Category Archives: OpEd

Record Greenhouse Gas Levels Impact Atmosphere and Oceans

The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a new record high in 2013, propelled by a surge in levels of carbon dioxide.  This is according to the World Meteorological Organization’s annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, which injected even greater urgency into the need for concerted international action against accelerating and potentially devastating climate change. … Continue reading Record Greenhouse Gas Levels Impact Atmosphere and Oceans

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Complete Independence from Energy Generated from Fossil Fuels is Possible

Professor Henrik Lund, of Aalborg University, believes that a system based 100 per cent on renewable energy is a viable option and could be achieved by 2050 in Denmark. Renewable energy systems (RES) planning can also be successfully applied to other countries worldwide. During his extremely well attended plenary lecture at CHISA, the 21st International … Continue reading Complete Independence from Energy Generated from Fossil Fuels is Possible

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Germany Added A Lot Of Wind Energy And Solar Power, And Its Electric Grid Became More Reliable

To hear its critics tell it, Germany’s ambitious push to switch over to renewable energy has delivered an electrical grid that’s capricious, unreliable, and prone to blackouts. But according to data highlighted by ECO Report last week, the reality on the ground couldn’t be further from that caricature. Specifically, the availability of electricity in Germany … Continue reading Germany Added A Lot Of Wind Energy And Solar Power, And Its Electric Grid Became More Reliable

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How to power California with wind energy, water and solar energy

New research outlines the path to a possible future for California in which renewable energy creates a healthier environment, generates jobs and stabilizes energy prices. A Stanford study outlines how power from facilities such as the Ivanpah Concentrated Solar Power in California’s Mojave Desert can be part of the state’s renewable energy future. Imagine a … Continue reading How to power California with wind energy, water and solar energy

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Renewable energy is ready to supply all of Australia’s electricity

In a recent article on The Conversation, University of Melbourne Professor Emeritus Frank Larkins wrote that Australia’s targets to increase renewable energy will make electricity more expensive, thanks to problems with consistency and storage. But Professor Larkins is several years behind developments in renewable energy and its integration into electricity grids. In fact, we already … Continue reading Renewable energy is ready to supply all of Australia’s electricity

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Renewable energy investing in China

Foreign investors visiting China receive a personal introduction to clean energy—or at least its importance. With every breath, one is reminded that China relies on coal for 65-70 percent of its energy needs—40 percent above the world average—and leads the world in carbon emissions. The latest annual environmental report revealed that acid rain fell upon … Continue reading Renewable energy investing in China

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Climate Change Fact Sheet

Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)—the principal climate-altering greenhouse gas—come largely from burning coal, oil, and natural gas. Coal, mainly used for electricity generation, accounts for 44 percent of global fossil-fuel-related CO2 emissions. Oil, used primarily for transportation, accounts for 36 percent of CO2 emissions. Natural gas, used for electricity and heating, accounts for the … Continue reading Climate Change Fact Sheet

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Evolving Business Models for Renewable Energy

The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) today announced the release of a groundbreaking report titled Evolving Business Models for Renewable Energy. Jointly authored by ACORE members ScottMadden, Sullivan & Worcester, American Clean Energy, RES Americas, Abengoa Solar and Siemens, this resource explores key issues and provides recommendations related to evolving utility and other business … Continue reading Evolving Business Models for Renewable Energy

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IRENA calls on all governments to scale up renewable energy efforts

As the global community faces important energy choices, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) director-general has called on all governments to scale up their renewable energy investment in order to reach a ” sustainable energy future.”   Adnan Amin told Xinhua in an interview that “IRENA’s vision is to be the global voice of renewable … Continue reading IRENA calls on all governments to scale up renewable energy efforts

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French nuclear more costly than renewables by 2020

  Electricity produced by onshore wind and solar plants may become more competitive with power generated by upgraded nuclear plants in France by the end of this decade, a study by environmental group Greenpeace showed on Thursday. The study comes a week before Energy Minister Segolene Royal presents the broad lines of a much-delayed framework … Continue reading French nuclear more costly than renewables by 2020

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Doubling Renewable Energy will Save Money and Avoid Climate Catastrophe

The world faces an important energy choice, according to a new report launched by the International Renewable Energy Agency in New York today. “REmap 2030” says that scaling-up renewable energy to 36% of the world’s total final energy consumption by 2030 is possible, affordable and will keep the world on a trajectory consistent with a … Continue reading Doubling Renewable Energy will Save Money and Avoid Climate Catastrophe

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US and China to cut power plant emissions

The US is arguably still the most powerful country in the world, but it has always dragged its feet on climate action. So when the US Environmental Protection Agency announces carbon emissions cuts of 30% in the power sector by 2030 (compared to 2005 levels), the news deserves the term “historic”. It is the first … Continue reading US and China to cut power plant emissions

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Renewable energy provided around 19 per cent of global final energy consumption in 2012

In the power sector, global capacity reached 1,560 gigawatts (GW) in 2013 – an increase of about 8.3 per cent over 2012 – and renewables accounted for more than 56 per cent of net additions to global power capacity. REN21’s Renewables Global Status Report (GSR) offers a comprehensive look at the state of the industry. … Continue reading Renewable energy provided around 19 per cent of global final energy consumption in 2012

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Millions of workers call for climate action

Last week more than 50 unions representing millions of jobs worldwide joined the Unions4Climate action network calling for a global agreement on climate change in Paris at the UN climate summit next year. “Threats to jobs and livelihoods include the threat of climate change. For unions it is simple. There are no jobs on a … Continue reading Millions of workers call for climate action

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Spain close to approving new renewable energy rules

The regulation includes variations for a range of technologies – including wind energy, Concentrated Solar Power, photovoltaic and biomass – and the year the assets were installed.   The Spanish cabinet could approve on Friday a law that will cut renewable energy subsidies as part of a drive to reduce a 30 billion euro ($41 … Continue reading Spain close to approving new renewable energy rules

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Why the Murdoch media hates renewable energy so much

Here is an admission. For more than two years, over two stints, I wrote a weekly column on green energy for The Australian newspaper, called Greenchip. It appeared prominently on the business pages, and on no occasion was I ever instructed by any editor to take a certain angle, and my copy was never changed … Continue reading Why the Murdoch media hates renewable energy so much

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Turkey’s dependency on foreign energy resources should be eliminated

The Soma mine disaster claimed 301 lives last week, sparking, among other debates, discussion over the use of fossil fuels and Turkey’s dependency on foreign energy. Turkey has an obligation to pursue clean energy, despite the fact that the government has not pursued a transition to renewable energy sources, as some developed countries have. Since … Continue reading Turkey’s dependency on foreign energy resources should be eliminated

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