Insights for what's next

Explore practical perspectives that turn complex challenges and emerging trends into real-world outcomes.

499 items
Project Acorn is the first airside hydrogen refueling trial ever to take place at a major U.K. airport.
Report

New report on the U.K.'s first airside hydrogen refueling and operational trial

Hydrogen offers huge potential to deliver zero-carbon emission aviation and be a key enabler of the industry’s transition to net zero; and development of hydrogen technology for aviation has made rapid progress over the past five years. Yet a key challenge in the U.K., and similarly for other geographies, is the lack of any regulatory framework or operational guidance on the use of hydrogen storage and refueling in the airside environment at airports. In the U.K., this led to the formation of Project Acorn, a ground-breaking airside hydrogen refueling trial, involving easyJet, Bristol Airport, Jacobs and many other leading organizations from across aviation, engineering, logistics and academia, including the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, Cranfield University, DHL, Fuel Cell Systems, Globe Fuel Cell Systems, the IAAPS research institute, Mulag and TCR. Jacobs provided technical expertise and project management support to the trial and developed the insights and best practices shared in the post-trial report. The airside trial at Bristol Airport in March 2024 tested the use of a hydrogen baggage tractor within easyJet’s daily operation. Project Acorn required Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) clearance for airside refueling and set out to gather data and acquire knowledge to support establishing the first industry standards and procedures for the safe airside use of hydrogen. The trial provided a vital step towards understanding the safety cases and risk mitigations required to underpin safety regulations for hydrogen refueling. It created the opportunity for the CAA to build experience with hydrogen and to support

Aerial view of Sungei Buloh mangrove nature reserve in Singapore
Big Questions

How can an integrated approach across water systems build a more climate-resilient Singapore?

Protecting a low‑lying, highly urbanized island nation like Singapore requires more than traditional engineering — it requires an integrated, system-wide approach that understands how coastal defenses, drainage networks, stormwater systems and water supply intersect. That’s where Jacobs’ Senior Environmental Engineer Chow Shu Yi plays a pivotal role. With more than 14 years of experience across coastal resilience, stormwater management, drainage improvement and major water infrastructure projects, Shu Yi brings a unique cross‑disciplinary perspective to some of Singapore’s most urgent climate challenges. She bridges coastal science, water engineering and urban resilience to shape climate‑ready solutions that protect communities and adapt to tomorrow’s uncertainty. She has taken on key roles in national‑level coastal protection and flood mitigation projects, contributing to feasibility assessments, long‑term adaptation planning and detailed hydraulic and hydrological modeling. Her work spans coastal barrier systems, coastal reservoir studies and large-scale drainage upgrades. She played a key role in delivering Singapore's Active Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters enhancement projects that blend engineering with ecology to create greener, more resilient waterways. Along with coastal resilience and stormwater management, Shu Yi has been instrumental in designing several of Singapore’s mega wastewater infrastructure projects, including PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency’s New Kranji Water Reclamation Plant Tuas Water Reclamation Plant and Changi Water Reclamation Plants, specializing in early stages of wastewater treatment. Today, as Singapore advances major coastal protection initiatives, Shu Yi’s integrated approach continues to shape the next generation of water and climate‑resilient infrastructure.

Chow Shu Yi
Decarb_GHG-2203598556
Report

Defining the pathway for decarbonization in the transport sector

Did you know that transport, including air, sea and land travel, is responsible for nearly 25% 1 of the world's carbon emissions and 64% 2 of global oil consumption? As populations expand and economies evolve, global demand for passenger and freight transportation grows, along with transport’s emissions footprint. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this trend shows no sign of abating 3. Transport-related emissions will continue to rise unless we make rapid, large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions stemming from these activities. As such, it has become a global imperative for governments, transport authorities and organizations to set the transport sector on track to meet the Paris Climate Agreement targets and avert the worst climate impacts. Insights: Defining the Pathway for Decarbonization in the Transport Sector Download the paper There are many ways the transport sector is stepping up to make this shift - transitioning to renewable energy supply, acquiring green fleets of Electric Vehicles (EV) or hydrogen-powered vehicles, implementing carbon taxes and promoting active mobility modes like walking and cycling. These measures not only help to reduce emissions but also help improve air quality and ultimately, the health and wellbeing of local communities. While there is still much work to be done, the transport sector is taking essential steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. The rapid uptake of net zero targets signifies a hopeful inflection point for the industry ; however, achieving these is a complex undertaking that requires a comprehensive suite of solutions addressing multifaceted

CSO paper preview-brighter
Report

How can we use nature and data to help solve our environmental, climate and affordability crises?

