Renewables
France proposes tax credits for green technology
France will spend €500m a year on tax credits for wind and solar power, heat pumps and batteries funded by a tax rise on carbon-intensive fuels
Europe’s push for global renewables target gains support
The UAE has backed the EU’s call to set a global target for the renewable roll-out at the Cop28 climate talks
US solar boom on hold as industry awaits subsidy rules
Solar installers are waiting to find out which solar panels are considered US-made and qualify for subsidies
Green hydrogen rush risks energy ‘cannibalisation’ in Africa, analysts say
The EU signed green hydrogen agreements with Egypt, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Namibia to supply the bloc with the gas ahead of its 2030 goals.
OECD reforms set to give “green” projects better export finance
OECD countries agree to extend support for ‘climate-friendly’ projects. But vague definitions and inclusion of contested activities worry campaigners.
Uncertainty on renewable retraining frightens South Africa’s coal communities
An investigation by Oxpeckers and Climate Home found coal-reliant communities in South Africa have scarce details on how funds for reskilling workers from its $8.5 billion deal will be implemented.
COP28 boss urges Big Oil to join fight against climate change
Cop28 president and oil and gas executive Sultan al-Jaber urged energy conference participants in Houston to do more faster to limit global warming
World Bank backs mega dam threatening to displace thousands in Mozambique
The World Bank argues the project will accelerate the energy transition in southern Africa, but people facing displacement say their voices are not being heard
Greta Thunberg protests wind farm “violating human rights” in Norway
Thunberg said the wind farm violates the rights of indigenous Sami people to herd their reindeer, as the sight and sound of the turbines scares the animals
Cables become cool – Climate Weekly
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Coal communities fear South Africa’s clean energy transition
Almost 80% of the more than 80,000 residents working in Ermelo are employed by Eskom and Transnet, the state-owned energy and transport companies
France seeks EU loophole for French Guiana to power space sector with biofuels
Campaigners have warned the exemption risks setting an incentive for increased logging in Europe’s corner of the Amazon forest.
German CO2 cuts stall as coal, oil use cancel out renewable gains
In a pivot away from Russian gas, Germany cut energy consumption to its lowest level since the Berlin Wall fell – but increased coal burning
AIIB finds gas plant in Bangladesh compatible with Paris goals
AIIB’s fast-tracking of a 600MW LNG plant could set a precedent for more development finance to fossil gas projects, campaigners warn
‘Unparalleled in the world’: Australian grid operator maps path to 100% renewables
From 2025, the entire country is expected to run on 100% clean electricity for hours then days at a time, raising new engineering challenges
Rich nations, banks pledge $20bn for Indonesia’s coal-to-clean switch
The US and Japan led on mobilising finance to retire Indonesian coal plants and scale up renewables, in a deal announced in Bali
Gas is casting a long shadow over green development in Africa
At the Cop27 summit in Egypt, a dash for gas risks distracting from the support for climate resilience Africans really need
Thanks to fossil fuel crisis, wind and solar payback time drops to one year
A new report shows investments in renewable energy are set to be higher than fossil fuels in 2022, due to soaring electricity prices.
Clean energy jobs overtake fossil fuel sector but wages lag behind
Employment is booming in electric vehicle production, building insulation and renewable power sectors, the International Energy Agency reports
‘We are not ready’: Divisions deepen over rush to finalise deep sea mining rules
A growing number of countries are backing calls for a moratorium on mining the oceans’ floor but the UN body responsible is pushing to greenlight the industry in 2023