Energy
Palm oil: green fuel or rainforest killer?
British campaigners are trying to stop Government plans to allow palm oil to be burnt in power stations to generate electricity
Can Climate Week 2013 save the UK’s decarbonisation target?
Campaign organisers call on government to re-introduce target as IPPR research shows it need not increase UK energy bills
UK nuclear paralysis threatens climate targets – MPs report
Energy and Climate Change Committee report warns if plans for 16GW of nuclear power collapse fossil fuels could fill gap
Shell: Gas can cut emissions faster than renewables
Oil multinational argues emphasis on renewables will give coal a greater shelf-life
Smart grid investment leaps 7% in 2012
Global investment in smart grid technologies rose to $13.9 billion according to research from the US-based Worldwatch Institute
Efficiency of larger wind farms questioned – research
Researchers say larger wind farms could have a negative impact on airflow used by other installations, reducing their overall output
UK coal use up 32.5% in 2012
Figures from UK Department of Energy and Climate Change show coal price dropped below gas as US exports flooded European market
Libya solar potential six times larger than oil reserves
Research suggests that if 0.1% of Libya were covered with solar panels it could produce the equivalent of seven million barrels of crude oil per day in energy
Ecuador finalising OPEC oil tax plans
OPEC asked to consider a tax on oil exports that will be used to finance Green Climate Fund
UN climate talks host Poland to accelerate shale gas push
Environment ministry cuts red tape but says shale gas is essential for affordable EU climate policy
RBS to launch new renewable energy loans
Bank tells RTCC it is working with groups to design accessible financing for small-scale renewable energy projects
Cost not capacity the crucial statistic for renewable energy
Analysis: Solar and wind sectors reported capacity landmarks this week but cost of low carbon energy is the magic number
Shale gas finds could kill Nuclear in UK
Cheap gas supplies could be the death knell of nuclear energy in the United Kingdom threatening attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Branson plans to use Necker as island incubator for renewables
Virgin chief Richard Branson plans to use the tiny Caribbean island he owns to test the effectiveness of renewable energy systems for small island states
Barclays cash boost as solar targets Africa’s kerosene users
Barclays’ £1m loan to Azuri Technologies opens door to 500m strong market for solar lighting that could cut emissions equivalent to the carbon footprint of Argentina
Nuclear faces tough future after UK meltdown
This week energy provider Centrica pulled out of Britain’s atomic programme, suggesting it may not play a long term role in the energy mix
Arnold Schwarzenegger backs UK energy efficiency drive
Former Terminator and Governor of California hails David Cameron’s leadership in advocating energy saving schemes
Steven Chu: We have a “moral responsibility” to combat climate change
Letter from outgoing Energy Secretary Steven Chu underlines need for successor to work on low carbon forms of energy
Nordic states eye 2050 carbon neutral energy system
Developing a carbon neutral energy system in the Nordic region by 2050 would cost less than 1% of cumulative GNP, a new analysis has revealed
US energy reboot cuts emissions 13% in five years
Bloomberg report reveals renewable energy, gas and energy efficiency made mark on greenhouse gas output