A 700 seat convention centre, restaurants and arcades are all solar powered. There will be two more soon.
Solarcentury
The company I founded in 1998 to design and supply solar energy solutions for the built environment. Solarcentury
Solar Aid
The charity I founded in 2006, with a 5% contribution of Solarcentury profits, to help deliver solar lighting to Africa. Solar Aid
Archive for May, 2011
Europe’s dry spring could lead to blackouts, governments warn.
May 31, 2011 Climate, NuclearSoils are now “critically dry” in 6 countries. Nuclear reactors could be forced offline.
China raises electricity prices for industrial users
May 31, 2011 CoalBeijing flinches in the face of soaring demand and the problem of fixed prices for utilities facing high coal costs.
Will the triple crunch shake us out of economic torpor?
May 31, 2011 FinanceSo asks Larry Elliot in the Guardian. Finding the ATM machines closed, standing in a flood, with the lights out may finally do the trick. Governments’ quick response to the prospect of a banking collapse in 2008 gives a whiff of what might be possible.
Perspective on the UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security concerns.
May 31, 2011 Oil, Useful peak oil summaries on filmIn this 9 minute ABC interview, posted on You-tube but only used in part in ABC’s Catalyst programme on peak oil, I talk about the reasons for concern, and best case / worst case in the threat assessment.
Regeneration is best done through localisation.
May 30, 2011 Change for Good, CommentariesA Sublime magazine column by Jeremy Leggett argues that there is huge scope for individual and community action to change the world.
UK undermining tar sands ban, says Co-op.
May 30, 2011 OilEU Ministers are not supporting other countries that want tar sands named in a fuel quality directive.
Germany to scrap nuclear power by 2022: its official.
May 30, 2011 NuclearThe ethics commission reports to the government and the decision is ratified. Share prices for renewables surge.
Saudi Prince: “we don’t want the west to find alternatives” to oil.
May 29, 2011 OilHence $70-80 a barrel is good price for the Kingdom, says Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
New Greek bailout….this time with direct EU intervention in how the economy is run.
May 29, 2011 FinanceTax collection, privatisation of state assets etc will be overseen. In return for these severe conditions, Greece gets €30-35bn until end 2013. There is still much opposition from EU governments, and the deal could yet unravel.
“Worst ever carbon emissions leave climate on the brink”: Guardian front page.
May 29, 2011 ClimateThe IEA’s latest figures suggest to them that 2C is now almost out of reach. 2010 saw 30.6 GtCO2 emissions, up 1.6 Gt on 2009. Three quarters of the rise comes from developing countries, and much of it is locked in from new recently constructed power plants. Yet climate was not even discussed at last week’s G8 Summit.
$100bn investment opportunity in Indian solar market: KPMG.
May 26, 2011 Clean EnergyThe market is tiny, but has huge growth prospects in the face of drivers including a projected 12% electricity shortfall at hours of peak demand. Grid parity could be just 6-8 years away. ”The solar sector has the potential to transform the Indian economy in a way the IT sector transformed the Indian economy in the 90s. Industry should grab this golden opportunity.” The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, launched in late 2009, set a target of a 22,000 megawatt production capacity in on- and off-grid production, to be realized by 2022.
Switzerland to join Germans in nuclear phase out.
May 26, 2011 NuclearThe five ageing Swiss plants will not be replaced at the end of their lives between 2019-2035. They provide 40% of Swiss energy.
“Oil industry losing shale PR battle”: FT headline.
May 26, 2011 Gas, OilInvestors are asking more about how the industry will face up to production risks. Some US states and cities are going it alone in opposing unconventional gas production. Pittsburgh has banned fracking.
Nuclear insiders warn of Fukushima-type risks in UK.
May 25, 2011 NuclearIn submissions to the Weightman Enquiry, experts argued that power could be outed in Sellafield by terrorists attacking outside the fence, flood damage needs to be considered more, multiple failures are possible even without earthquakes, and so on.
Better UK wind prediction means less conventional power needed.
May 25, 2011 Clean EnergyNational Grid upgrades wind prediction from 85 to 87%, meaning more 1.5 GW fossil-fuel capacity can be saved.
Shell and Rosneft hold talks on the Arctic.
May 25, 2011 Gas, OilBP’s future supplies look to be in trouble. Offers are also being considered from Exxon and Chevron.
Vince Cable: I can see another crash happening.
May 25, 2011 FinanceGovernment’s have not done enough, Cable says. He favours Buffett’s view that the MBS crash was an atomic bomb and there are hydrogen bombs out there.
Oil rises on Goldman Sachs forecast.
May 24, 2011 Finance, OilHaving successfully called a small commodities correction, the bank is now bullish again.
Climate change poses threat to nuclear power.
May 24, 2011 Climate, NuclearSo argues Natalie Kopytko in New Scientist. Hurricanes and flooding are expected to increase. In 1999, the Blayais plant in France was flooded by a high tide, causing severe damage to two reactors.
Terrorism not included in EU nuclear stress tests.
May 24, 2011 NuclearEarthquakes and other natural disasters will be included in the finalised conditions, but terrorism will be left to national security agencies.
Italian government moves to stop nuclear newbuild
May 24, 2011 NuclearBurlusconi wins a confidence vote on measures that include a 1-2 year stop pending review.
German nuclear phaseout: “easier than many think”.
May 30, 2011 CommentariesSo I argue in debate with Malcolm Grimston on BBC World Service News Hour. Also printed as an opinion on the BBC News website.
Tags: Germany, Nuclear phase out