Posts Tagged ‘renewable energy’

UN’s climate change science body says renewables supply, particularly solar power, can meet global demand

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for the assessment of climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts. The UN General Assembly endorsed the action by WMO and UNEP in jointly establishing the IPCC

The IPCC is a scientific body. It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change.

In a new report published Monday the IPCC says that renewable energy could more than meet the world’s expected growth in future energy demand. Read the rest of this entry »

Energyshare is a big, exciting idea that aims to fundamentally change the way people use and generate energy. Across the country people are getting together and setting up their own renewable energy projects.

The Energyshare Fund provides grants of up to £100,000 to help registered community groups save energy and get involved in using and generating their own renewable energy. Applicants need to register online and generate as much support as possible on their group’s page to gain consideration. The deadline is 31 May.
http://www.energyshare.com/fund/about-applying/ Read the rest of this entry »

Majority Leader Harry Reid says Senate may vote on bills this month to promote clean energy and small nuclear reactors

Congress and the White House are under pressure to fight soaring fuel costs, which are cutting into consumer spending and threatening an economic recovery. And with Obama’s desire to have more investment in clean energy and Republican moves to thwart this – it is the Democrats in the Senate who have made their move.

Yesterday Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid acknowledged the Senate was “way behind” in dealing with energy issues and said he wants to bring up for a vote by the end of May one or several bills from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, headed by Senator Jeff Bingaman. Read the rest of this entry »

Microsoft founder calls for more research into green tech

Bill Gates is probably the most recognised name in business on the planet. Yesterday the Microsoft founder warned, at a major business event, that “cute” green technology and energy efficiency (while laudable) will not solve the world energy crisis.

Gates has over the past six years or so increased his involvement in the renewable energy world by financing new ventures and asking the US government to continue supporting the development of the cleantech industry.

Last June Led by Bill Gates and GE’s Jeff Immelt, the American Energy Innovation Council (AEIC) launched, releasing a report and a set of recommendations that could help push renewables and other clean energy technologies even further into the overall energy picture in the U.S.            The group, which also includes top executives from Cummins, Bank of America, Xerox, Lockheed Martin and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, said that its mission is to correct the “deficient” American energy system. Read the rest of this entry »

Connie Hedegaard opens discussion about extending the targets and expresses concern at gas industry’s lobbying

The European Commission is looking at cost-efficient ways to make the European economy more climate-friendly and less energy-consuming. By 2050, Europe could cut most of its greenhouse gas emissions. Clean technologies are the future for Europe’s economy.

The European Union is making real efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Over the past two decades, emissions have gone down by 16%, whereas the economy has grown by 40% over the same period. If current policies are fully implemented, the EU is on track to achieve its targets for 2020 of reducing emissions to 20% below 1990 levels and raising the share of renewables in its energy mix to 20%. We are currently only halfway towards the third goal for 2020 – improving energy efficiency by 20%; much greater efforts will be needed to meet this target. Read the rest of this entry »

Electronics giant to plough $7bn into green energy centre

In January South Korean electronics giant Samsung said Wednesday it would invest over 43 trillion won (38.3 billion dollars) in 2011, in a bid to consolidate its key markets and expand into new ones. They also announced that there would be significant investment in green technology.

True to their word it has just been announced that they will invest 7.6 trillion won ($7bn) from 2021 to build a green energy industrial park.
The complex will be built in the west coast area of Saemangeum, in a new town on reclaimed tidal flats, Samsung Group told Reuters in a statement. Read the rest of this entry »

Scottish First minister dismisses criticism that targeting 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2020 is unrealistic

A number of bodies including the Scottish CBI and the Scottish Chamber of Commerce have claimed recently that Alex Salmonds renewable energy targets are unrealistic and undesirable, calling instead for a mix of nuclear and renewable The Scottish first minister however yesterday stood firm over his claim that Scotland can supply all of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020. Indeed this pledge forms an important part of the SNP’s election Manifesto as Scotland goes to the polls next month.

Placing renewables at the top of the election campaign agenda Salmond pledged to use green energy to “re-industrialise” Scotland with at least 130,000 jobs in the low carbon economy by 2020. ensuring that Scotland enjoys “the full benefits of our vast renewable energy wealth”.
The First Minister insisted that investment was key to escaping recession and praised the vision of the former Secretary of State for Scotland Tom Johnston who had brought green energy to Scotland long before it became fashionable. Read the rest of this entry »

Call for end to delays on renewable energy

About a third of the UK’s energy supply is scheduled to dry up over the next 10 years and the government has pledged to fill the gap in large part with low-carbon energy sources. By 2020 the UK is legally committed to lowering CO2 emissions by 34% from 1990 levels.

Now business leaders are to accuse ministers of failing to lay the groundwork fast enough for the raft of urgently needed low-carbon energy projects that are vital if Britain is to plug the widening gap between its energy requirements and its fast dwindling sources of power.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) employers’ group is urging the government to set out long-term, business-friendly guidelines that will give companies the confidence to invest in green energy infrastructure projects. Read the rest of this entry »