It’s a nuclear future for France’s energy transition

France’s latest Energy Bill has sparked controversy as it prioritises nuclear power over renewables. Dimitris Mavrokefalidis discusses France’s new energy bill in an article on the Energy Live News website. France shifts focus: Nuclear over renewables in new Energy Bill France faces criticism for its new Energy Bill prioritising nuclear power over renewables, omitting … Continue reading It’s a nuclear future for France’s energy transition →

What we can learn by looking to the past as we confront an uncertain future – lessons from ancient Roman wine production

In an article on The Conversation website, Dimitri Van Limbergen, Postdoctoral Researcher, Ghent University discusses the lessons that can be learned for addressing climate change from ancient Romans in the way they grew grapes for their wine production. Ancient Roman wine production may hold clues for battling climate change It is no secret that … Continue reading What we can learn by looking to the past as we confront an uncertain future – lessons from ancient Roman wine production →

Transforming energy demand

A set of business actions aimed at reducing the intensity of energy demand could unlock annual savings of at least $2 trillion for the global economy. A news item on the Modern Diplomacy website discusses a new report of the World Economic Forum on the transforming energy demand initiative. Action on Energy Demand Could … Continue reading Transforming energy demand →

Energy in Demand News, January 7, 2024

With the devastation of floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, forest fires and more, we know much more needs to be done to mitigate GHG emissions. Many commentators were concerned after COP28 last year that there was no sense of urgency. Read once more the comment from Fiona Harvey, published on EiD in December, on the need for … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 7, 2024 →

Upcoming events

There are two important events coming soon. If you attend, please let us know your experience. * Australia's 2024 Energy Efficiency National Conference On 15-16 May, the Energy Efficiency Council’s EEC National Conference will bring Australian and international experts together with policy makers, industry, NGOs and consumer groups to share ideas \ crucial for … Continue reading Upcoming events →

Bringing off-grid, pay-as-you-go power to Africa

Mansoor Hamayun, the co-founder and chief executive of Bboxx, started out with a university project to bring solar power to a few villages in Rwanda. Now he is set to expand tenfold across sub-Saharan Africa. In an article on the Guardian website, Jillian Ambrose discusses what Mr. Hamayun is trying to achieve. ‘Electricity is … Continue reading Bringing off-grid, pay-as-you-go power to Africa →

Many nations agree that a binding treaty on plastic pollution is critical to solving the plastic pollution problem

As most of us were focussing on COP28 in Dubai, there was also much happening on plastic waste and the implications for energy consumption. In November 2023, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution met in Nairobi, Kenya, for the third negotiating round of a planned five sessions. Not that much headway was made. The … Continue reading Many nations agree that a binding treaty on plastic pollution is critical to solving the plastic pollution problem →

New generation of wind turbines built with wood

When we think of wood and Sweden together, we think of Ikea most often. Now we will other reasons. Jonah Fisher writes on the BBC News website about wind turbines being built out of wood. Who would ever have guessed that? World's tallest wooden wind turbine starts turning What is made from the same … Continue reading New generation of wind turbines built with wood →

Time for agriculture to get into the digital world – traditional agricultural practices are unsustainable

In an article on The Conversation website, Istvan David, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, McMaster University explains that thanks to automation, controlled environments achieve better yield and quality than traditional farming settings, while also reducing waste. How digital twins will enable the next generation of precision agriculture Drastic climate change and overpopulation have rendered traditional … Continue reading Time for agriculture to get into the digital world – traditional agricultural practices are unsustainable →

Op-Ed on Small Modular Reactors in Britain

Steve Thomas, Emeritus Professor of Energy Policy at the University of Greenwich provided an excellent opinion column on the SMR programme on the Business Green website. Steve has been a researcher in the area of energy policy for over twenty-five years. He specialises in the economics and policy of nuclear power. What are your views? … Continue reading Op-Ed on Small Modular Reactors in Britain →