Heidi Vella
@heidivel.bsky.social
Freelance journalist covering technology, climate change and the energy sector. London based.
www.heidivella.com
Substack: https://substack.com/@climatechangefordummies
www.heidivella.com
Substack: https://substack.com/@climatechangefordummies
So glad the BBC's #PoliticsLive has got Dieter Helm to talk about energy policy! Some one who really knows what he's talking about.
January 29, 2026 at 12:22 PM
So glad the BBC's #PoliticsLive has got Dieter Helm to talk about energy policy! Some one who really knows what he's talking about.
Some great responsible practise from Prada here (prompted by a government investigations into Italy’s luxury fashion industry)
Prada carried out 188 supplier inspections last year, instead of paying third parties to do it.
www.ft.com/content/8fa5...
Prada carried out 188 supplier inspections last year, instead of paying third parties to do it.
www.ft.com/content/8fa5...
Prada cuts ties with over 200 suppliers after labour abuse audit
Italian label has been investigating since 2020 as allegations of worker exploitation plague luxury industry
www.ft.com
January 29, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Some great responsible practise from Prada here (prompted by a government investigations into Italy’s luxury fashion industry)
Prada carried out 188 supplier inspections last year, instead of paying third parties to do it.
www.ft.com/content/8fa5...
Prada carried out 188 supplier inspections last year, instead of paying third parties to do it.
www.ft.com/content/8fa5...
Honestly, the front of these Tories defecting to reform and making speeches about how wrecked the country is 🤦♀️ A little self-awareness would go along way.
January 26, 2026 at 12:46 PM
Honestly, the front of these Tories defecting to reform and making speeches about how wrecked the country is 🤦♀️ A little self-awareness would go along way.
Been on HMRC's automated phone service for two minutes and I already need a stiff drink.
January 22, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Been on HMRC's automated phone service for two minutes and I already need a stiff drink.
I just had a chilling thought; imagine if Farage was in power through all this latest Trump madness 😳😳😳
January 22, 2026 at 1:40 PM
I just had a chilling thought; imagine if Farage was in power through all this latest Trump madness 😳😳😳
Loving this call in on Storm & Alexis where they're trying to find a bad angle on roof top solar but failing miserably 😂
January 21, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Loving this call in on Storm & Alexis where they're trying to find a bad angle on roof top solar but failing miserably 😂
Interviewing a Finnish contact and he said "This week it's ONLY minus ten degrees, but last week it was MINUS 25 DEGREES." I wouldn't survive those temperatures! 🥶🥶
January 21, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Interviewing a Finnish contact and he said "This week it's ONLY minus ten degrees, but last week it was MINUS 25 DEGREES." I wouldn't survive those temperatures! 🥶🥶
Very typical that the month all my invoice payments are overdue is also the month I have to pay a massive tax bill 😩🤦♀️😬😳
January 20, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Very typical that the month all my invoice payments are overdue is also the month I have to pay a massive tax bill 😩🤦♀️😬😳
For the Institution of Engineering and Technology's E&T Magazine I delved into Scotland’s pumped storage hydro revival - this year, five pre-approved projects can bid for a government financial support mechanism to bring the first new PSH project to the UK in 40 years.
January 19, 2026 at 12:58 PM
For the Institution of Engineering and Technology's E&T Magazine I delved into Scotland’s pumped storage hydro revival - this year, five pre-approved projects can bid for a government financial support mechanism to bring the first new PSH project to the UK in 40 years.
As the Trump administration threatens Greenland’s sovereignty—partly driven by interest in its critical mineral resources—I look for MINE Magazine at the challenges facing Greenland’s domestic rare earths industry as it seeks to reduce its reliance on Chinese supply.
January 16, 2026 at 11:19 AM
As the Trump administration threatens Greenland’s sovereignty—partly driven by interest in its critical mineral resources—I look for MINE Magazine at the challenges facing Greenland’s domestic rare earths industry as it seeks to reduce its reliance on Chinese supply.
Scientific research is being diminished in the US and, as this story shows, it has grave consequences.
"If I don’t find a clinical trial for my child, she’ll be dead in a year."
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
Kids with brain cancer were already in a life and death struggle. Then came Trump
The US president vowed to ‘end childhood cancer’. But his administration is dismantling the search for a cure and sending families scrambling for treatment
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Scientific research is being diminished in the US and, as this story shows, it has grave consequences.
