Clean Energy Transition

Setting binding targets for the use of other kinds of renewable energies in electricity, transport and heating/cooling is contrary to the preferences of some member states, who argue that differing climatic and geographical conditions across the EU mean that some states will be at a disadvantage in terms of meeting the targets.  Italy, for example, recently sent a letter to EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, stating that the country will be unable to produce more than 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

The European Parliament has given its official support to the creation of the European Institute of Technology (EIT)

The plans include the development of seven wind farms in Västernorrland and Jämtland in Sweden. Assuming the farms are built, they will be able to produce around 2.8 TWh of renewable energy per year

Yesterday, the European Parliament approved by overwhelming majority the "Thomsen Report" on the Roadmap for Renewable Energies in Europe. Crucial for the future of solar thermal: the call for the adoption in all Member States of renewable heat obligations, at least in new buildings and those undergoing major renovation.

In a speech this week, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke announced New Zealand's intention to commit to 90% renewable electricity by 2025, according to a press release issued by the New Zealand government. The country already uses 70% renewable electricity, primarily hydro- and geothermal power and will continue to increase its use of renewables over the next 20 years. 

Companies that have switched to renewable energy are reporting a number of bottom line advantages, including reduced corporate greenhouse gas emissions, diversification of energy sources to hedge against fluctuating fossil fuel prices, as well as strengthening customer relationships and brand differentiation.

Today, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) released its much-anticipated Global Corporate Climate Change Report (CDP5). This is the fifth annual report by the CDP tracking carbon disclosure and attitudes toward climate change in the world's largest companies. The CDP additionally this year launched the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI), an honor roll for companies who are best addressing climate change issues.

New research in the August Issue of Physics Today explains how low-intensity electric fields can disrupt the division of cancer cells and slow the growth of brain tumors. The team of researchers used alternating electric fields that shift electric particles in cells back and forth hundreds of thousands of times per second. These low-intensity alternating electric fields were once thought to only heat cells but after several years of experiments, the researchers have shown the fields to disrupt cell division in tumor cells placed on a glass dish.

The Bush administration will use every opportunity to create the illusion of action without agreeing to meaningful, binding pollution reductions

Scientists believe that we need a 60-80 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of global warming, and slowing the pollution growth rate won't enable us to meet this goal.

Many other nations have already agreed to significant GHG reductions, such as the European Union and Japan

Andris Piebalgs admitting that member states are being "cautious" in contributing too much to the target.

EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs has brushed off French and German criticism of Brussels' planned overhaul of the union's energy sector, saying it is fuelled by politically influential energy giants

Virtually all of the country's electricity and heating comes from domestic renewable energy sources -- hydroelectric power and geothermal springs. It's pollution-free and cheap. Yet these energy pioneers are still dependent on imported oil to operate their vehicles and thriving fishing industry.

The Ecowatts Thermal Energy Cell (TEC) is an electrolysis based energy cell that converts electrical power into heat at an efficiency significantly greater than that of a conventional immersion heater. This is achieved without the consumption of additional fossil fuels. The system has been independently, scientifically verified to produce 1.5 to 2 times as much energy out as was put in.

Auction 100 percent of emission allowances. • Use the revenues from auctions to: Support clean energy technological development, including research and development funding and early market support for clean technologies. Invest in energy efficiency improvements to reduce the cost of the program to consumers. Provide direct consumer rebates to alleviate any increases in energy costs that result from the program.

Lehman Brothers has just released a terrific report, "The Business of Climate Change II." The theme is, "Policy is accelerating, with major implications for companies and investors"; but the piece has a lot of breadth, with cogent comments on everything from the social/damage cost of carbon, to auctioning vs. grandfathering, to the Stern Report

Per Western Digital, switching to Green Power is the equivalent of removing your car from the roadways 14 days out of the year and save you up to $10 per drive each year in electricity costs.

nuclear power (which represents around one-third of the EU's electricity production) is seen by the EU executive as "the largest source of largely carbon-free energy in Europe".  But member states are divided on how much nuclear should contribute - if at all - to the EU's future energy mix