Pushing green energy in France

Marion Douet writes for the Reuters news agency about the important but difficult role of local government to push for a greater share of green energy in France, given how centralised electricity production is. France needs more local power for green energy shift Centralised France may lack the clout at local government level to … Continue reading Pushing green energy in France →

Health effects from wind farms

Andrew Gilligan of The Telegraph writes about the first peer-reviewed scientific study on the health effects from the noise of wind farms. Wind farm noise does harm sleep and health, say scientists American and British researchers compared two groups of residents in the US state of Maine. One group lived within a mile of a … Continue reading Health effects from wind farms →

Inside the Brussels beltway

Here are updates on some of the on-going issues in Brussels. Ecodesign For those interested in Ecodesign and products, the 2012-2014 Working Plan, which was to have been published already, is still not available. In May EiD was told that it was still in inter-service consultation and it had been hoped it would have been … Continue reading Inside the Brussels beltway →

India promoting solar energy at colleges

The Times of India provides a good review of the efforts underway in Tamil Nadu to ensure solar energy plays a bigger role. Colleges told to meet 6% of needs through solar energy In a desperate effort to tide over the acute power shortage, the Tamil Nadu government has made it mandatory for high-tension consumers … Continue reading India promoting solar energy at colleges →

EU revisiting biofuels

Reuters news agency provides a good description of the changes underway to renewable energy policy which has given a high priority to the deployment of biofuels. The new proposals have been watered down in a way that have not pleased many stakeholders. Biofuels: EU weakens proposals to reduce indirect climate impact Fuel suppliers will … Continue reading EU revisiting biofuels →

The difficult road to a renewable energy world

Guest blogger, Kurt Cobb, recently wrote in the Christian Science Monitor about the difficulties there will be in transforming away from a fossil-fuel-based world. This is an excellent article that should not be missed. The clunky, lagging transition to renewable energy History suggests that it can take up to 50 years to replace an … Continue reading The difficult road to a renewable energy world →

Renewables in Bulgaria

A blog by Andrew MacDowall in the Financial Times explains the dilemma facing Bulgaria as the government cut support for renewable energy retroactively. Bulgaria: renewables price cut dispute could spook investors Drastic retroactive cuts in the fees paid to renewable energy producers in Bulgaria has prompted a furious reaction from what was a fast-growing … Continue reading Renewables in Bulgaria →

Getting the youth to give their opinions

It is encouraging to see the effort underway in Australia. Laura Nelson of Sun Community Newspapers writes about an initiative to get students to provide their views on the future of federal renewable energy policies in Australia. Youth comment on renewable energy GRIFFITH University students are having their say on the Federal Government's renewable … Continue reading Getting the youth to give their opinions →

Important tools to help success in the renewables industry

David Worthington writes for Smart Planet about the role insurance can play to promote the deployment of renewable energy. Insurance: the key to renewable energy success? Many banks are wary to finance renewable energy projects, and that hesitation can stall or even stop new projects. Insurers have stepped in to help mitigate the risks … Continue reading Important tools to help success in the renewables industry →

Preparing for the next World Sustainable Energy Days conference, February-March 2013

The next WSED conference will present the work and achievements of young researchers in the field of biomass and in the field of energy efficiency. It will be held as one of the conferences of the World Sustainable Energy Days 2013 from 27 February - 1 March 2013 in Wels/Austria. With more than 800 participants every year, the World … Continue reading Preparing for the next World Sustainable Energy Days conference, February-March 2013 →