A letter from Energy Secretary Amber Rudd leaked to The Ecologist shows that she misled Parliament by promising the UK was 'on course' to deliver on its renewable energy targets - when in fact there is a delivery shortfall in 2020 of almost 25%. Her plan to fill the gap relies on more biofuels, buying in green power and 'credits' from abroad - everything but wind and solar.
… Tickell | 9th November 2015 News Energy Renewables Politics Finance EU UK Law … we were way in excess of [spending limits on renewables], but were still meeting our renewables targets , it was right to limit the …
Powered by 100% renewable energy, Apple is maintaining its lead as the internet's greenest company, But others are lagging behind: Google has yet to reach 50% and relies heavily on coal, while Amazon's AWS, the massive 'dark cloud' of the web, won't even answer questions.
… May 2015 News Technology Media Climate Change Renewables Energy data-center-cut.jpg Powered …
Don't believe the spurious claims of nuclear shills constantly doing down renewables, writes Mark Diesendorf. Clean, safe renewable energy technologies have the potential to supply 100% of the world's electricity needs - but the first hurdle is to refute the deliberately misleading myths designed to promote the politically powerful but ultimately doomed nuclear industry.
… Diesendorf | 19th April 2016 News Nuclear Renewables Energy Technology … of nuclear shills constantly doing down renewables, writes Mark Diesendorf. Clean, … the nuclear 'baseload' myth: nothing renewables can't do better! ' To quote three …
Critics of renewable energy sources like wind and solar claim that they are inefficient, unreliable and need to be backed up by coal and gas, writes David Elliott. But we have the technology to match green power supply and demand at affordable cost without fossil fuels - by deploying the 'smart grid', using 'green gas' made from surplus power, and raising energy efficiency.
… David Elliott | 6th May 2016 Comment Energy Renewables Wind Solar UK Technology Efficiency … in which large contributions from variable renewables can be balanced - so it's not a … from wind and solar. The variable output from renewables, with too much being produced …
From Australia to the UK, governments are pinning their hopes on 'carbon capture' technology stuck onto coal power stations, writes John Quiggin. But their choice carries a high risk of failure - the smart money is on renewables, energy storage and responsive power grids.
… Only a mug would bet on carbon storage over renewables John Quiggin | 16th January 2015 Comment Energy Renewables Coal Climate Change Technology … high risk of failure - the smart money is on renewables, energy storage and responsive …
We, the signatories of this declaration, are calling on the European Union (EU) to exclude bioenergy from its next Renewable Energy Directive (RED), and thereby stop direct and indirect subsidies for renewable energy from biofuels and wood-burning.
Large-scale bioenergy must be excluded from the EU's renewable energy definition Biofuelwatch co-signatories | 10th February 2016 Comment Biofuels Climate Change Indigenous Peoples EU Law …
In this joint statement to COP21 Amnesty International and Greenpeace International call on all governments to protect human rights by including making respect for human rights an explicit purpose of any agreement, while agreeing to phase out fossil fuels and deliver 100% renewables for all by 2050.
… Change Human Rights COP21 Law Unfccc Energy Renewables solar-aid-cut.jpg In this joint … to phase out fossil fuels and deliver 100% renewables for all by 2050. Climate change is … to phase out fossil fuels and deliver 100% renewables for all by 2050. This joint …
Our current electricity system cannot accept much wind and solar power because they lack the 'inertia' of spinning turbines that stabilises grid voltage, writes Marek Kubik. But that's no reason to limit renewables - there are new, smart solutions ready for deployment.
… | 13th July 2014 Comment Technology Energy Renewables spinning-reserve-cut.jpg Our … Marek Kubik. But that's no reason to limit renewables - there are new, smart solutions … a problem, particularly in places where renewables make up a considerable proportion …
Beyond solar: the renewable energy you've never heard of...
The world's strangest sources of renewable energy Guilia Kapp | 29th October 2019 News Solar Renewable Energy Technology Science And Systems jellyfish-cut.jpg Beyond solar: the renewable energy …
The Apollo Programme proposed this week to make renewable energy cheaper than coal through technological advances is welcome, writes James Dyke. But the real problems are political, not technological. Unless we back the Apollo vision by challenging the power of fossil fuel companies, it can never succeed.
… 'Global Apollo' programme for renewables cannot take off without political … James Dyke | 4th June 2015 Comment Energy Renewables Fossil Fuels Corporations Politics … has launched an 'Apollo programme' for renewables, called Global Apollo . Its mission …
A Spending Bill now under debate in Congress would cut over $100 million from renewable energy, grant extra funds for dumping nuclear waste and fossil fuel research, exempt 'mountain top removal' coal from regulation, and limit the EPA's power to enforce clean water laws.
… US Law Politics Fossil Fuels Nuclear Energy Renewables mtr-wva-cut.jpg A Spending Bill now …
A new high-performance 'aluminum-ion' battery could be the technical breakthrough needed to boost the renewable energy takeover. It's safe, uses abundant low-cost materials, recharges in one minute and withstands many thousands of recharge cycles.
… | 26th April 2015 News Technology Energy Renewables aluminum-cans-cut.jpg A new … As higher proportions of variable output renewables come onto the grid, it's … is currently the 'weak link' that's holding renewables back, owing to their high cost, …
Wave power has a huge part to play in supplying the US with clean, renewable electricity, writes Shalinee Kishore. But to achieve its full potential, we must harness not just the energy of waves, but their predictability - and so so ensure the smooth integration of wave power into the electricity grid.
