News
News
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British Gas and Siemens take stake in German smart grid company
British Gas and Siemens have taken a stake in German smart metering and grid communications provider Power Plus Communications. The investment round has raised some €12 million for the company, which will support its market growth activities in Europe and the Middle East, as well as consolidating its role in the transformation of the German […]
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“Gaping holes” in Rio+20 draft deal, say environmental groups
The draft text outlined on the opening days of the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil has “gaping holes”, according to environmental group Friends of the Earth. The environmental group is calling on world leaders in Rio to pledge tough and urgent action, including reversing tax-breaks for fossil fuels and increasing support for renewables here at home. […]
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Scottish Energy Minister questions electricity market reform
Scottish Energy Minster Fergus Ewing yesterday questioned the UK government’s planned electricity market reform, warning it would provide public subsidies for nuclear power that could instead be focused on renewables. Giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Committee, Ewing said there were serious questions about the proposals. Under the draft legislation outlined […]
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Development banks pledge a $175 billion jump start for sustainable transport
The world’s largest multilateral development banks (MDBs), including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank, are pledging to provide $175 billion over the next ten years to support sustainable transport in the developing world. The MDBs, which include the African Development Bank, CAF- Development Bank of Latin America, European Bank for Reconstruction and […]
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UN launches sustainable cities initiative
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is launching a new initiative to promote efficient use of energy, water and other resources in the world’s cities as Rio+20 gets underway in Brazil. The Global Initiative for Resource-Efficient Cities initiative, which will be open to cities with populations larger than half a million, aims to encourage sustainable […]
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Ocean Power Technologies takes next step in wave power technology
US marine energy company Ocean Power Technologies has taken a step forward in the development of its next generation wave power device. The company has now completed factory testing of the power take-off (PTO) units for its utility-scale PowerBuoy wave energy technology, the PB150, at its facility in Pennington, New Jersey. The PTO is now […]
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London Stock Exchange listed companies to report carbon emissions
UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced today that all companies listed on the London Stock Exchange’s main market will have to start reporting their greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking at the Rio+ Summit, Clegg said that the mandatory reporting requirements make business sense as well. “Many back our plans because being energy efficient makes good […]
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Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and other hotels launch carbon footprint standard
A group of 23 international hotel chains including Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and InterContinental have agreed a standard for calculating the carbon footprint of a hotel stay. The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) and the World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC) got together last year to develop a unified methodology for measuring and reporting carbon emissions across the […]
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First Utility and Opower launch my:energy efficiency service
Independent UK energy supplier First Utility is today launching my:energy, its home energy efficiency and management service. In partnership with US energy information software provider Opower, my:energy will provide First Utility’s 100,000 customers with information comparing their energy use with that of their neighbours and personalised energy efficiency tips. Over the coming months, the online […]
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Political and business leaders call for action to save climate and economy
A group of international political and business leaders including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair have published an open letter calling for coordinated action to save the climate and the economy. As the Rio+20 international summit gets underway in Brazil, the signatories to The Climate Group letter say a ‘step change’ in investment in renewable […]
Quotes
The cheapest kWh of energy is the one you don't use Delvin Lane, Head of Energy 360, British Gas