Virgin Atlantic’s ‘Jet Zero’ fuel may not be travel’s green future – it is more “a smoke-and-mirrors exercise to convince governments that SAF will enable aviation to continue its relentless growth on a sustainable basis”

The first transatlantic flight powered only by sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) took off from Heathrow airport this week. Airlines are pinning their hopes on SAF to slash emissions as they try to decarbonise flying before new electric and hydrogen-powered options are developed. In an article on The Conversation website, Gareth Dale, Reader in Political Economy, … Continue reading Virgin Atlantic’s ‘Jet Zero’ fuel may not be travel’s green future – it is more “a smoke-and-mirrors exercise to convince governments that SAF will enable aviation to continue its relentless growth on a sustainable basis”

China is “badly off track” when it comes to controlling coal-fired capacity and also meeting energy intensity targets for 2025

A Reuters news agency article by David Stanway discusses a new report that China's renewable energy sector to meet climate goals is being undermined by continued coal capacity expansion and a rapid rise in energy consumption.   China's progress on renewables to meet climate goals undermined by coal expansion-research Fast growth in China's renewable energy … Continue reading China is “badly off track” when it comes to controlling coal-fired capacity and also meeting energy intensity targets for 2025

Key issues that will dominate COP28

In an article on The Conversation website, Rachel Kyte, Visiting Professor of Government, University of Oxford provides an excellent overview of the important issues that will dominate COP28.   COP28 begins: 4 issues that will determine if the UN climate summit is a success, from methane to money The United Nations climate conference is underway … Continue reading Key issues that will dominate COP28

Backed by the EU, Namibia has a $20 billion plan to export green hydrogen

For Namibia, green hydrogen could be transformative. Backed by the EU, Namibia has a $20 billion plan to export green hydrogen. A secretive tender process raises concerns for nature and citizens. In an article on the Climate Home News website, John Grobler, Joe Lo and Matteo Civillini discuss how the EU is supporting the development … Continue reading Backed by the EU, Namibia has a $20 billion plan to export green hydrogen

Micro wind turbines designed to look like trees are addressing some of the challenges of green energy

This nature-inspired ‘wind tree’ can produce renewable energy in urban environments. Angela Symons discusses these ‘wind trees’ in an article on the Euronews website.   Could ‘wind trees’ with micro turbines be a solution to green energy in tight urban spaces? From community solar farms to co-owned wind turbines, eco-inventors are coming up with new … Continue reading Micro wind turbines designed to look like trees are addressing some of the challenges of green energy

Energy in Demand News, November 12th, 2023

When you Google for social media and climate change, you see links on how it positively helps create awareness on the climate and you see others quite negative especially when there is deliberate misinformation. It was surprising this week to see an article in the Financial Times (behind a paywall) that Shell is tapping gamers … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 12th, 2023

New EEA report on the urgent need to prioritise the use of biomass

There are increasing and competing demands for using biomass in the EU, using it for bio-based products in sectors such as construction, energy, transport, furniture and textile industries, but also reserving it for nature conservation and carbon sequestration. The European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published recently, stresses that there is an urgent need to prioritise … Continue reading New EEA report on the urgent need to prioritise the use of biomass

Energy in Demand News, November 5th, 2023

The negotiations taking place before a climate conference are always complicated. This is proving true this year as well. The Financial Times reports (behind a paywall) that western countries have clashed with Saudi Arabia over the role it should play to “kick-start a UN fund to help poorer countries deal with the loss and damage … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, November 5th, 2023

Hydropower players are forming an alliance in EU as the industry suffers from slow growth due to green concerns and a challenging investment environment

Nikolaus J. Kurmayer writes on the Euractiv website about how the hydropower sector is facing many challenges and are arguing that a European hydropower strategy is needed.   Europe’s oldest renewables industry wants more attention from Brussels The EU’s biggest hydropower players have gathered to form an alliance and are asking for aid from Brussels … Continue reading Hydropower players are forming an alliance in EU as the industry suffers from slow growth due to green concerns and a challenging investment environment

The EU’s European Innovation Council Tech Report 2023 is published

The European Innovation Council operates at the forefront of scientific and technological developments. This ambition is underlined by the EIC Tech Report 2023 highlights novel technologies and innovations submitted to the EIC under Horizon Europe. The report has an emphasis on early-stage research projects, funded following extensive independent expert review. It also includes some areas … Continue reading The EU’s European Innovation Council Tech Report 2023 is published