Our energy transition: “Balcony power is another piece in the puzzle”

Stephen Burgen writes on the Guardian website about balcony solar power. Balcony solar panels can save 30% on a typical household’s electricity bill and, with vertical surface area in cities larger than roof space, the appeal is clear. Are you next? ‘If 1.5m Germans have them there must be something in it’: how balcony … Continue reading Our energy transition: “Balcony power is another piece in the puzzle” →

‘Agrivoltaics’ is not new, but is growing in popularity

Using the same piece of land for both solar and agriculture is known as "agrivoltaics." But there are several options as seen in Alberta. Pigs are used to eat the weeds under the solar panels. So are sheep. The other option is to grow crops. In Alberta there are several experiments underway to find the … Continue reading ‘Agrivoltaics’ is not new, but is growing in popularity →

How Solar Power Can Deliver Water Savings, Farm Success, and a Healthier Environment

The Union of Concerned Scientists have published a new fact sheet on the Maven’s Notebook website that focuses on how agrivoltaic and ecovoltaic solar energy systems can increase renewable energy production, reduce agricultural water use, and provide financial benefits for landowners and farmers. UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS: The benefits of integrating solar energy with … Continue reading How Solar Power Can Deliver Water Savings, Farm Success, and a Healthier Environment →

China continues to lead the world in wind and solar, with twice as much capacity under construction as the rest of the world combined

China is cementing its position as the global leader in renewables development with180 GW of utility-scale solar and 159 GW of wind power already under construction. The total of the two is nearly twice as much as the rest of the world combined, and enough to power all of South Korea, according to new data … Continue reading China continues to lead the world in wind and solar, with twice as much capacity under construction as the rest of the world combined →

Research that wind and solar projects will be more cost effective than hydropower by 2030 in Africa

In an article on The Conversation website, Angelo Carlino, Postdoctoral Fellow, Carnegie Science; Andrea Castelletti, Full Professor, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Systems Analysis, Polytechnic University of Milan, Polytechnic University of Milan; and Rafael Schmitt, Lead Scientist, Natural Capital Project, Stanford University write about why Africa should put much more focus on solar and wind … Continue reading Research that wind and solar projects will be more cost effective than hydropower by 2030 in Africa →

Australia’s energy transition – electricity generated by solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest

Graham Readfearn writes on the Guardian website about recent analysis showing that solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest options in Australia. Analysis shows that small modular nuclear reactors would provide most expensive power and will not be available until 2030. What are your views? Note that CSIRO is the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research … Continue reading Australia’s energy transition – electricity generated by solar and on-shore wind is the cheapest →

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 →

Large majority of EU member states will hit 2030 solar targets ahead of schedule

New data from the SolarPower Europe lobby group shows that a large majority of EU member states will hit their 2030 solar targets ahead of schedule. Victor Jack discusses the results in an article on the Politico website. EU blindsided by ‘spectacular’ solar rollout Explosive growth in solar power means most EU countries will … Continue reading Large majority of EU member states will hit 2030 solar targets ahead of schedule →

Investments into solar look set to exceed that of oil production for the first time ever

A news item on the Deutsche Welle website discusses latest analysis by the IEA that investments into solar look set to exceed that of oil production for the first time ever, with more than $1.7trn set to be funnelled into clean energy solutions in 2023. Solar power investment overtakes oil for first time The … Continue reading Investments into solar look set to exceed that of oil production for the first time ever →

Solar is now growing much faster than any other energy technology in history

Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University, writes on The Conversation website arguing that the rise and rise of cheap solar is our best hope for rapidly mitigating climate change. Do you agree? Despairing about climate change? These 4 charts on the unstoppable growth of solar may change your mind Last year, the … Continue reading Solar is now growing much faster than any other energy technology in history →