News
News
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Lord Deben confirmed as chair of UK Committee on Climate Change
John Gummer, now Lord Deben, has been confirmed as the new chair of the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) succeeding Lord Turner. Lord Deben served as Environmental Secretary under Prime Minister John Major in the early 1990s. He has strong environmental credentials and has been dubbed “the best Environment Secretary we’ve ever had” by […]
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Scottish Government gives go ahead for Stornoway wind farm
Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing last week gave the go ahead to a 129.6 MW wind farm 1.5 km west of Stornoway. The 36 turbine development, which will be built and operated by Lewis Wind Power Ltd – a joint venture between AMEC and EDF Energy, will generate enough energy to power 60,000 homes and […]
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World’s largest solar project in Arizona leads US solar charge
The world’s largest solar project, First Solar’s Agua Caliente photovoltaic installation under construction in Arizona, has reported a peak generating capacity of 250 MW as the US market goes from strength to strength. When it is completed in 2014 and connected to the grid, the facility, which is owned by NRG Energy and MidAmerican Solar, […]
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Independent panel calls on nations to address carbon market “crisis”
A high-level independent panel has called on nations to address the “crisis” in carbon markets and save the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The aim of the CDM is to earn a saleable credit for each tonne of greenhouse gas emissions avoided and has supported over 4500 projects in 75 developing countries, mitigating around […]
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EU greenhouse gas emissions fall 2.5% in 2011 despite growing GDP
Greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.5% last year despite growing GDP and coal consumption, according to the latest estimates by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Across the 15 member states (EU-15) covered by the Kyoto Protocol, the decrease between 2010 and 2011 was even greater at 3.5%. Based on the current trend, EU emissions in […]
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UK biomass generators face new sustainability criteria
UK generators using biomass in their power stations face tough new sustainability guidelines and a cut in support under the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme. The government outlined proposals on Friday that include requirements for wood fuel to come from sustainably managed forests and pathways to reduce the carbon intensity of biomass generation. Meanwhile, the proposals […]
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UK government cuts subsidies for large solar projects
The UK government unveiled proposals on Friday that will further cut subsidies for large-scale solar projects under the Renewables Obligation (RO). The consultation document sets support levels under the RO at roughly the same point as smaller domestic solar photovoltaics installations receive from the feed-in tariff (FIT). Under the proposals, support for large solar farms […]
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Scottish Government awards £7.9 million to tidal and wave developers
The Scottish Government has announced that five marine energy developers – including three tidal and two wave developers – are to share £7.9 million in funding. The award is being made under the second round of the WATERS (Wave Tidal Energy: Research, Development Demonstration Support) programme aimed at helping Scottish developers and supply chain firms […]
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US President promises to heat up industrial energy efficiency
As US President Barack Obama begins his campaign for re-election, he has promised help to encourage new investment in industrial energy efficiency. The initiative aims to achieve the deployment of 40 GW of cost-effective combined heat and power (CHP), where a single system can provide both thermal energy and electricity, by 2020. The US industrial […]
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More to benefit from Warm Front scheme, says UK government
Thousands more households in England will be eligible for help under the Warm Front scheme, says the UK government. The current Warm Front scheme, which is targeted at those receiving certain income-related benefits and living in poorly insulated or heated properties, has a budget of £100 million for 2012/13. Applicants can receive help of up […]
Quotes
The cheapest kWh of energy is the one you don't use Delvin Lane, Head of Energy 360, British Gas