Important demonstration of grid-scale storage battery

The Renewable Energy Focus website provides details on a recent two-year storage trial that hopefully can prove to be an important element of the energy transition. Storage is becoming increasingly important. It is also encouraging that in the European Commission’s winter package that storage was given a higher priority. This was welcome by the European … Continue reading Important demonstration of grid-scale storage battery →

Concerns that smoke-free cookstoves are not having the health benefits once thought

The energy transition means different things to different people. Many in developing countries depend on basic cookstoves. There are efforts to improve the efficiency and reduce emissions but a recent study shows that the quality of the cookstove is not making as much difference as once thought. Victoria Gill explains on the BBC website.   … Continue reading Concerns that smoke-free cookstoves are not having the health benefits once thought →

Stopping the dumping of high sulphur diesel

Europe has increasing stringent environmental regulations. It is unfortunate that diesel fuel it cannot use itself because of high sulphur content is shipped abroad to be used by others. It is encouraging to read the article in The Guardian by Alice Ross that several African countries are now refusing to allow such “dumping.”   Five … Continue reading Stopping the dumping of high sulphur diesel →

Huge protection gap as a result of rising impact of climate risks

Mark Kinver writes an important article on the BBC News website about a recent study that shows that the insurance sector’s role as society’s risk manager is under threat, given the increased threat from climate change. It will be interesting to know how policymakers respond to this important issue.   Climate protection gap widening, warns … Continue reading Huge protection gap as a result of rising impact of climate risks →

“Huge variations in performance” in levels of carbon efficiency among the world’s 2,000 largest listed firms

Luke Nicholls and Alex Baldwin provide an important article on the edie.net website about the large gap between the worst and best-performing businesses on energy efficiency. This was a global study.   Energy efficiency: 'Champions and dunces' exist in every industry The world's largest listed companies could save 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 - the … Continue reading “Huge variations in performance” in levels of carbon efficiency among the world’s 2,000 largest listed firms →

Potential impact of energy efficiency improvements on SMEs

Alex Baldwin has written a good article on the edie.net website about the benefits that Scottish SMEs could achieve if they gave improving energy efficiency a higher priority.   Scottish SMEs could save £19,000 per year through energy efficiency measures Scottish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are wasting £19,000 every year by neglecting simple energy … Continue reading Potential impact of energy efficiency improvements on SMEs →

Reflections on the European Commission’s ‘winter package’

Louise Sunderland, an independent consultant and a member of the Energy Advice Exchange, has written this important article on her initial reaction to having read the Commission’s winter package, entitled ‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’ that was published on November 30th. We would now like to get your views.   Commission’s Winter Package: “consumers are … Continue reading Reflections on the European Commission’s ‘winter package’ →

New infographic on what energy efficiency means to the Paris climate agreement

The ValueWalk website provides an interesting new infographic on the importance of energy efficiency within the Paris climate agreement. The infographic was prepared by Fuel Fighter. What do you think?   The Paris Agreement – Global Energy Efficiency [INFOGRAPHIC] Controlling and minimizing energy use is a top priority of governments around the world. Its already … Continue reading New infographic on what energy efficiency means to the Paris climate agreement →

Health agency calls for more serious efforts to reduce urban air pollution

Every week we are reading more and more about the harmful impact of air pollution. Now health experts in Britain are calling on local authorities to take more active efforts through the use of variable speed limits, removal of speed bumps and ‘no idling’ zones near schools amongst many other recommendations. Kevin Rawlinson provides a … Continue reading Health agency calls for more serious efforts to reduce urban air pollution →