The energy transition in Tanzania is underway

In the north, we increasingly live in a digital world. It is happening in many places as explained by Kizito Makoye, from the Thomson Reuters Foundation on the zilient.org website. Tanzania is seeing significant developments in the use of smart phones for digital payments for electricity. Mobile power payments and smart meters plug in … Continue reading The energy transition in Tanzania is underway →

Indian Railways expected to step up its renewable energy initiatives

Regularly we are reading about the sustainable energy transition in India. Recent developments are definitely impressive. Rachita Prasad writes on the Economic Times website about how even railways are getting involved. Railways may get renewable energy push under Piyush Goyal Indian Railways is expected to step up its renewable energy initiatives under new minister … Continue reading Indian Railways expected to step up its renewable energy initiatives →

Cities and the need to address climate change

While noting that cities are increasingly playing an important role, the authors worry that many cities are dangerously complacent about the need for speed in decarbonisation. Brendan F.D. Barrett, Senior Lecturer at RMIT University in Australia and Andrew DeWit, Professor, School of Policy Studies at Rikkyo University in Japan explain their views in an article … Continue reading Cities and the need to address climate change →

World Sustainable Energy Days 2018 – Young Researchers Conference and Award: Energy Efficiency and Biomass

The World Sustainable Energy Days organisers have announced the upcoming programme for the Young Researchers Conference and Award: Energy Efficiency and Biomass. Dedicated to the next generation of professionals and experts, the two conference tracks present the work and achievements of young researchers in the fields of biomass and energy efficiency. The Young Researchers Conference … Continue reading World Sustainable Energy Days 2018 – Young Researchers Conference and Award: Energy Efficiency and Biomass →

Important new study on world energy demand

The quality assurance and risk management company DNV GL has just published its Energy Transition Outlook. Kelvin Ross reviews the report on the Power Engineering International website. World energy demand to plateau from 2030 says DNV GL report Energy efficiency will improve faster than global economic growth due to the rapid electrification of the … Continue reading Important new study on world energy demand →

Understanding nitrogen dioxide impact

We read daily about air quality issues in our cities in particular. David Metz, Honorary Professor of Transport Studies at University College London (UCL) provides a good commentary on some of the key concerns. NO₂ – not as bad as we thought? Air pollution has been found to cause hundreds of thousands of deaths … Continue reading Understanding nitrogen dioxide impact →

Calls for more effort to address fuel poverty in Scotland

It is worrisome that 748,000 individuals and families in Scotland spend more than 10 per cent of their income on heating. Sean Bell writes on the CommonSpace website about recent developments to push for more support from the Scottish government. Opposition parties demand further action on fuel poverty Scottish Green energy spokesperson Mark Russell, … Continue reading Calls for more effort to address fuel poverty in Scotland →

Why improving energy performance of buildings in Canada will help meet Paris climate obligations

Karen Tam Wu and Julia Langer write an important article on the Policy Options website, calling for bold action in Canada’s buildings sector. This may be about Canada but it is a message for all of us. Shifting to energy-efficient homes and buildings will help us reach our 2030 Paris Agreement target, and it … Continue reading Why improving energy performance of buildings in Canada will help meet Paris climate obligations →

There is a need to better understand the solar industry

According to Chelsea Harvey, writing in the Washington Post, there has been an on-going underestimation of the expansion of solar energy and that could have serious policy implications. What do you think? We’ve been underestimating the solar industry’s momentum. That could be a big problem. Analysts have been underestimating the expansion of solar energy … Continue reading There is a need to better understand the solar industry →

How to re-invigorate improving energy performance of commercial buildings

We have much to do to improve the energy performance of all our buildings. Bert Valdman, president of Seattle-based Optimum Energy writes on the Sustainable Brands website about what it can take to “spark progress” in improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. Building Energy Efficiency Has Stalled — Here’s How to Spark Progress … Continue reading How to re-invigorate improving energy performance of commercial buildings →