Energy
RSPB warns fracking will blow UK climate targets
The arguments for and against fracking seem clear-cut, but there is mounting evidence that exploiting shale gas may be neither necessary nor sensible
East Midlands tops UK’s energy consumption league
Tiny county of Rutland consumes the most energy in England and Wales, which Council attributes to its picturesque houses
Biofuels could increase UK motor costs by £224 million per year
ActionAid report says biofuel costs are likely to send petrol bills spiralling, but producers disagree
Will climate change hit maize and wheat production?
Different models offer conflicting predictions on future crop yields, confusing scientists and the public alike
Gujarat plans 10km solar topped canal scheme
State unveils 10MW scheme over waterways in the Narmada Valley, which supply water to the arid regions of Saurashtra and Kutch
Cuadrilla “unlikely” to produce oil at Balcombe fracking site
UK shale gas firm say they are “unlikely” to go into production at site, as other areas have better transport and infrastructure links
European development bank’s coal funding under fire
Campaigners plan to target the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s support for coal in a ‘Global Day of Action’ on Thursday
Google user’s carbon footprint equal to ‘one mile drive in car’
Users account for the vast majority of its CO2 footprint, but R&D efforts for self-driving cars are also taking their toll.
World’s highest wind farm completed in Tibet
15MW farm will contribute to Tibet’s annual wind energy reserves which are currently the seventh largest in China
IKEA purchases first wind farm in Ireland
The wind farm, expected to generate enough energy for 5,500 houses a year, is part of IKEA’s pledge of €1.5 billion to renewable energy up to 2015
US targets ‘contaminated sites’ for wind and solar projects
US agencies have identified more than 66,000 for renewable energy projects, aiming to bypass local opposition to wind and solar plants
NZ research highlights urban solar power potential
Urban sprawl may not be as bad for the environment as we thought – as long as every home is fitted with solar panels and electric cars become the norm.
Organic solar cell potential boosted by new research
Scientists in the UK and USA believe they can radically improve efficiency of new range of ‘organic’ solar cells
Algae-powered toilet flush could power 200,000 cars by 2016
The €12 million project, located in Spain, is the largest of its kind
Watching football on mobile devices could reduce carbon footprint
Consuming cheese burgers at football games generates more emissions than any other other food or drink
UK crowdfunding raises £3m for clean energy projects
£3m raised through crowdfunding alone has paid for solar panels on schools and houses, with more projects planned throughout 2013
EU funding advances carbon storage
National Grid analysis shows its test site can store 200 million tonnes of CO² from carbon emitters in the Humber region
UK publishes plans to drive investment in clean energy
Energy Minister Michael Fallon hopes guarantees will help leverage up to £110 billion of private sector investment to 2020
UK opens world’s second largest offshore wind farm
Greater Gabbard wind farm cost £1.3 billion to construct, and will supply power to 500,000 homes
‘Thousands’ of protestors could descend on UK fracking site
No Dash for Gas UK action group says it plans to send a new wave of campaigners to Balcombe as the anti-fracking movement gathers momentum