Nilima Choudhury
Energy efficiency is on 80% of UK businesses’ agendas
The sector is growing by almost 4% a year, creating 136,000 jobs and increasing the country’s GDP by 1%
UN rules UK wind farms ‘illegal’
Morning summary: UK government accused of acting illegally by not providing public with ‘necessary information’ over benefits of wind farms
Greater access to air conditioning leads to a warmer planet
US uses more energy to keep cool than all other countries in the world combined but India is slowly catching up
Dung beetles reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cow pats
By drying out the dung, the beetles increase the availability of oxygen and reduce the amount of methane in the pats
India’s new wind capacity falls by 61%
India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has announced solar and wind generation fell in the last two months.
Comment: COP19 must discuss losses caused by climate change
COP 19 attendees should fund research on financial and human losses from climate change related disasters
South Korea launches ‘Armadillo’ folding electric car
Four-wheel-drive, all-electric car can hit speeds of 60km/h and when folded three can fit into one average-sized parking space
USA starts work on 250MW solar power project in Nevada
The Copper Mountain Solar 3 project in Nevada will be capable of generating enough electricity to power approximately 80,000 homes
UN climate summit hosts Poland to build two 900MW coal plants
Morning summary: construction of €2.7 units set to violate EU laws on Carbon Capture and Storage
Polls indicate UK public support for solar and climate action
Polls by Solar Trade Association and Carbon Brief indicate UK public broadly supportive of investment in renewable energy
India to construct floating solar power plant in Kolkata
Country’s first floating solar power station will be launched in one of the Victoria Memorial’s ponds in 2014
3D graphene to substitute platinum in solar cells
Researchers from Michigan Technological University have discovered a cost-effective solution to replacing expensive platinum in solar cells
MIT produces low-cost renewable energy battery
Membraneless device stores and releases energy in a device that relies on a phenomenon called ‘laminar flow’
Japan on track to become world’s largest solar market
Japan set to install US$20 billion worth of PV systems in 2013, up 82% from US$11 billion in 2012
Green ‘biogas’ has potential to quash UK fracking debate
Supporters say biogas could supply 10% of UK demand, and cut 7.5m tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year
Scientists embark on voyage to examine Arctic sea ice
Multinational team will measure a range of parameters of the sea ice, icebergs and how they interact with their ship
India plans ‘green energy corridor’ to boost renewables capacity
India’s electricity grid needs US$7.9 billion investment to incorporate increasing use of wind and solar energy sources
Fracking linked to ‘over 100’ earthquakes in Ohio
Morning summary: Ohio quakes triggered by the disposal of wastewater from fracking operations in the neighbouring state of Pennsylvania
Flooding could cost US$1 trillion a year by 2050
Damage from extreme weather to world’s biggest coastal cities expected to reach 0.7% of global GDP in 40 years
Ben Goldsmith: it’s possible to be green and conservative
Co-founder of sustainable investors WHEB says business is leading a green revolution in the UK