“How do we decarbonize the electricity sector, while keeping the lights on, keeping costs low and avoiding unintended consequences that could make emissions increase?”

No one said the sustainable energy transition would be easy. Eduardo Porter writes in the New York Times about some of the bumps along the road.   How Renewable Energy Is Blowing Climate Change Efforts Off Course Is the global effort to combat climate change, painstakingly agreed to in Paris seven months ago, already going … Continue reading “How do we decarbonize the electricity sector, while keeping the lights on, keeping costs low and avoiding unintended consequences that could make emissions increase?” →

The continuing controversy over energy performance certificates in the rental market in Britain

Britain has one of the most progressive policies relating to requiring landlords to upgrade their properties to meet climate and energy goals. Yet, as Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, writes in the July/August issue of Energy in Buildings and Industry magazine, it may be illegal to rent out a building without … Continue reading The continuing controversy over energy performance certificates in the rental market in Britain →

Signals 2016 – Towards green and smart mobility

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has recently published a new report on our evolving transport system. Transport plays a critical role in the way we live. Our food, clothes and household waste all need to be transported, contributing to our economy and quality of life. But the increasing use of planes, cars and other fossil-fuel … Continue reading Signals 2016 – Towards green and smart mobility →

An innovative financing initiative to promote renewable energy

We all welcome new approaches to financing sustainable energy. The Solarcoin website provides a news item on Solarcoin a reward programme, an alternative digital currency that works like air-mile services, that has now been recognised by IRENA.   SolarCoin reward recognized by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) The SolarCoin reward program has been recognized by … Continue reading An innovative financing initiative to promote renewable energy →

The market opportunities for UK energy storage

We all know that there are many important developments underway to improve energy storage technologies. A news item on the Renewable Energy Focus website discusses a new report that makes a series of far-reaching recommendations to level the playing field for rapidly developing energy storage technologies.   New report sets out blueprint for investment in … Continue reading The market opportunities for UK energy storage →

Using drones to promote renewable energy

While there are regulatory issues that will have to be addressed, Julia Pyper writes on the Greentech Media website about the potential for using drones to promote renewable energy. What do you think?   Why Drones Are ‘Game-Changing’ for Renewable Energy Amazon caused quite the stir in 2013 when it announced plans to launch a … Continue reading Using drones to promote renewable energy →

Climate change: the problem is not just the type of energy we are using, it’s what we’re doing with it

This is important summer reading. Jason Hickel, an anthropologist at the London School of Economics, writes a thought-provoking article in The Guardian on what it really takes to effectively address climate change. What do you think?   Clean energy won’t save us – only a new economic system can Earlier this year media outlets around … Continue reading Climate change: the problem is not just the type of energy we are using, it’s what we’re doing with it →

A stark statement on new UK government’s intentions on climate change and energy policy

Everyone is following the developments since Britain voted to leave the EU. New Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that she is merging the Department of Energy and Climate Change with the department responsible for business. Ian Johnston writes in the Independent that it sends a message that she's not remotely bothered about global warming. … Continue reading A stark statement on new UK government’s intentions on climate change and energy policy →

Questions about the energy transition in China

Is there a contradiction in China’s commitment to greater sustainability? Wade Shepard raises the question on the Forbes website about the supposed contradiction between promoting renewable energy – for many environmental benefits – and yet the drive to construct more and more coal-fired power plants. What are your views?   If China Is So Committed … Continue reading Questions about the energy transition in China →