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 →

Motorists are increasingly opting for large electric SUVs but the environmental impact of these vehicles should not be underestimated

Laura Lander, Lecturer in Engineering, King's College London and Grazia Todeschini, Reader in Engineering also at King's College London, write on The Conversation website about the environmental impact of large electric vehicles. Why surging sales of large electric vehicles raises environmental red flags Electric cars are getting bigger and heavier. In 2019, 30% of … Continue reading Motorists are increasingly opting for large electric SUVs but the environmental impact of these vehicles should not be underestimated →

Power companies in the US are turning to virtual power plants

In an article on The Conversation website, Daniel Cohan, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, discusses the growing role of virtual power plants as electricity demand is surging. What is a virtual power plant? An energy expert explains After nearly two decades of stagnation, U.S. electricity demand is surging, driven … Continue reading Power companies in the US are turning to virtual power plants →

Solar mystery from early 20th century

In article on The Conversation website, Sugandha Srivastav, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Environmental Economics at the University of Oxford unravels a mystery “what if.” You should enjoy this little-known story. If the first solar entrepreneur hadn’t been kidnapped, would fossil fuels have dominated the 20th century the way they did? One argument put forward … Continue reading Solar mystery from early 20th century →

High temperatures to affect France’s nuclear energy output

Euronews provides a news item on its website about the concerns in France that the high temperatures is affecting water quality in rivers and this will have an impact on its nuclear energy output. With France wanting to build new nuclear power plants in the future, leaving aside the question whether they should be built … Continue reading High temperatures to affect France’s nuclear energy output →

France will reach the level of electricity consumption expected in 2050 as early as 2030-2035

Assuming France achieves its decarbonisation and reindustrialisation targets, electricity consumption could rise to 580-640 TWh by 2035, equivalent to what the grid operator had forecasted for 2050 in its “Future Energy 2050” report published at the end of 2021. In an article on the EURACTIV website, Paul Messad discusses the recent report from France’s electricity … Continue reading France will reach the level of electricity consumption expected in 2050 as early as 2030-2035 →

A strategy to unleash the green energy potential of vacant space in towns and cities should begin – and not end – with car parks

Dylan Ryan, Lecturer in Mechanical & Energy Engineering at Edinburgh Napier University writes on The Conversation website about the benefits of a wider programme to see solar panels installed not only on parking lots but also on derelict or vacant lots. What do you think? France’s plan for solar panels on all car parks … Continue reading A strategy to unleash the green energy potential of vacant space in towns and cities should begin – and not end – with car parks →

Many benefits but expanding solar power in Africa also brings some risks

In an article on The Conversation website, Ben Radley, Lecturer in International Development at the University of Bath provides a thoughtful consideration about risks of financialisation and rising inequality in some models of renewables rollout in Africa. Expanded access to solar power in Africa can stimulate economic development – but there are risks UN … Continue reading Many benefits but expanding solar power in Africa also brings some risks →

Addressing how to achieve ‘net-zero’

A new report by Nick Eyre and Jan Rosenow reiterates that energy and carbon are different problems requiring different solutions. Lloyd Alter writes on the Treehugger website what their report means as we address ‘net-zero.’ Reinventing Energy Efficiency in a Net-Zero World For nigh on 50 years since the Arab oil embargo, energy security … Continue reading Addressing how to achieve ‘net-zero’ →

One of the important levers to curb carbon emissions is improved energy efficiency

Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Schneider Electric makes a strong case for improving energy efficiency in our drive to address climate change in an article for the World Economic Forum on the European Sting website. Do you agree? Why energy efficiency is the unsung hero of the fight against climate change … Continue reading One of the important levers to curb carbon emissions is improved energy efficiency →