This is a great move from the BBC: www.ft.com/content/cdcf...
BBC to show programmes on YouTube in landmark deal
British public sector broadcaster will make unique shows for the platform and generate revenue from ads overseas
www.ft.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:56 AM
This is a great move from the BBC: www.ft.com/content/cdcf...
I, like every other writer, have a (free) Substack. It's on understanding climate change and how to do your bit to mitigate it, and targeted very much at non-experts! (Please do share with anyone who might find it interesting).
open.substack.com/pub/climatec...
open.substack.com/pub/climatec...
Despite our perceptions, digital isn’t aways better for the environment
AI is here to stay, but its scale, proliferation and impact – environmental and otherwise – are not inevitable.
open.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:18 PM
I, like every other writer, have a (free) Substack. It's on understanding climate change and how to do your bit to mitigate it, and targeted very much at non-experts! (Please do share with anyone who might find it interesting).
open.substack.com/pub/climatec...
open.substack.com/pub/climatec...
New from me for Mining Technology & MINE Magazine: The emerging trend towards district-scale mining among junior miners ⛏️
As larger, high-grade mineral deposits become harder to find many juniors are turning to a district-scale, hub-and-spoke approach.
➡️ www.mining-technology.com/features/fro...
As larger, high-grade mineral deposits become harder to find many juniors are turning to a district-scale, hub-and-spoke approach.
➡️ www.mining-technology.com/features/fro...
From scattered assets to scaled output: the rise of district-scale mining
As larger, high-grade mineral deposits become harder to find and more costly to develop, junior miners are opting for district-scale mining.
www.mining-technology.com
January 12, 2026 at 3:34 PM
New from me for Mining Technology & MINE Magazine: The emerging trend towards district-scale mining among junior miners ⛏️
As larger, high-grade mineral deposits become harder to find many juniors are turning to a district-scale, hub-and-spoke approach.
➡️ www.mining-technology.com/features/fro...
As larger, high-grade mineral deposits become harder to find many juniors are turning to a district-scale, hub-and-spoke approach.
➡️ www.mining-technology.com/features/fro...
It was a pleasure, as always, to contribute to a reNEWS. For this year's report on renewables in Ireland I covered the large-scale battery energy storage sector.
July 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
It was a pleasure, as always, to contribute to a reNEWS. For this year's report on renewables in Ireland I covered the large-scale battery energy storage sector.
More from me: Software developers are quickly learning the good, the bad, and the ugly of outsourcing app development to AI – and CIOs have much to learn from their vibe coding experiences.
www.techmonitor.ai/digital-econ...
#AI #Vibecoding #coding #innovation #Enterprise
www.techmonitor.ai/digital-econ...
#AI #Vibecoding #coding #innovation #Enterprise
Vibe coding is coming to the enterprise - Tech Monitor
Software developers are quickly learning the good, the bad, and the ugly of vibe coding. CIOs have much to learn.
www.techmonitor.ai
July 8, 2025 at 12:45 PM
More from me: Software developers are quickly learning the good, the bad, and the ugly of outsourcing app development to AI – and CIOs have much to learn from their vibe coding experiences.
www.techmonitor.ai/digital-econ...
#AI #Vibecoding #coding #innovation #Enterprise
www.techmonitor.ai/digital-econ...
#AI #Vibecoding #coding #innovation #Enterprise
From me: As global copper shortages loom, the mining industry is turning to nascent technology to find ways to extract larger volumes of copper more sustainably.
www.mining-technology.com/features/cut...
#Mining #Technology #Innovation in #Sustainability
www.mining-technology.com/features/cut...
#Mining #Technology #Innovation in #Sustainability
Cutting edge copper: can innovation help meet rising demand?
As global shortages loom, the mining industry is turning to innovative technology to find ways to extract more copper more sustainably.
www.mining-technology.com
July 8, 2025 at 8:31 AM
From me: As global copper shortages loom, the mining industry is turning to nascent technology to find ways to extract larger volumes of copper more sustainably.
www.mining-technology.com/features/cut...
#Mining #Technology #Innovation in #Sustainability
www.mining-technology.com/features/cut...
#Mining #Technology #Innovation in #Sustainability
“I’ve never seen such societal acceptance of mining” – Wheaton Precious Metals’ Randy Smallwood
But he also warns the industry must live up to the moment and put environment and society at the heart of what it does - read the full interview here: www.mining-technology.com/interviews/c...
