Power to the people

Recently I read a book by Michael Pye about how the North Sea made us who we are (okay both my parents were born near the North Sea). The book is a charming account about the interactions amongst the various communities over the centuries and how much it has shaped Europe. Now we have Joshua … Continue reading Power to the people →

Energy transition underway: offshore wind proving its worth

We are seeing more and more how many renewable energy technologies are able to compete effectively against conventional energy sources. Stanley Reed reviews in the New York Times how offshore wind is making important gains. The cost reductions in recent years are impressive. It is hard to imagine that the nuclear industry is seeing the … Continue reading Energy transition underway: offshore wind proving its worth →

Nestlé joins other major companies to invest in sustainable energy

Corporations investing in sustainable energy is no longer a PR exercise as it may have been a decade or so ago. It is now showing that the renewable energy sector is mainstream. Pilita Clark writes a good column in the Financial Times about a major investment in wind power by the world's leading nutrition, health … Continue reading Nestlé joins other major companies to invest in sustainable energy →

China is world’s top wind installer but “it just is not able to use it to the max”

Curiously, while it holds the record as the world’s top wind installer, it still does not generate as much electricity as the US. Chelsea Harvey explains why in the Washington Post. Why China is having so many problems ramping up wind power China holds the record as the world’s top wind installer, accounting for … Continue reading China is world’s top wind installer but “it just is not able to use it to the max” →

Wind power policy in Denmark

David Waller writes a good article in the Financial Times on the consensus in Denmark towards wind power and the importance of stability in policies. Denmark considers wind a less volatile option When oil soared to almost $150 a barrel in 2008, the drive to develop new ways to generate renewable energy seemed unstoppable. … Continue reading Wind power policy in Denmark →

Larger wind turbines being deployed in US

Chris Mooney writes a good article in the Washington Post about how costs for wind technology have dropped significantly thus increasing the potential benefits. To take advantage of the growing potential, the size of wind turbines in the US is increasing. Wind turbines are huge, but they’re about to get way, way bigger In … Continue reading Larger wind turbines being deployed in US →

Significant misperceptions in our views on renewable energy subsidies

The Press Association in the UK provides an important news item in The Guardian about how we view energy subsidies, in particular wind power subsidies. Recent polling finds misconceptions around wind power despite popular support for the technology. What other important sustainable energy areas do we have misperceptions about? British public thinks wind power … Continue reading Significant misperceptions in our views on renewable energy subsidies →

How the spread of bigger wind turbines is being boosted in the UK

Pilita Clark explains in the Financial Times how a loophole allows large-sized wind power project developers to take advantage of the feed-in-tariff that had been designed for smaller systems. Wind subsidy loophole boosts spread of bigger turbines A loophole in a popular subsidy scheme for small wind power projects is boosting the spread of … Continue reading How the spread of bigger wind turbines is being boosted in the UK →