The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced Saturday that the Islamic republic plans to construct 16 nuclear power plants in different parts of the country, Press TV reported. “Following months of efforts, 16 new sites for nuclear power plants have been designated in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Sea … Continue reading Nuclear power revives… in Iran
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Renewables dominate headlines in Germany, UK, France
It seems that energy policy has never been such a hot topic – at least judging by the huge media attention it is now receiving. Today, and this week generally, has seen a blizzard of European media coverage of energy policy – with wildly differing perspectives, and arguably also in quality of reasoning. Today in … Continue reading Renewables dominate headlines in Germany, UK, France
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Warmest Decade on Record Brings Weather Extremes
In recent years weather events have whiplashed between the extremes of heat and cold, flooding and drought. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases—largely from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas—have loaded up in the atmosphere, heating the planet and pushing humanity onto a climatic seesaw of weather irregularities. High-temperature records in many places … Continue reading Warmest Decade on Record Brings Weather Extremes
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Smart Energy: Five Metatrends to Watch in 2013 and Beyond
The Smart Energy paradigm is fast evolving from niche markets into a standardized part of the global energy portfolio. Oil majors, national governments, and technology developers have all reached the consensus that a more diversified energy mix is critical to sustainable economic growth in the future. As a result of this development, combined with the … Continue reading Smart Energy: Five Metatrends to Watch in 2013 and Beyond
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Home Energy Management from Broadband Service Providers
Broadband service providers (BSPs) have entered the home energy management (HEM) space in the past few years with the aim of helping customers reduce or more efficiently control their energy consumption. The approach has been to bundle home energy management tools with current home security and home automation products and services. This nascent market has … Continue reading Home Energy Management from Broadband Service Providers
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UNEP scientist in climate change reduction recommendation
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) chief scientist Joseph Alcamo on Tuesday called for more efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) so as to slow down global warming. In an interview with Xinhua, Alcamo said that reducing SLCPs will also protect human health, and in some cases, reduce air pollution. According to the UNEP, SLCPs, … Continue reading UNEP scientist in climate change reduction recommendation
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End of an era: Dr. Steven Chu to step down as US Energy Secretary
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Friday announced his intention to resign to end a four-year tenure with the Obama administration. Chu made the announcement in a letter to department employees, saying he intends to resign once a successor is confirmed. “While I will always remain dedicated to the missions of the department, I informed … Continue reading End of an era: Dr. Steven Chu to step down as US Energy Secretary
Continue readingChina burns half of coal consumption worldwide
China overtook the US as the world’s biggest carbon emitter in 2007 and became world’s largest energy consumer in 2010. Coal consumption in China grew more than 9% in 2011, continuing its upward trend for the 12th consecutive year, according to newly released international data. China’s coal use grew by 325 million tons in 2011, … Continue reading China burns half of coal consumption worldwide
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Solar energy can be a worthwhile investment
Solar power is an expensive technology, but it pays off immediately and for years, according to local experts who sell and install solar panels and equipment. “If you get the correct system, it could reduce your power bill to zero,” said Tommy Blas, business developer for Pacific Solar & Photovoltaics, in Dededo. The cost of … Continue reading Solar energy can be a worthwhile investment
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Bulgarian referendum reflects uncertainty of nuclear power development
Bulgarians have postponed construction of a new nuclear power plant for an indefinite future, according to unofficial data released on Sunday evening after a low-turnout referendum held on this issue. According to parallel vote tabulation conducted by Alpha Research agency, although 61 percent of the voters said “yes” on whether the country should build a … Continue reading Bulgarian referendum reflects uncertainty of nuclear power development
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Wind energy battery going back online