Solving our environmental, climate and affordability trilemma requires bringing together two factors that could be considered opposing ends of the spectrum: sustainable nature-based approaches and cutting-edge data- and technology-enabled solutions. This paper defines the trilemma and the impacts on the CSOs challenge, then discusses the art of the possible for these novel approaches and the potential regulatory, societal and technological shifts required to empower these solutions.

Sea spray and waves hitting coastal walkway
Report

Coastal erosion and climate change

Climate change is a global problem that will result in severe consequences at the coast. Strategic coastal planning, management and adaptation are key to mitigating future losses and ensuring that coastal development and communities are sustainable in the long-term.

Aerial view of energy storage power station
Big Questions

How do we build resilient energy systems?

At Jacobs, we’re reshaping how energy is generated, moved, stored and used — accelerating decarbonization while strengthening energy security. We work with clients to accelerate and strengthen energy resilience. That means advancing low-carbon technologies — from sustainable fuels and carbon capture to long-duration storage and advanced nuclear — and integrating them into systems that work in the real world, at scale. The future of energy isn’t a single shift from one technology to another. It’s a connected system spanning generation, networks, transport, infrastructure and regulation. Low Carbon Solutions Director Alan Fotheringham enables clients to understand those connections — and design for them — so today’s decisions strengthen long-term performance. Alan works with clients to reduce complexity, optimize investment and make more efficient use of renewables, storage and energy networks. This integrated approach lowers total system costs band accelerates delivery and reduces risk. For many organizations, committing to net zero is just the beginning. Energy assets often take years to develop and are expected to operate for decades — yet turning ambition into action can be overwhelming. Alan bridges the gap between ambition and execution, guiding clients from opportunity to commercially viable programs that can stand up to real-world constraints. That systems-based thinking matters most in sectors where decarbonization options are limited or still emerging. In aviation, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offers one of the most immediate pathways to lower emissions. SAF can cut emissions by 60-80%, making it one of the most immediate levers available to decarbonize aviation. Alan works

Alan Fotheringham
Why Quality Must Be Our Priority
Report

Powering the future: Why net zero carbon buildings aren’t enough

Gain insights behind this powerful shift, written by industry experts Adam Selvey, Jacobs and Ahmad Makkieh, Schneider Electric, and discover how Net Zero Carbon Power offers a scalable, future-ready path to decarbonizing our built environment. As the U.K. pushes toward its Clean Power 2030 targets, significant work is underway to decarbonize our buildings in a bid to reduce both operational and embodied emissions. However, the grid supporting these buildings is aging and under growing pressure. Up to 67% of grid supply points sit at or near capacity; we face a massive challenge: growing peak demand from electric heating, electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable generation is overwhelming a system never designed to handle it. The answer isn’t just to use less energy. It means using energy differently. Introducing Net Zero Carbon Power This new approach redefines how buildings interact with the grid. Direct current (DC) microgrids, local energy storage and smart load management allow buildings to: Eliminate inefficiencies caused by outdated alternating current (AC) infrastructure Cut energy loss by up to 20% with DC-ready technologies Slash project timelines and infrastructure costs Reduce dependence on a slow-moving grid Make buildings active contributors to energy stability Why DC? Why now? Today’s renewable sources and digital devices run on DC. Each time energy converts between AC and DC, losses increase and costs rise. Hybrid AC/DC microgrids address this issue. These systems store off-peak energy, power DC equipment directly and accelerate decarbonization without the long wait for large-scale grid upgrades. About the authors Adam Selvey

Aviation-Hydrogen-White-Paper
Report

Airports as catalysts for decarbonization

Airport owners and operators need to plan for the delivery and storage of hydrogen now if they are to be ready to fuel hydrogen-powered aircraft which are expected by 2035. New research by Jacobs, "Airports as Catalysts for Decarbonization", provides a roadmap for airports to implement to begin preparing for hydrogen fueling technologies, building on our work for the Aeronautical Technology Institute FlyZero Report, “ Airports, Airlines and Airspace - Operations and Hydrogen Infrastructure”. Due to the length of time it takes to plan, design, consult and implement new airport infrastructure, airports must make provisions ahead of the first commercially available hydrogen-powered aircraft expected in the early to mid-2030s. To help airports transition, Jacobs evaluated three scenarios for the supply and storage of hydrogen at an airport: Scenario 1 - the delivery of liquid hydrogen directly to the airport by truck. Scenario 2 - the use of a hydrogen gas pipeline with on-site liquefaction. Scenario 3 - the use of electrolysis for hydrogen production on site at the airport.

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