… Kishore | 14th April 2015 Comment Technology Renewables Oceans USA … potential for future wave farms. Unlike other renewables that require fossil-fuel based … than are currently available to more variable renewables. These profits could also offset …
The surprise removal of tax benefits for investors in community renewable energy schemes - effective from Monday - is unlawful and must be reversed, states a legal letter to the Treasury. But meanwhile, investments in the sector have hit record levels, with two days still to go.
… Osborne's community renewables tax 'unlawful' The Ecologist | 27th November 2015 News Energy Finance Renewables Law Politics UK Community …
The UK's troubled Hinkley C nuclear power station faces a legal challenge from Germany's biggest energy co-op, which claims that the subsidy package will distort energy markets across Europe and disadvantage renewable generators and vendors.
… Far higher subsidies to nuclear than to renewables Last October the EU Commission … that the government is cutting back on renewables that are increasingly competitive … Renewable Energies Act (EEG) to foster renewables are likely to rise because the …
NASA scientist James Hansen is heading to COP21 in Paris to berate climate campaigners for failing to support 'safe and environmentally-friendly nuclear power', writes Jim Green. But they would gladly support nuclear power if only it really was safe and environment friendly. In fact, it's a very dangerous and hugely expensive distraction from the real climate solutions.
… fuel burning". Kharecha and Hansen ignore renewables and energy efficiency, setting up a … and routine emissions are considered, renewables are clearly safer than either … and security risks don't apply to renewables. Yet Hansen falsely claims that …
As world leaders convene in Paris for the COP21 climate summit, the major task before them is to replace fossil energy generation with renewables, writes Paul N Edwards - and with the right incentives, it could happen fast. For developing countries it's different: they could skip over fossil fuels much as they have gone straight for mobile telephony. But will they seize the opportunity?
… | 30th November 2015 News Energy COP21 Renewables Technology urban-power-cut.jpg As … is to replace fossil energy generation with renewables, writes Paul N Edwards - and with … and China, have made major commitments to renewables. Germany now gets over 25% of its …
What's the new 'big thing' in energy? Of course, cheap, abundant solar power is very new and very big. But to make it work on a really large scale we need to be able to store its energy to use when we need it, not just when the sun is shining. Soon the batteries will be there to make that possible - at a price we can afford. And that will be a very big thing, indeed.
… Batteries and renewables - believe the hype! Helle … Energydesk | 5th November 2015 Comment Energy Renewables Technology USA UK … off stateside, and not just because of renewables, but also because grids want ways …
Batteries may have a big role in balancing future power grids, writes Sean Meyn, enabling more wind and solar generation. But until we go beyond 50% renewables, we don't need them. Instead we can adjust the demand of power hungry appliances to what's available every moment of the day.
… Sean Meyn | 28th July 2015 Comment Energy Renewables Technology USA … solar generation. But until we go beyond 50% renewables, we don't need them. Instead we can …
The government is set to ban local authorities and their £14 billion pension funds divesting from companies they deem unethical, writes J W Bode. The law will specifically forbid divestment from fossil fuels - and that could put the pensions of future public sector retirees at risk.
… from oil and gas, and instead investing in renewables, they will be putting these funds … but sensible, considered or long-term. The renewables vs fossil fuels debate has often … no longer a safe investment, while solar and renewables are getting close to grid parity - …
New technologies are coming on stream that can turn sunlight and wind into liquid fuels for vehicles, homes or power plants, writes Chris Goodall. And by powering the process using 'free' renewable energy on sunny or windy days, the fuel will be as green as can be, and cost less than petroleum.
… | 22nd August 2016 Comment Energy Technology Renewables Oil Fossil Fuels solar-cut.jpg New …
Renewable electricity is already undermining the big energy utilities' business model, writes Emma Howard, breaking their monopoly and bringing down energy bills. But with the unfolding battery revolution, it's going to reach a whole new level as wind and solar powered families and communities become ever more self-sufficient, leaving utilities high and dry.
… revolution empowers consumers, unleashes renewables, imperils Big Energy Emma Howard … Energydesk | 15th July 2016 News Energy Renewables Green Economy Economics Technology …
Dynamic power pricing that responds to supply and demand could transform the way we manage our electricity systems, writes Claire Maugham, opening the door to the mass integration of renewables like wind and solar. But smart meters are essential to making that happen.
… Maugham | 3rd April 2017 Comment Energy Renewables Technology UK smart-meters-cut.jpg … opening the door to the mass integration of renewables like wind and solar. But smart …
Nuclear power was originally sold on a lie, writes Dave Elliott. While we were being told it would make electricity 'too cheap to meter', insiders knew it cost at least 50% more than conventional generation. Since then nuclear costs have only risen, while renewable energy prices are on a steep decline. And now the nuclear behemoths are crumbling ... not a moment too soon.
… Elliott | 12th April 2017 News Energy Nuclear Renewables Technology UK France Finland Japan … against cheap gas and increasingly cheap renewables. The nuclear industry still has … As nuclear power grows more costly, renewables prices plunge Cost reduction is …