Nova Scotia backtracks on promoting renewable energy

In a week when the provincial regulator demanded that the provincial electricity utility spend more on energy efficiency programmes we find the province cutting a popular renewable energy subsidy scheme, in an article written by Carol Linnett on the DESMOGCANADA website. Nova Scotia Pulls Plug on World’s First Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff A popular … Continue reading Nova Scotia backtracks on promoting renewable energy →

Balancing national politics and the need to decarbonise in the UK

The Financial Times provided a very good editorial this week about the Conservative government’s path from environmental trailblazers to considering it a faddish agenda. It will be curious to see the stance that the British government takes at the global climate summit later this year in Paris. A positive plan is needed to decarbonise … Continue reading Balancing national politics and the need to decarbonise in the UK →

Obama’s Clean Power Plan good for renewable energy

Every day we are reading more on the impact of Obama’s recently announced Clean Power Plan. Chris Mooney provides a good article in the Washington Post about the impact on the wind industry. The boom in wind energy couldn’t be coming at a better time The Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, released last week, … Continue reading Obama’s Clean Power Plan good for renewable energy →

Will wind and solar generators end up as victims of their own success?

Pilita Clark writes an interesting article in the Financial Times about the dynamics of the renewable energy sector. She argues that there could be a need for subsidies to last longer than expected. Renewable energy sector runs the risk of overpowering market Another day, another billion-dollar renewable energy deal. That has been the story … Continue reading Will wind and solar generators end up as victims of their own success? →

Getting energy utilities more involved in sustainable energy

Priya Barua and Joshua Ryor write a good blog on the World Resources Institute. They write that a growing number of companies want utilities to provide access to long-term, fixed price renewable energy. Utilities that deliver are able to retain large customers, attract new ones and drive economic growth. An Opportunity for Cooperative Clean … Continue reading Getting energy utilities more involved in sustainable energy →

Norway wants to play role of balancing Europe’s electricity supply and demand

Paul Brown writes a good article on the Climate New Network website about how hydraulic engineers in Norway aim to use surplus power from wind and sun to cut the need for fossil fuel plants to boost European electricity supplies. This is an important role as Europe increases its generating capacity based on renewables. Norway pumps up … Continue reading Norway wants to play role of balancing Europe’s electricity supply and demand →

Business starts to raise concerns about UK government’s reduction of subsidies for renewable energy

Pilita Clark writes a good article in the Financial Times about Siemens’ concerns about the British government’s scrapping of many subsidies for renewable energy. They worry that “doubt and uncertainty discourages investment decisions” Siemens weighs into UK green energy row One of the world’s biggest industrial conglomerates has weighed into a row about green … Continue reading Business starts to raise concerns about UK government’s reduction of subsidies for renewable energy →

Setting up the infrastructure for electric vehicles

The Guardian provided a good article on the Australian state of Queensland’s first solar-powered fast-charging station is to be built in Townsville, and the government is offering small businesses a plan to help reduce costs. Queensland plans 1,600km string of fast-charging stations for electric cars Queensland wants to build a string of charging stations … Continue reading Setting up the infrastructure for electric vehicles →

REN 21 Global Status Report for 2015

First released in 2005, REN21’s Renewables Global Status Report (GSR) provides a comprehensive and timely overview of renewable energy market, industry, investment and policy developments worldwide. It enables policymakers, industry, investors and civil society to make informed decisions. The Renewables Global Status Report relies on up-to-date renewable energy data, provided by an international network of … Continue reading REN 21 Global Status Report for 2015 →

Micro-hydro schemes offer good job opportunities

James Meadway explains in the Guardian that micro-hydro energy schemes in Britain offer significant opportunities to regenerate deprived areas, but they must overcome start-up costs and declining subsidies. Small scale hydropower can provide stream of new jobs to rural regions Micro-hydro, the generation of electricity from small streams, has begun to take off in … Continue reading Micro-hydro schemes offer good job opportunities →