Renewables
Tesla’s South Australian super battery beats expectations for first month
The world’s largest lithium ion battery has brought much needed flexibility to the grid, encouraging other states to follow suit
Remake Puerto Rico’s power grid and create a universal basic income
While any move away from fossil fuels is welcome, we need to think bigger about what resilience could mean for Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico hurricane shows islands must have renewable energy
As the world resumes climate talks in Bonn next month, island states will use the devastating hurricane season to fuel calls for expanded renewable energy investment
California bid for 100% clean energy stalls
Resistance from utilities and unions blamed after legislature fails to bring clean energy bill to a vote
California to pass law setting 100% renewable electricity goal
The world’s sixth largest economy is aiming for an entirely clean power grid by 2045, with legislation that pits technology start-ups against utilities
Green Climate Fund to fund $1bn Egypt renewables drive
In its biggest project to date, the UN’s flagship climate finance scheme is putting $150m towards developing wind, hydro and solar power in Egypt
Giant Tunisian desert solar project aims to power EU
Developer TuNur this week applied for authorisation to build a massive solar plant on the edge of the Tunisian Sahara, with undersea grid connections to Europe
Solar has not beaten coal in the race to electrify India
India’s future is still tied to coal and fixing woeful inefficiency of plants will create huge new generation at a price solar cannot match
Indian solar sector wary of China as protectionist policy nears an end
Indian solar manufacturers are likely to go bust when a World Trade Organization ruling kicks in later this year, experts say, increasing the dominance of Chinese imports
Egypt faces water insecurity as Ethiopian mega-dam rumours swirl
Farmers along the lower Nile have little information to guide them as upriver barrage threatens to compound the impacts of global warming
Cycle tour of Kenya promotes clean energy democracy
Ahead of an August general election, ride organised by Christian Aid is pushing access to renewables up the political agenda
‘Bad-ass business women’ bring solar empowerment to Nepal
NGO that helps women overcome cultural taboos and start their own clean energy businesses to be awarded prize in London ceremony
FORE! Trump’s Paris speech was an awful mishit
The golf-loving president says he will pull the US from the Paris agreement. The UN’s renewable energy chief explains why that’s dumb in terms he’d understand
India’s tumbling solar prices ‘a race to extinction’
India’s record-breaking solar prices are driven by a distorted market, in thrall to cheap Chinese imports, say analysts
EU climate laws undermined by Polish and Czech revolt, documents reveal
As the world looks to the EU for leadership on climate, eastern states are diluting laws supposed to guide Europe toward its carbon reduction targets
Conflict-hit Syrian hospital goes solar to save lives
Medical charity UOSSM plans to roll out solar power to five more facilities, reducing reliance on diesel generators to keep incubators and other equipment running
Small-scale renewables cheapest for rural Africa, says Dutch report
Africa’s quest for full access to electricity needs governments to support small, off-grid projects that are typically disregarded by investors
NGOs tell EU donors to respect African clean energy leadership
The European Commission and France are “doing far more harm than good” by pushing through projects without scrutiny, say campaigners
France set for ‘massive’ renewables boom under president Macron
Emmanuel Macron’s picks for prime minister and environment minister support rapid expansion of clean energy
Ségolène Royal reveals new head for ‘Africa-led’ renewables scheme
Denying allegations of meddling in African clean energy initiative, French environment minister pre-empts board decision on next top official