UK since 1999.
Solar eclipse to force Britain to fire up gas power stations
An eclipse of the sun will force Britain to fire up its gas power stations as solar energy plummets. The National Energy System Operator (Neso), which manages Britain's electricity grid, expects gas-fired plants to step up production as solar output falls by up to 1.3 gigawatts (GW). This is similar to losing the output of two of the UK's operating nuclear reactors. The solar eclipse, which will occur on Wednesday Aug 12, will be the largest visible in the UK since 1999.
Net zero tycoons lash out at Britain's power grid
Two net zero tycoons have criticised the National Energy System Operator (Neso) after being told their projects must wait more than a decade to be connected to the grid. Chris Marsh, the chief executive of solar developer Enviromena, and Ben Guest, who runs grid battery specialist Gresham House Energy Storage, have been warned by Neso their projects would take up to 13 years to secure a connection.
North Sea is not competitive, BP boss says
The boss of BP has declared the North Sea is not competitive as pressure grows on Andy Burnham to scrap the oil and gas windfall tax. Meg O'Neill, who took over as chief executive in April, said she had spoken with the Prime Minister and urged him to use Britain's domestic energy resources as she justified the company's decision to sell its North Sea assets The company put its UK operations up for sale last week, potentially ending the oil giant's six decades of production in the basin.
Britain's biggest power plant demands damages over grid delays
Britain's state-owned grid operator should be made liable for damages over delayed upgrades to the country's electricity network, the owner of the UK's biggest power station has said. Will Gardiner, the chief executive of Drax, said the National Energy System Operator (Neso) and the other companies behind Britain's power networks should be made liable for failures that hold up vital new connections needed to keep the lights on.
BP’s North Sea exit raises fears it could quit Britain
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
BP's North Sea exit raises fears it could quit Britain
BP's plan to exit the North Sea has raised fears that the oil giant could quit Britain for good. The company put its UK offshore oil and gas business up for sale on Friday after more than 60 years of operation. The move has prompted concerns that the £86bn business could relocate its headquarters out of the UK or shift its shares from the London Stock Exchange to the US.
BP deals hammer blow to hopes of a North Sea revival
; ; ; ; Continue reading More for You
BP deals hammer blow to hopes of a North Sea revival Original
BP has five operational rigs across the North Sea - STUART CONWAY/AFP Andy Burnham has said Britain "cannot ignore" North Sea oil and gas, pledging to take a more "pragmatic" approach to drilling in the basin than his predecessor. Yet if the new Prime Minister was hoping to reverse the precipitous recent decline of the UK oil and gas industry, he has just been dealt a major blow.
Swap books for Kindles to hit net zero, government advisers suggest
; ; ; Continue reading More for You ; ; More for You
Swap books for Kindles to hit net zero, government advisers suggest
In what may sound like a work of fiction to book lovers, government advisers have suggested readers swap printed copies for Kindles to help Britain hit net zero. A new study commissioned under Ed Miliband, the former energy secretary, said on Wednesday that printing and binding consumed too much energy and readers should instead enjoy books on digital devices to cut emissions.
Texas oil tycoon plots $5bn Saudi oil refinery to break Hormuz blockade
A Texas oil tycoon is plotting a $5bn (£3.8bn) oil refinery to bypass Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Marc Gunderson, the founder of MWG Enterprises, has joined forces with two Middle East investment funds to develop the new terminal, which could reduce Iran's grip on exports from the Persian Gulf. Three potential sites have been chosen in the Gulf of Oman, where tankers using it would not have to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
‘Maddest net zero project yet?’ UK government explores plan to strip carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at eye-watering expense
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/07/27/is-this-labours-maddest-net-zero-project-yet/ By Jonathan Leake UK Telegraph excerpt: It could be Ed Miliband’s oddest and costliest legacy. Just days before leaving his role as energy secretary, he signed off on a proposal to make Britain a “global leader” in greenhouse gas removals – technologies that literally strip carbon dioxide from the air around us.
Is this Labour’s maddest net zero project yet?
It could be Ed Miliband's oddest and costliest legacy. Just days before leaving his role as energy secretary, he signed off on a proposal to make Britain a "global leader" in greenhouse gas removals – technologies that literally strip carbon dioxide from the air around us. The commitment, tucked away in a response to a review released just before Andy Burnham moved Miliband to the Foreign Office, is a minor footnote in his tenure. But the task he has left for successor Miatta Fahnbulleh is huge.
Glut of wind farm power adds nearly £1bn to household energy bills Original
A glut of power from Britain's wind farms has added nearly £1bn to energy bills, new figures show. Wind operators were forced to curtail output from their machinery by 28pc in the first half of the year, according to Montel, leading to compensation payouts of £900m. This compensation is paid to wind farm operators for the unsold power and the money is funded by consumers and businesses through higher bills.
Seconds from disaster, Britain was forced to beg France for more power
As they sat down to watch England's World Cup showdown with Ghana, millions of football fans were oblivious to the crisis unfolding on Britain's power grid. It was June 23 and the country was sweltering under a heatwave, prompting many to crank up fans and air conditioners at home. With large numbers also glued to their televisions late into the night, it meant demand on the electricity system was unusually high.
Britain’s battery boom risks overwhelming the grid
; ; Continue reading More for You
Britain’s battery boom ‘risks overwhelming the grid’
The thousands of batteries being deployed to stabilise Britain's electricity networks could bring down the grid, government experts have warned. Ministers have been warned of the risk of a crash if operators all try to charge up their batteries at the same time to avoid an energy shortage.
Tories accuse power grid operator of lying over blackout risk
Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, has accused Neso, the UK's grid operator, of lying to ministers and misleading the public over blackout risks. It follows growing evidence that UK power grids almost crashed last month when a simultaneous heatwave and plummeting wind and solar output triggered serious frequency fluctuations. Now Ms Coutinho has accused Neso of misleading ministers and the public over just how close they were to losing control of the grid.
British Gas customers reckon with AI chatbots as call centre jobs cut
British Gas customers face the prospect of talking to AI chatbots rather than humans under plans to cut 1,300 call centre jobs. Centrica, the owner of British Gas , said it would cut another 800 roles, on top of 500 confirmed last month, under plans to reduce its customer service workforce by 14pc. It said the overhaul had included the “targeted deployment of AI tools” that would help simplify its customer service operations.
Winter gas shortage warning as prices hit one-year high
The boss of British Gas has warned the country risks winter shortages as reserves dwindle. Chris O'Shea said Britain was at risk because of a lack of gas storage facilities. His warning came as gas prices surged to their highest level in a year on Thursday, driven by concerns about threats to Middle Eastern supply. Official data show the UK currently has less than a week's worth of reserves.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Jonathan
Contact Jonathan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack