News
News
-
Clean energy investment bounces back 24% to hit $60 billion
Global clean energy investment bounced back 24% in the second quarter of the year to hit almost $60 billion, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s latest report. But while the rebound to $59.6 billion in investment is very welcome, it is still 18% down on the near-record figure of $72.5 billion during the same period […]
-
EC approves UK carbon emissions trading platform
The European Commission has approved the UK’s national auction platform signalling the go ahead for the trading of emission allowances – including from aviation – under the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS). The next phase of the EU ETS, which starts in 2013 and runs until 2020, or phase III, makes auctioning of allowances […]
-
European proposals for energy efficiency targets clear next hurdle
Binding energy efficiency targets for Europe moved closer yesterday when the European Parliament’s Energy Committee approved the proposals. In June, the European Parliament and Council stuck a deal to introduce mandatory energy efficiency measures in the forthcoming directive. Under the proposals, which will now move onto a plenary vote in September, member states would be […]
-
EC shortlists low-carbon projects for €1.5 billion investment
The European Commission (EC) yesterday announced its preliminary shortlist of low-carbon projects in the running for up to €1.5 billion in funding. Most of the selection work for the €1.3-1.5 million NER300 funding programme is done, says the EC, and it is now time to take stock of the leading contenders. The UK is in […]
-
Solar energy could meet one-sixth of heating and cooling needs, says IEA
Solar energy technologies could meet one-sixth of world’s heating and cooling needs, according a report out earlier this week from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The Solar Heating and Cooling Roadmap outlines how technologies such as domestic solar water heaters, which are widely used in some countries, could become more widely adopted. While solar heating […]
-
Surprise win for UK in global energy efficiency ranking
The UK has taken top spot in a new energy efficiency ranking of the world’s major economies drawn up by the not-for-profit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The country’s Energy Secretary Ed Davey hailed the result, saying that energy efficiency is at the heart of all the government’s low carbon policies. “This study, […]
-
Apple drops out of green computer certification scheme
Apple has abruptly announced that it is withdrawing from a green computer certification scheme prompting San Francisco city authorities to drop its products. The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) certifies desktops, laptops and monitors against environmental criteria agreed by the industry and supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The 1000-plus products from […]
-
British Gas launches remote-controlled heating service
Perhaps in response to one of the worst summers in UK living memory, British Gas has chosen this week to launch it remote-controlled heating service. The service, which will be open to all British Gas customers, will allow users to turn their central heating off and on remotely via a laptop, mobile phone, smartphone or […]
-
Ocean Power Technologies and Lockheed Martin take wave power down under
US wave energy company Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) is joining forces with Lockheed Martin to develop a 19 MW project in Australia. The two companies have been working together since 2004 with Lockheed Martin assisting in the design of OPT’s PowerBuoy technology and leading the production and system integration of the wave energy converters. The […]
-
UK survey reveals strong public support for renewables
Nearly 80% of the British public support renewable energy, according to a major survey of attitudes commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Despite vocal opposition from many backbench MPs and sections of the press, just 5% of the 2100-plus households surveyed in the DECC study said they were opposed to renewable […]
Quotes
The cheapest kWh of energy is the one you don't use Delvin Lane, Head of Energy 360, British Gas