Last Friday saw the successful completion of the world’s first international solar-powered flight. But, asks Valentina Jovanovski, will this innovation really change the face of air travel or is it just another white elephant?
… Solar powered flights: the future of aviation? … Jovanovski | 19th May 2011 Ethical Living Solar Airport Airplane Emissions Aviation CO2 Airline Climate Change Green Living solar-plane-holding.jpg Above: the Solar …
Not only can the US save money on its electricity by moving to a 48-state power network based on high voltage DC power lines, writes Christopher Clack. It's also the key to increasing the penetration of renewables as the lowest cost energy source, with wind and solar delivering 55% of the nation's electricity demand - and a 78% reduction in carbon emissions.
… The cheapest way to scale up wind and solar? A US-wide high-tech power network … the lowest cost energy source, with wind and solar delivering 55% of the nation's … reduction in carbon emissions. Wind power and solar power are ways to reduce carbon …
The largest solar farm in Britain has been given planning permission - producing much needed renewable energy. But what is the impact on the local environment?
… Solar, so good? Luke Powell | 1st June 2020 … Conservation 100139794-1.jpg The largest solar farm in Britain has been given planning … on the local environment? The UK's largest solar farm - which will generate enough power …
An ancient grassland SSSI at Rampisham could be saved following a government decision to put an 'hold' notice on the West Dorset Council's planning consent for a huge solar farm, writes Martin Harper. Now Eric Pickles must 'call in' the case to a public inquiry, or set a truly dreadful precedent for our most precious nature sites.
… Pickles must protect Rampisham Down SSSI from solar farm Martin Harper | 5th February 2015 … Dorset Council's planning consent for a huge solar farm, writes Martin Harper. Now Eric … Dorset Council's planning consent for a huge solar farm, writes Martin Harper. From 1939 …
The world economy and energy use both grew in 2014 - but carbon emissions did not, writes Alex Kirby. The reason? The worldwide surge in renewables, especially in China, has reduced demand for coal in power generation.
… Change Renewables Emissions ouagadougou-solar-shop-cut.jpg The world economy and … 10 years earlier. Growing fastest of all was solar energy, whose installed capacity was 68 … who chairs REN21. Distorting subsidies Solar, wind and other technologies, including …
China has just recorded its first fall in emissions from burning fossil fuels in 15 years, writes Lauri Myllyvirta. The sharp decline has surprised analysts, and reflects the fast growing proportion of renewables in the country's power supply.
… has set new global records for wind and solar installations and seen an increase in … in power generation from hydropower, wind, solar, nuclear and gas, along with slower … China has set new global records for wind and solar installations and seen an increase in …
Wealthy Americans’ homes generate 25 percent more greenhouse gasses than those less affluent.
… Covering Climate Now Emissions Climate Crisis Solar Wealthy Americans’ homes generate 25 … from fossil fuels towards renewables such as solar and wind, the researchers point out that …
Levels of CO2 are at their the highest in 800,000 years, writes Tim Radford, but news of a probable decline in emissions this year is providing welcome cheer at the COP21 climate summit: thanks to renewables, economic growth and falling emissions can go hand in hand.
… greater efficiency and a shift to wind and solar power began to slow the rate at which … in 2014 was met from hydro, nuclear, wind and solar power. China is responsible for 27% of …
The aviation industry has its climate change plans, car manufacturers are working on 'eco' alternatives, and rail is considered top of the class, but what has the transport mode that delivers 90 per cent of goods to the UK done to improve upon its environmental credentials?
… Trade Emissions Pollution Particulates solarshiplarge.jpg The aviation industry has … has also proved a problem. Technology: Solar sails Promoter: Solar Sailor How does it work?: Combining the …
Degrowth and its opponents recognize the necessity of mass movements and system change to address the climate emergency.