#Mining
But he also warns the industry must live up to the moment and put environment and society at the heart of what it does - read the full interview here: www.mining-technology.com/interviews/c...
#Mining
"I've never seen such societal acceptance of mining" – Wheaton Precious Metals’ Randy Smallwood
Randy Smallwood, CEO and president of Wheaton Precious Metals on mining technology, tariffs, politics and more.
www.mining-technology.com
June 25, 2025 at 9:03 AM
“I’ve never seen such societal acceptance of mining” – Wheaton Precious Metals’ Randy Smallwood
But he also warns the industry must live up to the moment and put environment and society at the heart of what it does - read the full interview here: www.mining-technology.com/interviews/c...
#Mining
But he also warns the industry must live up to the moment and put environment and society at the heart of what it does - read the full interview here: www.mining-technology.com/interviews/c...
#Mining
This is definitely not the best weather to be working from home in, or working at all...
June 20, 2025 at 12:48 PM
This is definitely not the best weather to be working from home in, or working at all...
It's really annoying that everything you order from an ad on Instagram comes from China but that fact is never made clear before ordering.
June 20, 2025 at 8:04 AM
It's really annoying that everything you order from an ad on Instagram comes from China but that fact is never made clear before ordering.
Hyperloops: I am writing a feature on what's happened to the hyperloop concept?
Are concepts still progressing? Is the technology still viable? etc
I am looking for experts and hyperloop developers to share their stories and insights with me. #JournoRequest
Are concepts still progressing? Is the technology still viable? etc
I am looking for experts and hyperloop developers to share their stories and insights with me. #JournoRequest
May 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Hyperloops: I am writing a feature on what's happened to the hyperloop concept?
Are concepts still progressing? Is the technology still viable? etc
I am looking for experts and hyperloop developers to share their stories and insights with me. #JournoRequest
Are concepts still progressing? Is the technology still viable? etc
I am looking for experts and hyperloop developers to share their stories and insights with me. #JournoRequest
Earlier a Facebook memory of my travels in South America 9 years ago popped up. Halcyon days in many ways. And a reminder how no-stop my 30s have been: travels, two kids, a pandemic, relentless politics and so much working. Very fortunate overall, but also very tiring!
March 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Earlier a Facebook memory of my travels in South America 9 years ago popped up. Halcyon days in many ways. And a reminder how no-stop my 30s have been: travels, two kids, a pandemic, relentless politics and so much working. Very fortunate overall, but also very tiring!
Always a pleasure writing for the IET's glossy E&T Magazine but I particularly enjoyed speaking to Mott MacDonald's James Middling about the firm's work on Saudi Arabia's NEOM City and The Line.
#Engineering #Technology #Buildings #Innovation #Supercity #SaudiArabia
#Engineering #Technology #Buildings #Innovation #Supercity #SaudiArabia
March 11, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Always a pleasure writing for the IET's glossy E&T Magazine but I particularly enjoyed speaking to Mott MacDonald's James Middling about the firm's work on Saudi Arabia's NEOM City and The Line.
#Engineering #Technology #Buildings #Innovation #Supercity #SaudiArabia
#Engineering #Technology #Buildings #Innovation #Supercity #SaudiArabia
Peak coal: are we witnessing coal’s last hurrah?
Coal supply and demand reached yet new highs last year. China continues to dominate the global outlook with rising demand and import stockpiles – but decline still hangs in the shadows. #Coal #Commodities
www.mining-technology.com/features/pea...
Coal supply and demand reached yet new highs last year. China continues to dominate the global outlook with rising demand and import stockpiles – but decline still hangs in the shadows. #Coal #Commodities
www.mining-technology.com/features/pea...
Peak coal: are we witnessing coal’s last hurrah?
Coal supply and demand reached new highs in 2024, with China continuing to dominate the global outlook. Have we reached peak coal?
www.mining-technology.com
March 4, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Peak coal: are we witnessing coal’s last hurrah?
Coal supply and demand reached yet new highs last year. China continues to dominate the global outlook with rising demand and import stockpiles – but decline still hangs in the shadows. #Coal #Commodities
www.mining-technology.com/features/pea...
Coal supply and demand reached yet new highs last year. China continues to dominate the global outlook with rising demand and import stockpiles – but decline still hangs in the shadows. #Coal #Commodities
www.mining-technology.com/features/pea...