North Sea investigated for carbon storage potential
by David Masters
Millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide produced by European power stations could be stored under the North Sea if new research is successful. The British and Norwegian governments yesterday signed an agreement to jointly research the potential of using the North Sea for carbon capture and storage (CCS). The joint study will investigate how quickly the sea bed could be prepared for carbon storage, and what the UK, Norway, and other countries ...
Goats killed by turbine racket
by David Masters
A goat farmer in Taiwan claims that the noise of wind turbines built near his grazing land disturbs the sleeping patterns of his goats, with 400 animals allegedly dying of exhaustion since the turbines were installed. Before the turbines were built, Kuo Jing-shan had about 700 goats at his farm on Penghu, an outlying Taiwanese island. He now has just 250 goats, and blames the demise of his flock on the racket ...
US university powered by landfill gas
by David Masters
Campus buildings at the University of New Hampshire are to be powered using purified methane gas from a nearby landfill site. Construction has finished on the university's Ecoline project, which will provide up to 85% of its electricity and heat from natural methane gas. The $49 million project has an expected payback time of 10 years, and reduces the university's carbon emissions to an estimated 57% below 1990 levels. “This project will reduce ...
Shetland windfarm could provide 25% of Scotland’s energy
by David Masters
The Shetland Islands could soon be home to a 540MW wind farm, providing up to a quarter of Scotland's energy needs. Under the proposed scheme Europe's largest onshore wind farm would be built on the islands, which have the strongest and most consistent winds in Europe. The proposal, which will see 150 turbines up to 145m high covering an area of 250 hectares, has been put together by Viking Energy, a joint ...
Scientist develops ultra-thin solar cells
by David Masters
Ultra-thin low-cost solar cells could one day be built in to clothing, tents and windows. Researchers have discovered a way to develop miniature, flexible, semi-transparent solar panels that could be placed almost anywhere to collect the sun's energy. Developed by Illinois University professor John A. Rogers over a five year period, the panels have been licensed by North Carolina-based semi-conductor maker Semprius, and a pilot run of the modules will be manufactured ...
Military is America’s biggest gas-guzzler
by David Masters
The US military is the country's single largest consumer of energy, spending $13 billion on fuel in 2007 and $20 billion in 2008, a military thinktank pointed out this week in a new report. The panel of retired generals, admirals, and a former space shuttle commander also highlighted America's unsustainable exploitation of energy; the US burns more oil than any other country, but controls only 2% of oil supplies. Their report warned ...
Round-the-world cyclists highlight solar potential
by David Masters
A trio of British eco-campaigners have set off on a round-the-world expedition on their bicycles, to highlight the potential of solar power in the fight against climate change. Susie Wheeldon, Jamie Vining, and Iain Henderson plan to give the money raised from their 12,000 mile adventure to SolarAid, a charity that teaches poor communities in rural Africa to build and sell solar devices. They'll also be calling on the UN to give ...
Taller turbines produce 20% more energy
by David Masters
Extending the height of wind turbines can increase their power generation by up to 20%, a Dutch wind turbine firm has claimed. Netherlands-based Advanced Tower Systems (ATS) this week installed a taller turbine in Grevenbroich Windtest field near Cologne, Germany to test its assertion. “This is a great day for wind energy.” said Frans Brughuis, ATS managing director. “Now the pilot project can demonstrate the high cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the ATS concept." Most ...
UK government approves world’s largest offshore windfarm
by David Masters
The world's largest offshore windfarm is set to be built on the UK coastline at a cost of £2.2 billion, and will start producing energy by 2012. Consisting of 175 turbines spanning 90 square miles, the world's first oneGW offshore windfarm will produce enough energy to power a quarter of the homes in Greater London. The windfarm, named the London Array, will be built 12 miles off the coast of Essex and ...
Eastern Europe to receive €15bn renewables investment
by David Masters
Renewable energy projects in Eastern Europe are set to receive an investment boost of up to €15 billion over the next two years, under plans drawn up by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The EBRD said it aims to invest €3-5 billion in renewables by 2011, and believes this will trigger additional investments of up to €10 billion. “Reducing energy wastage in eastern Europe and developing reliable new supplies ...