… push for electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps, solar panels and wind turbines.” Why not do … investment to be targeted to churning out solar panels, heat pumps and batteries “at a …
Can there be wildlife in our urban jungles? Matilda Lee meets a man campaigning to let nature live on city rooftops
… of photovoltaic (PV) power and wind farms – ‘solar PVs are sleek and silver and vegetation … you have to have green roofs when you have solar PV because it enhances the microclimate … for it. The optimal temperature for solar PV should be 25°C. Every 5°C above 25°C, …
The 'Absolute Zero' report demonstrates how the UK can deliver on its climate change commitments. In doing so, it debunks technological utopianism - but what of economy and class?
… nuclear, combined cycle gas turbine, wind and solar deployments in recent times, showing … turbines, the lithium in the batteries, the solar panels. In the short term, how do you … rail construction, the iron ore mining, the solar panels produced using coal power? JA: …
The loveliness, power and strength in stone is the raw beauty of Nature herself. In every piece of stone there is a story told more magnificent than any creation myth; a story that shocked and astonished the Christian geologists of late-1700s England when they first started to decipher, through the fossil record, the history of life on Earth.
… computing of the true age of the Earth, the solar system, our galaxy and the universe. The …
There is much talk of the possibility of a future ‘hydrogen economy’, which will power all our vehicles and homes. It is important to remember that hydrogen is not an energy source; it is an energy carrier. To obtain hydrogen it must be split from either natural gas or water molecules. The former, most widely used, method not only requires energy but also gives off carbon dioxide (CO2) in the process. Hydrogen produced in this way requires more energy to make than will eventually be returned when it is used. It makes more sense from a climate perspective to burn the natural gas itself than to convert and re-convert it to hydrogen in this way.
… of electricity such as wind turbines or solar panels. Even here, though, it makes more …
Germany cut emissions and boosted renewables to record levels last year, writes Henner Weithöner. Yet the country's coal burn remains the EU's highest - and ambitious emissions targets can only be met by closing coal-burning power stations.
… lignite, coal and nuclear behind. Wind, solar, hydropower and biomass reached a new …
Advanced new catalysts are poised to stimulate a clean energy revolution, writes Tim Radford. An organic replacement for the precious metal platinum would allow surplus electricity to be cheaply converted into hydrogen fuel, then burnt in low cost fuel cells to propel 'green' vehicles and generate power on demand.
… ideally from renewable sources like wind and solar - to produce hydrogen and oxygen, with …
When the UK joined the EU in 1973, it was dubbed the 'dirty man of Europe' thanks to its out of control pollution, writes Craig Bennett. Since then EU laws have forced us to clean up our act. But if we leave, all that may go into the reverse, with terrible impacts on our air, water, health, and wildlife.
… of the UK government slashing subsidies for solar power and acting as cheer-leader in …
Ecologist writer Luke Dale-Harris questions the ability of Natura 2000 to work as an effective environmental regulator
… developments, most commonly wind farms, solar parks and hydroelectric plants, puncture … the construction of wind farms and solar parks in all Bulgarian Natura 2000 …
It's barely mentioned in the election campaign or reported in the media. But a powerful faction of Tory ministers, ex-ministers and backbench MPs are bent on using Brexit to ignite a massive bonfire of 'spirit-crushing' laws on wildlife protection, air and water pollution, pesticides, renewable energy and public health, writes Brendan Montague. At risk are not just EU directives and regulations but even the UK's own Climate Change Act. May's Brexit may not just be hard, but very, very dirty.
… began the process of " cutting subsidies for solar and onshore wind, abandoning Zero Carbon … spending billions on subsidies for wind and solar farms..." And while we're at it, let's …
The UK Government has ditched the requirement for new homes to be 'zero carbon' from April 2016, writes Gordon Walker. With builders already geared up to meet the challenge, this needless reversal will raise energy bills and carbon emissions for a century or more to come, and send out all the wrong signals for the Paris climate talks.
… low or zero-carbon energy generation, such as solar panels. More recently forms of carbon …
Habitat loss doesn’t just affect rainforest dwellers, says Paul Miles. New builds and carbon reducing measures have been tough on the species that share our homes. Here's how to bring them back
… bat roosts, bird nesting, living roofs, solar panels and more, was a first year … home’ would more usually expect, such as solar panels for hot water and electricity. …