News

MECS contributes towards clean cooking discussions at the 16th Session of the IRENA Assembly

21 January 2026

Professor Ed Brown, Loughborough University and Research Director of MECS, and Mr. Jose Luis Ortega Moreno, MECs Research Programme Assistant, represented the MECS programme at the global event.

The Global Clean Cooking Crisis: Professor Ed Brown at COP30

25 November 2025

Professor Ed Brown reports from COP30 on why clean cooking isn’t just a household issue but a global climate, health, and sustainability crisis.

MECS at COP30

07 November 2025

Championing electric cooking as part of our commitment to achieving universal energy access.

Rethinking electricity access in informal settlements

23 October 2025

A co-authored blog on a neglected aspect of energy poverty.

Loughborough-led climate programme wins Accelerator Prize at New York Climate Week

25 September 2025

A climate programme led by Loughborough University has been announced as one of the recipients of a prestigious prize at New York Climate Week.

United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week New York City

22 September 2025

MECS team, represented by Prof Ed Brown, to highlight urgency for scaling clean, electric cooking at the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week New York City 21-26 September 2025.

New £3 million Ayrton Challenge Programme will tackle inequality in Africa's clean energy transition

13 May 2025

STEER’s Prof Ed Brown and Dr Sarah Wykes, are Loughborough University’s research leads on a £3m project, led by Vanesa Castan Broto, Professor of Climate Urbanism at the University of Sheffield’s School of Geography and Planning.

London Climate Action Week 2025

16 July 2025

The UK Aid (FCDO) funded Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme had a strong presence at London Climate Action Week 2025, emphasising the critical importance of accelerating access to clean, electric cooking to drive progress in improving air quality.

Loughborough experts showcase sustainable energy research at COP 29

13 November 2024

Researchers from STEER are in Baku, Azerbaijan, to join climate leaders at COP29, the United Nations’ annual global climate summit.

Loughborough academic backs G20 call to prioritise clean cooking

15 October 2024

Professor Ed Brown has advocated for global action to expand universal access to clean cooking at a G20 technical workshop in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

MECS advocate for urgent scaleup of clean cooking access at UN SDG7 Forum

26 September 2024

MECS have attended the United Nations ENERGYNOW SDG7 Action Forum in New York to advocate for accelerated access to clean, electric cooking.

STEER wins Vice-Chancellor's Award for Research and Innovation

19 September 2024

STEER receive the 2024 Vice-Chancellor's Award for Impactful Research and Innovation

Modern Energy Cooking Services to support £5 million clean cooking programme in Uganda

13 August 2024

The UK Government, in partnership with the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, have launched a £5m 2-year Clean Cooking programme in Kampala, Uganda.

Green energy for all: Zimbabwe will need a new social contract to roll out projects like solar power

31 July 2024

Sustainable transitions researchers Ellen Fungisai Chipango and Long Seng To have researched ways to use the communal ethic of African ubuntu, expressed as “a person is a person through other persons”, in the rollout of renewable energy.

King’s Birthday Honours for MECS Research & Innovation Coordinator

21 June 2024

Dr Simon Batchelor is honoured with an OBE for services to technological innovation overseas in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Loughborough-led climate programme receives £57m funding boost

18 June 2024

The Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) programme will continue to carry out “transformative” work until 2030 – after receiving a £57m boost from the UK government.

MECS highlights importance of rapidly scaling access to eCooking at the Global Stocktaking on SDG7

16 May 2024

Professor Ed Brown joined distinguished speakers to address energy’s interlinkages and strengthening means of implementation and partnerships.

eCooking Roadmap launched by the Government of Malawi

16 April 2024

The document, developed in collaboration with MECS, outlines a roadmap to foster an accelerated transition from unsustainably harvested biomass to eCooking in Malawi.

MECS attends The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024

28 February 2024

Professor Ed Brown highlights the critical importance of accelerating global transition to eCooking at The Climate and Clean Air Conference 2024 in Nairobi.

New partnership aims to secure legacy of climate expertise in the Global South

07 February 2024

CCG and the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics) have officially joined forces to help countries in the Global South develop ‘home-grown’ specialists for the future.

New Electricity Transition Playbook will help developing nations switch to clean energy

18 December 2023

A practical guide aimed at helping developing nations switch from traditional fuel sources to clean energy has been launched online.

COP28 – clean energy cooking and alternative fuels for global communities

7 December 2023

Researchers from Loughborough University have got together to discuss the future of clean energy cooking – one of the talking points at this year’s COP 28 summit in the United Arab Emirates.

Loughborough academics showcase sustainable energy research at COP28

4 December 2023

Researchers from Loughborough University have travelled to Dubai to take part in this year’s COP summit and showcase the projects they believe will help tackle climate change.

Global electric cooking initiative to be launched at COP28

1 December 2023

Loughborough is due to launch a global electric cooking initiative at the COP28 climate change conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

New coalition seeks to accelerate access to clean electric cooking

06 September 2023

The Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme have joined forces with industry partners to launch the Global Electric Cooking Coalition (GeCCo, which aims to reduce carbon outputs and support the global scale up of electric cooking,

Loughborough hosts UK’s first World Bank Energy Storage Partnership Stakeholder Forum

26 June 2023

Sustainable energy experts from across the globe have arrived at Loughborough University for the World Bank Energy Storage Partnership (ESP) Stakeholder Forum – the first time the event has ever been held in the UK.

Loughborough ranked first in UK and 15th globally for advancing affordable and clean energy

01 June 2023

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings have placed Loughborough University first in the UK and 15th globally for advancing Affordable and Clean Energy – the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7.

Loughborough University researcher attends United Nations meeting

19 May 2023

Professor Ed Brown, Research Director of the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, has shared his expertise alongside global experts at a high-level meeting held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.