NASA and the NOAA in the US have just released their official 2013 global temperature records. You can find them by clicking on this link. The critics of the global warming theory will note that the "pause" in global warming continues. Defenders of the theory will note that 2013 was among the ten warmest years on record. Again, the critics will note that the extent of Antarctic ice was considerably higher than average. The defenders will … [Read more...]
Worldwatch Institute report reveals extent of global energy subsidies
Efforts by a variety of organizations to quantify global support for fossil fuels have generated estimates that range from $523 billion to over $1.9 trillion, depending on the calculation and what measures are included. What is clear is that the level of support has rebounded to 2008 levels following a dip in 2009-10 during the global financial crisis, writes Worldwatch Research Fellow Philipp Tagwerker in the Institute's latest Vital Signs … [Read more...]
Irena and Abu Dhabi invest in renewable energy projects
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) have announced approximately $41 million in concessional loans for renewable energy projects in developing countries. The financed projects have a combined total capacity of 35 MW and will bring reliable and sustainable power to rural communities that are currently lacking access to modern energy services. The loans go to a geographically diverse set … [Read more...]
Global clean energy investment falls for second consecutive year
Clean Energy Pipeline, the online daily financial news and data service dedicated to the clean energy sector, on 16 January released its preliminary analysis of venture capital, private equity, project finance, mergers and acquisitions and public markets activity during 4Q13 and 2013. New investment in the global clean energy sector totalled $58.2 billion in 4Q13, a 15% increase on the $50.7 billion invested in 3Q13 but a 21% decrease on the … [Read more...]
German supreme court: nuclear shutdown unlawful
The forced closure of RWE's Biblis nuclear power plant after the Fukushima accident was unlawful, the German Supreme Administrative Court has ruled. The utility is now likely to sue for considerable damages. This is reported by World Nuclear News, the online news medium of the World Nuclear Association. According to World Nuclear News,on 14 January the State of Hesse “was told it acted illegally by enforcing the decisions on the Biblis … [Read more...]
Dutch green gas initiatives launched
The Groningen based gas trading company GasTerra closed the largest Green Gas deal of the Netherlands. GasTerra will buy 23 million m3 renewable gas annually , sufficient for 15,000 households. The gas comes from a company called BioRights that develops a production location in Hardenberg to convert biomass into second generation biofuels. The biogas produced is upgraded to natural gas quality and fed into the gas grid of Gasunie. Also bioethanol … [Read more...]
European venture capital firms support KIC InnoEnergy’s cleanteach startups
A number of top European venture capital companies have signed a collaboration agreement to support the most innovative clean tech start-ups in the EU. In a first-of-its-kind move for the industry, the community will provide KIC InnoEnergy’s 37 European startups with access to €3 billion in the next two years. “This agreement has exceeded our initial expectations. The idea of a VC [venture capital] community was new in this sector, and we did … [Read more...]
China and US largest markets for wind turbines
China will remain the leading global consumer of wind turbine rotor blades over the coming years, with its market value expected to increase from almost $2 billion in 2012 to $3.7 billion by 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.2%, according to a new report from research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company’s latest report, "Wind Turbine Rotor Blades – Global Market Size, Average Price, Competitive Landscape and Key … [Read more...]
Dear Connie, dear GĂĽnther
Germany, the UK, France and Italy have sent letters to Connie Hedegaard, Climate Commissioner and GĂĽnther Oettinger, Energy Commissioner on 6 January urging the European Commission to adopt a 40% greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2030. The European Commission will unveil a climate and energy package on 22 January in which it will announce new targets for 2030 to extend the currently existing 20-20-20 targets for 2020. These targets … [Read more...]
Report cards on renewable energy progress in South East Europe
Seechangenet, a network organisation of NGO’s in South Eastern Europe which is dedicated to promoting renewable energy in that region, has recently published “report cards” on the “energy paths” that are being taken by their governments. The cards are freely downloadable, rather simple infographics for Croatia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. There is also a fact sheet available, which is probably … [Read more...]
Researchers: Europe can avoid gas supply crisis by better cooperation
A research team led by Rui Carvahlo from Queen Mary University in London has published a model that shows how to handle congestion in Europe’s gas supply network in case of crises and supply disruptions. The model is meant to offer a “resilient response strategy to energy shortages”. The researchers conclude that “in essence, Europe's gas supply can be made robust even to major supply disruptions, if a fair distribution strategy is … [Read more...]
Gazprom: “We are the pioneers of the Arctic”
Russia's first Arctic offshore field Prirazlomnoye, where Greenpeace activists were arrested in September after a high seas clash with Russian authorities, has started production of oil, the Moscow Times reported last Friday based on information from Gazprom. "We became the pioneers of Russia's Arctic development," Gazprom's chief executive officer Alexei Miller said in a statement. President  Vladimir Putin has said Russia's Arctic offshore … [Read more...]
Investment funds not prepared for climate risk
The second ever Global Climate Investment Index, which demonstrates how the world’s biggest investors are managing climate risk, reveals that many investment funds are setting investors up for massive losses due to their exposure to climate risks. At the same time, the Asset Owners Disclosure Project’s 2013/14 (AODP) shows that the world’s investment system is capable of driving the low carbon transition. The Asset Owners Disclosure Project’s … [Read more...]
IEA: coal unsustainable but here to stay
Tougher Chinese policies aimed at reducing dependency on coal will help restrain global coal demand growth over the next five years, the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in its annual Medium-Term Coal Market Report released today. Despite the slightly slower pace of growth, however, coal will meet more of the increase in global primary energy than oil or gas - continuing a trend that has been in place for more than a decade. "Like it or … [Read more...]
EU energy ministers unable to agree on biofuels policy
Ministers in the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council on 12 December held an in-depth discussion on a revised version of the draft text, which aims to minimise the impact of land use change on greenhouse gas emissions. The draft indirect land use (ILUC) directive aims to promote the move towards biofuels while limiting the possibility of increased greenhouse gas emissions due to increased biofuels production. It will amend the … [Read more...]
Recent Comments