UK school to be heated with biomass
by David Masters
A UK school plans to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by installing a £60,000 biomass boiler powered by burning wood pellets. Gulworthy Primary School near Tavistock, Devon, has received grants from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, EDF Energy, and the Co-operative Group to fund the microgeneration system. A monitor on the boiler will show pupils at the school how much energy is being produced, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions ...
Government investigates tidal energy potential
by David Masters
The UK government has announced a study into the potential of marine energy generated from the coastlines of England and Wales. The study, to be completed by 2011, is part of the government's effort to encourage development of wave and tidal renewable technologies. Lord Hunt, climate change minister, said the study shows the government is 'very serious' about marine energy. Environmental consultancies AEA and Hartley Anderson will carry out the study, with input ...
Smart meters in all UK homes by 2020
by David Masters
Smart meters are to be installed in every UK home by 2020 at a cost of £9 billion. The government hopes to cut Britain's carbon emissions by up to a third through the scheme. Smart meters feedback real time energy usage figures to energy companies, enabling them to send accurate gas and electricity bills, in contrast to the current system where the bill is estimated based on average monthly energy use. The meters ...
Energy prices turn Brits towards eco-living
by David Masters
Rising energy prices coupled with wallets pinched by the credit crunch are forcing Brits to embrace green living - but only to an extent. More than three quarters (78%) of UK households have become more energy efficient in the last twelve months. Over a third (36%) did so because of the rising cost of gas and electricity. However, just 9% cited environmental concerns as their main motivation for making their home more energy ...
Greens unhappy at Severn barrage shortlist
by Alan Harten
Green groups are upset by the Government's final decision on the Severn estuary barrage, claiming that the five schemes they chose of a possible ten are biased towards large business and not towards the best ecological solutions. After the shortlist was first announced, seven of the key environmental groups in Britain (which include the National Trust, WWF, and Wildfowl and Wetlands), decided to commission their own report, hiring engineers Atkins to ...
Sea snake wave power device looks promising
by Alan Harten
Sometimes the best inventions come in small packages, like the 'Anaconda' created by Checkmate Seaenergy Ltd to harvest the energy potential created by ocean waves. The Anaconda is simply a long piece of rubber tubing that fills with water and as waves push through it the power drives a turbine that converts the power into energy. While the Anaconda is not yet available in its full size, developers and the government ...
Scotland will fill oil wells with carbon waste
by Alan Harten
An alternative to releasing CO2 into the air is being discussed in Scotland, according to a study recently released by Minister Alex Salmond that CCS (carbon capture and storage) methods are being considered for placing around 50 billion tons of greenhouse emissions under the seas, over the next 20 years. The CO2 would be placed under the sea in Scottish waters and the oil would be taken from the North Sea ...
Unplugged Living: eco-friendly and good for the soul
by David Masters
A small but growing number of young professionals in the US are choosing to live 'unplugged' - without a TV or Internet connection. These young adults are unplugging for the sake of their own happiness, carving time out of the virtual world of soap operas and facebook, giving that time to real world things they love to do. With the average American spending three hours per day watching TV or browsing ...
Vesta axes 1,900 wind turbine jobs
by David Masters
Denmark-based Vestas, the world's biggest maker of wind turbines, this week announced plans to axe 1,900 jobs despite a 70% increase in profit. Net profits for the first three months of 2009 were €56 million, up from €33 million in the first quarter of 2008. However, Vestas said it needs to cut jobs in northern Europe because demand for wind turbines is slacking off in the recession. Around 600 of the job cuts ...
Kevin McCloud backs green homes campaign
by David Masters
Kevin McCloud, the architect and designer who found fame presenting Channel 4's 'Grand Designs' show, has pledged his support for a campaign to make British homes more energy efficient. The Great British Refurb campaign, launched this week at the Grand Designs LIVE show in London, is backed by the WWF, the UK Green Building Council, and the Energy Saving Trust. The idea behind the campaign is simple: encouraging householders to make their ...