"The new president of Costa Rica has announced a plan to ban fossil fuels and become the first fully decarbonised country in the world. Carlos Alvarado, a former journalist, told a crowd of thousands during his inauguration speech on Wednesday this week: “Decarbonisation is the great task of our generation and Costa Rica must be one of the first countries in the world to accomplish it, if not the first.” He added: “We have the titanic and beautiful task of abolishing the use of fossil fuels in … Continue reading
Is blue the new green? Wave power could revolutionize the renewable-energy game
"There's enough wave energy in the oceans to power the world, and scientists are finally close to harnessing it. "Unless you’re a surfer, a sailor or the owner of beachfront property during hurricane season, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about the power of waves. That may be changing soon. "Like a large, slowly building swell miles from shore, the wave-power revolution has quietly and gradually gained momentum. "A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change … Continue reading
Scotland just produced enough wind energy to power it for an entire day
"Strong winds combined with low demand on a sunny summer Sunday help Scotland reach ‘significant milestone’ on path towards ditching fossil fuels entirely... "For the first time on record, wind turbines have generated more electricity than was used in the whole of Scotland on a single day. "Karen Robinson, of the WeatherEnergy project, which provides information about renewables, said that electricity demand during weekends was “usually lower than the rest of the week”. People also tend to use … Continue reading
Findhorn: Could this be the cleanest, friendliest place to live in the world?
"For many people living in the developed world, day to day life is hectic and increasingly stressful. While we are more connected than ever before, the amount of free time we have to take stock of our lives and spend time with friends and family is constantly under threat. "Maybe we should move to north-east Scotland. "Founded in 1962, the Findhorn Foundation has sustainability and clean living at its core, and offers an alternative way of life to the millions of us who find ourselves in the … Continue reading
Balance of power tilts from fossil fuels to renewable energy
"Old certainties no longer hold sway as new plans for energy supply surprise... "These are strange days in the energy business. Startling headlines are emerging from the sector that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. "The implication of those stories is to suggest there are momentous changes under way in the global energy system, undermining received wisdom in the sector. It is clear that the world is shifting toward renewables and — as a proportion of total consumption — away … Continue reading
Revolutionary: Germany Builds A Solar City That Produces Four Times More Energy Than It Consumes
"We have known cities to be great power-guzzlers, having a huge appetite for consuming electricity to power its homes and buildings. To generate electricity for such cities through renewable sources like solar becomes a difficult task given the vast amount of area required to place the solar panels. But a city in the heart of Germany has achieved something more incredible. It not only has made itself self-sufficient in energy, but in fact has become a net producer of energy – all thanks to a … Continue reading
China pushes for mandatory integration of renewable power
"China has become the world's biggest wind and solar power user, but a large amount of renewable power has not been able to reach the grid because transmission capabilities are lagging generating capacity by around three to five years. "China has ordered power transmission companies to provide grid connectivity for all renewable power generation sources and end a bottleneck that has left a large amount of clean power idle, the country's energy regulator said on Monday." Read the full story by … Continue reading
The Solar Village is the first community in the world to produce 4x more energy than it uses
"After architect, Rolf Disch, built the Heliotrope (the first building in the world to capture more energy than it uses) he set his sights higher. "He successfully created a retail, commercial and residential space called Sonnenschiff, translating to "Solar Ship," that was energy net-positive in 2004. The building was a hit, and over the following years 60 more residential buildings have been constructed surrounding the solar ship, all with energy positive electrical systems. Today the village, … Continue reading
Fiji becomes first country in the world to ratify Paris agreement
"Parliament unanimously agree to ratify UN climate treaty ahead of signing ceremony in April in New York, reports BusinessGreen.... "Fiji has become the first country in the world to formally approve the UN climate deal agreed by 195 nations in Paris in December. "Under its national climate action plan, Fiji pledged to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. It also promised to cut overall emissions from its energy sector by 30% by 2030 compared to business-as-usual, … Continue reading
David Attenborough backs the Global Apollo Program for Renewable Energy
"Leading scientists, business figures, academics and MPs have called on world leaders to adopt the Global Apollo Program (GAP). "The GAP plan for internationally coordinated RD&D (research, development and demonstration) into renewable energy technology aims to make renewable energy cheaper than fossil fuels." Watch video