Xcel Energy Inc. installed the $4.7 million battery in 2008 next to a Luverne, Minn., wind farm and operated it safely for more than two years. The sodium-sulfur battery was shut down in October 2011 on the advice of its Japanese manufacturer after a similar unit caught fire there. The only battery in Minnesota large … Continue reading Wind energy battery going back online
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Belgian and German electricity systems keep lights on despite nuclear turn-off
Freezing temperatures in both Belgium and Germany have put both countries’ power systems to the test this week, but neither country has experienced electricity blackouts despite the lack of nuclear power. Two of Belgium’s seven nuclear reactors – Doel 3 and Tihange 2 – were switched off this summer, following the discovery of cracks, cutting … Continue reading Belgian and German electricity systems keep lights on despite nuclear turn-off
Continue readingRenewable Energy on the way up while Western Europe’s nuclear power share depletes
To meet carbon emissions targets and reduce dependency on depleting fossil fuel reserves, the nations of Western Europe are beefing up their renewable energy generation, but significantly limiting growth within their nuclear power industries in the face of widespread public opposition, says business intelligence providers GBI Research. According to the firm’s latest report*, the top … Continue reading Renewable Energy on the way up while Western Europe’s nuclear power share depletes
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Wind energy industry continues to expand worldwide
The wind energy industry is continuing to expand worldwide with the industry ebbing and flowing as global governments decide policy on supporting renewable power and then reconsider the economics, causing delays in financing major projects. The industry is caught in the financial tide but is growing with offshore and new countries coming into the marketplace. … Continue reading Wind energy industry continues to expand worldwide
Continue readingOntario will close down all coal-fired electricity plants
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province with a population equivalent to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales combined, has decided to abandon coal-fired electricity a year ahead of schedule. “The early closure is a result of Ontario’s strong conservation efforts, a smarter electricity grid and a diverse supply of cleaner energy,” Dalton McGuinty, Ontario’s Premier said. … Continue reading Ontario will close down all coal-fired electricity plants
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Philadelphia Mayor Nutter and Veolia Energy Mark Completion of Multi-Million Dollar ‘Green Steam’ Project
Veolia Energy North America, a leading operator and developer of efficient energy solutions, today commemorated the completion of the company’s multi-million dollar investment in its Philadelphia district energy network to convert it to 100 percent ‘Green Steam’. The Green Steam project featured the installation of two new rapid-response boilers and an expansion of Veolia Energy’s … Continue reading Philadelphia Mayor Nutter and Veolia Energy Mark Completion of Multi-Million Dollar ‘Green Steam’ Project
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CO2 emissions from Amazonia deforestation drop 16 percent this year
Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere as a result of Amazon deforestation dropped to 352 million tons this year, or 16 percent less than in 2011, Brazil’s state-run National Space Research Institute, or INPE, said. In a communique Friday, the organization said that the calculation of emissions data was based on an analysis by the … Continue reading CO2 emissions from Amazonia deforestation drop 16 percent this year
Continue readingWorld Nuclear Electricity Generation Down 5 Percent Since 2006
World nuclear electricity-generating capacity has been essentially flat since 2007 and is likely to fall as plants retire faster than new ones are built. In fact, the actual electricity generated at nuclear power plants fell 5 percent between 2006 and 2011. In 2011, following Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, 13 nuclear reactors in Japan, Germany, … Continue reading World Nuclear Electricity Generation Down 5 Percent Since 2006
Continue readingAfter Doha, the world is left waiting for climate change action
Beyond an anaemic international agreement to extend the Kyoto Protocol to 2020, it is hard to see what positive momentum was achieved at the end of the two-week UN conference on climate change which ended on Saturday in Doha. While almost 195 nations did endorse the proposal to extend Kyoto past 2012, no new targets … Continue reading After Doha, the world is left waiting for climate change action
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Energy diversity will power our economy
Benjamin Zycher’s Congress Blog post gets several facts wrong about wind power. Let’s set the record straight. While Zycher, a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, invokes Ronald Reagan, it’s worth noting that support for extending the federal wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) crosses party lines at every level of leadership. A bipartisan … Continue reading Energy diversity will power our economy
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