How would you like a solar garden? It sounds intriguing. Diane Cardwell writes in the New York Times about some community efforts in the US for customers to buy into a solar array constructed elsewhere and receive credit on their electricity bills for the power their panels produce. This could be an interesting approach for … Continue reading Taking a community approach to deploying solar systems
Update on rolling out smart meters
Barbara Lewis writes on the Reuters website about the poor progress of introducing smart meters throughout the EU. The EU risks not reaching the 80% roll out goal by 2020. Europe behind target for energy saving power meters Sixteen of the European Union's 28 nations will go ahead with a large-scale roll out of … Continue reading Update on rolling out smart meters
Concerns in Wales that addressing fuel poverty is falling short
Graham Henry writes in Walesonline about the Older People’s Commissioner of Wales, Sarah Rochira, fears that eliminating fuel poverty by 2018 is unrealistic. Drying toilet paper on radiators and eating only two boiled potatoes a day: Wales will fail to eradicate fuel poverty by 2018, fears Older People’s Commissioner Retaining a target to eradicate … Continue reading Concerns in Wales that addressing fuel poverty is falling short
UK’s Green Investment Bank wants greater manoeuvrability
The Green Investment Bank created in 2012, has been getting headlines for its investments in offshore wind projects together with others for energy efficiency. Only this week, it announced plans to launch a £1 billion offshore wind fund as well as support for small businesses to invest in energy efficiency. These efforts are certainly welcome. … Continue reading UK’s Green Investment Bank wants greater manoeuvrability
Question of the week – is the lock in effect a major policy concern?
It would be good to get readers’ views on the “lock in effect” related to the renovation of buildings. The EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive from 2012 requires member states to prepare long-term renovation strategies. In the recital to the Directive it states: Bearing in mind that the Council conclusions of 10 June 2011 on the … Continue reading Question of the week – is the lock in effect a major policy concern?
Tesla throws a challenge to competitors in promoting low-emission vehicles
Recently Tesla Motors has taken a bold step by offering its patents on charging technology to rivals. Henry Foy writes an excellent article in the Financial Times about the possibilities of collaboration. That article is followed by a blog by Matt McFarland in the Washington Post about how overrated patents can be. Electric car … Continue reading Tesla throws a challenge to competitors in promoting low-emission vehicles
China’s moves in the global LED industry
LED lighting has shaken up the lighting industry globally. There are now many big players but China is taking a leading role according to Keith Bradsher in the New York Times. As LED Industry Evolves, China Elbows Ahead A year ago, China’s light-emitting diode industry seemed like a case study of industrial policy gone … Continue reading China’s moves in the global LED industry
New IEA report: World Energy Investment Outlook
The IEA recently published the World Energy Outlook (WEO) 2014 Special Report "World Energy Investment Outlook". Questions about the reliability, affordability and sustainability of our energy future often boil down to questions about investment. But the report questions whether investors are ready to commit capital in a fast-changing energy world? This special report takes up … Continue reading New IEA report: World Energy Investment Outlook
The difficulties in developing clean energy
This article by Gary Brodeur in the Victorville Daily Press in the California highlights the difficulties and frustrations in developing renewable energy projects. Clean energy proving harder to capture than expected As the developer of a solar power plant sweats getting approval by deadline, some nearby residents hope it never gets built at all. It’s … Continue reading The difficulties in developing clean energy
Employment impact from investment in energy efficiency
Pennie Varvarides writes in the website Lighting about the jobs safeguarded in Wales due to recent investment in energy efficiency. Energy efficiency push secures thousands of jobs At least 1,500 private sector jobs have been safeguarded in Wales thanks to investment in energy efficiency. These figures were revealed today by the Carbon Trust’s Wales … Continue reading Employment impact from investment in energy efficiency
