A citizens’ project in France called Bégawatts

First France became the big advocate of négawatts throughout France and Europe and now it brings us Bégawatts, a citizen-led renewable energy initiative eventually grew into a nationwide movement piloted by an association called Energie Partagée (Shared Energy). Heidi Ellison explains in an article on the Sparknews website. In France, harnessing the (renewable) energy … Continue reading A citizens’ project in France called Bégawatts →

“Antique” smart meters in UK will slow down roll out of electric vehicles

The roll out of smart meters in the UK has been complicated, slow and expensive (about 14 billion euros at last estimate). But the old generation of smart meters is an obsolete technology with limited functions. For the most part they do not even allow switching providers, further complicating the market. Andrew Warren of the … Continue reading “Antique” smart meters in UK will slow down roll out of electric vehicles →

A novel way the Dutch are addressing road congestion: consider paying people to cycle to work

Harry Cockburn explains in an article in The Independent about new measures to encourage cycling in The Netherlands. The Dutch government wants to encourage people to cycle 'three billion kilometres more' than at present. Netherlands considering paying people to cycle to work in effort to cut road congestion The Dutch government is encouraging companies to … Continue reading A novel way the Dutch are addressing road congestion: consider paying people to cycle to work →

The “revolutionary” material graphene used to produce batteries that charge significantly faster than lithium-ion batteries

There is growing excitement about a new battery using graphene that can charge 12-times faster than current lithium-ion batteries. Anthony Cuthbertson explains in an article on The Independent website. Graphene battery charges in just five minutes Billions of pounds have been poured into research of the "revolutionary" material graphene, though few real-world applications have so … Continue reading The “revolutionary” material graphene used to produce batteries that charge significantly faster than lithium-ion batteries →

Growing number of Republicans in US calling for greater action to address climate change

Brad Plumer writes in the New York Times about what he calls a “growing chorus of Senate Republicans, conservative taxpayer groups and corporate executives” urging President Trump to make a greater effort to address climate change. Why Republicans are backing an Obama-era climate policy This is not something you see every day: Over the past … Continue reading Growing number of Republicans in US calling for greater action to address climate change →

Expanding the use of renewable technologies for shipping

Greg Atkinson writes on the Japan Forward website about a new eco ship project to reduce the amount of fuel used for both propulsion and for electrical power. Aquarius Eco Ship Project: Japanese Companies Push for Renewable Energy in Vessels In April this year the International Maritime Organization (IMO) outlined its vision to reduce … Continue reading Expanding the use of renewable technologies for shipping →

New pilot project to use ammonia as new form of energy storage

Regularly we are hearing about new developments in energy storage. Adam Vaughan writes in The Guardian about a pilot project by Siemens in Oxfordshire to use ammonia for energy storage. Siemens hopes to better conventional batteries to store renewably generated power. Siemens pilots the use of ammonia for green energy storage A chemical compound … Continue reading New pilot project to use ammonia as new form of energy storage →

New development to remove carbon from atmosphere and turn it into a fuel

We are seeing energy transition innovations in many areas. Bob Weber from The Canadian Press writes on the National News Watch website about a new process to remove carbon from the atmosphere for one-third the cost of other companies working on the same technology. What are your views? Looking to the sky: B.C. company … Continue reading New development to remove carbon from atmosphere and turn it into a fuel →

Australia finds that more rooftop solar PV adopted by middle class households

Australia now has the highest penetration of residential rooftop PV of any country in the world. Adam McHugh, Honorary Research Associate at Murdoch University explains in an article on The Conversation website that new research suggests that the households most likely to join in the solar spree are those that are affluent enough to afford … Continue reading Australia finds that more rooftop solar PV adopted by middle class households →

Latest update on climate mitigation finance

The SDG Knowledge Hub of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides the May update on global developments in climate mitigation finance. Climate Mitigation Finance Update: Carbon Pricing Gains Traction, Banks Update Policies to Support Low-carbon Transition Reports released May and early June 2018 show, among other developments, that: mitigation finance provided by … Continue reading Latest update on climate mitigation finance →