Video: Renewables made fun with new animation
A Scottish renewables trade body has taken a fresh approach to spreading the word about green energy – in a new online animation.
Energy Transition
Communities offered £1million to discuss nuclear waste
Communities could be paid millions of pounds just to consider having a facility to bury nuclear waste in their area, the Government has said.
DECC launches biomass calculator
A new device designed to investigate the impact of North America-sourced biomass on carbon emissions has been launched by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
UK announces $340million renewable power contract auction
Renewable-power projects in the UK will compete for guaranteed payments totaling more than £200million ($340million) a year of as part of its first auction of contracts to spur low-carbon electricity. An auction of so-called contracts-for-difference will take place this year and an extra £50million a year will be offered at a sale next year, the Department for Energy and Climate Change said today in an e-mailed statement. By 2021 as much as £1billion a year may be available, it said.
EOWDC will face fresh opposition
Donald Trump will launch a fresh legal challenge against an offshore wind project after the Scottish Government backed a crucial element of the scheme yesterday. An appeal from developers behind the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) was upheld, overturning a local decision from Aberdeenshire Council to refuse planning permission.
EU backs UK green energy subsidies
A new system of subsidies for renewable energy in the UK has been given the green light by the European Commission.
Scottish Government paves the way for the EOWDC
The Scottish Government has upheld an appeal by backers of a major offshore windfarm for an electricity substation at Blackdog in Aberdeenshire. The team behind the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) have today welcomed the ruling, which reverses an Aberdeenshire Council decision to refuse planning permission.
New workboat could make its North Sea debut
A deal between an American consultancy and a Danish manufacturer can soon see a new range of workboats joining the North Sea energy fleet.
Renewable projects drive ABB earnings down
Global power group ABB's earnings dropped for a third consecutive quarter, missing analyst estimates, amid mounting charges at the unit for offshore wind and solar projects.
Vattenfall profits drop as market remains tough
Swedish energy firm Vattenfall has reported a 24% drop in underlying half-year operating profits amid weak demand and falling utility prices.
Children “not at cancer risk” living near nuclear sites
Children currently living near Sellafield or Dounreay nuclear plants are not at an increased risk of developing cancer compared to peers in other parts of Britain, researchers have said.
Alstom quarterly orders double on South African rail contract
Alstom, the French engineering company which is selling most of its energy-equipment business to General Electric (GE) to focus on train-making operations, said orders doubled in the fiscal first quarter because of a 4billion euro ($5.4billion) rail contract in South Africa.
North Sea seals attracted to wind farms, research finds
Seals are taking advantage of offshore windfarms to forage for food, satellite tracking has shown.
Highlands firm hungry for new sites after acquiring second SSE hydro site
Hydro-developer Green Highland Renewables has bought a second hydro site from SSE as it expands its development portfolio.
Glasgow readies for Commonwealth energy conference
Government delegates from across the Commonwealth are set to discuss sustainable energy issues at a first of kind event.
Inquiry starts to settle fate of wind farm bid
Scottish ministers have called an inquiry into contentious plans for a north-east windfarm, amid fears that it could wreak havoc at two international airports.
Dong sells 50% of German wind farm for $812million
The wind division of Danish company Dong Energy has sold 50% of its shares in the German offshore windfarm project Gode Wind 2 to a consortium of Danish pension funds for $812million.
Millions pledged in energy efficiency funding
The UK Government has pledged £10million for the current year to help businesses cut their energy costs and reduce demand for power.
Rampion windfarm gets government’s green light
Renewable energy firm EON has been given the go ahead from the UK Government to develop a 700MW offshore windfarm off the coast of Sussex.
Japanese nuclear plant one step closer to restart
A Japanese nuclear plant has won preliminary approval for meeting stringent post-Fukushima safety requirements, clearing a major hurdle towards becoming the first to restart under the tighter rules.
Tidal Lagoons ‘will bring in £27billion’
Constructing six tidal lagoons around the coasts to harness power from the tides would contribute £27 billion to the UK economy over 12 years, a report has suggested. Once built, the fleet of lagoons would supply 8% of the UK’s electricity and would contribute £3.1 billion a year over their 120-year life-time, the study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) said.
Pollution from coal plants injects life in old oil wells
The dream of pollution-free coal plants is getting a boost from growing demand for carbon dioxide used to revive old oilfields. In one of the first projects to harness the C02 waste of a coal plant for oil drilling, power generator NRG Energy Inc. announced today that it’s beginning construction on a $1billion retrofit of its East Texas coal plant. NRG will pump carbon dioxide pollution from the plant deep into a nearby oil field that it partially owns. The idea is to loosen trapped crude deposits, making old wells flow like new while burying the harmful greenhouse gas. Cash from the increased oil production will help pay for the project, NRG said in a statement today.
Offshore wind deal boosts clean energy investment to $64billion
Global investment in clean energy increased to $63.6billion in the second quarter, boosted by the biggest deal in the industry’s history. Financing swelled 9% from a year earlier, and 33% from the first quarter, the London-based research company said today in an e-mailed statement. The main driver was the $3.8billion backing of a 600-megawatt offshore wind farm off the coast of the Netherlands.
UK needs more ambitious policies to hit greenhouse gas targets
The UK will fail to meet its targets to cut greenhouse gases over the next decade without stronger and more ambitious policies, the Government’s climate advisers have warned.
£1.2billion undersea electricity cable given the go-ahead
Plans for a £1.2billion undersea electricity cable that will help boost the country’s renewable energy capacity have been given the go-ahead.