- Offshore wind needs a breakI visited an offshore wind farm last week. The trip was organised as part of an inward visit by a number of government officials from other countries, as an example of low-carbon and renewable energy …
Author Archives: nickcheffins
Zinc – air batteries: The answer to an EV’s prayer?
Posted on by nickcheffinsElectric vehicles are gaining an increasing profile. Using electricity as fuel can reduce cost per mile by up to 80%. In London where they can also avoid congestion charges as well as road tax and only need to travel relatively short distances they are beginning to catch on. Small electric vans are beginning to move silently around the capitals [...]
Electric Vehicle recharging on show at SUSTAIN 2012
Posted on by nickcheffinsOne of the major attractions at this year’s SUSTAIN conference was the range of electric vehicles and the latest charging systems on show to delegates. The Picture here shows one of Siemens fleet of Nissan Leaf vehicles which are on test in Lincoln. The power to charge the leaf came from the recently installed photovoltaic panels on [...]
Banana-powered cellphones!
Posted on by nickcheffinsThe New Scientist recently reported that researchers at Wageningen University have been able to demonstrate the potential for plant bacteria to generate meaningful amounts of electricity – truly green power. It works due to the fact that all plant roots ‘excrete’ sugars into the soil. Bacteria around the roots then break down the sugars releasing CO2, electrons (-ve [...]
Official: 2010 a record year for CO2 emissions – a challenge for Durban
Posted on by nickcheffinsThe International Energy Agency has recently reported that 2010 was a record year for carbon dioxide emissions. Against this background many are playing down expectation that COP 17 (The UN mediated Conference of the Parties) scheduled for Durban at the end of November will achieve any real progress towards a binding international agreement on emissions. Greg [...]
New study backs climate change data
Posted on by nickcheffinsA new analysis commissioned in the wake of the climate gate affair a to review temperature data has concluded that the increase in land temperatures are real. The work was carried out by a group part funded by climate sceptics who have claimed that anomalies such as the heat island effect of large cities had inflated [...]
Challenges to the FiT review – have your say
Posted on by nickcheffinsThe Environmental Audit Committee and Energy and Change Committee are calling for evidence on the review of Feed in Tariffs for small-scale Solar Voltaic (PV) renewable energy recently announced by DECC.You can make your submission simply by following this link . Friends of the Earth have threatened to mount a legal challenge but the case for [...]
Is there a little green light amid the Euro gloom?
Posted on by nickcheffinsReuters has just reported that EU Finance ministers on Tuesday signed off on more than 4 billion euros in short-term funding to help developing countries adapt to climate change and curb emissions — even as they met to grapple with Europe’s debt crisis. However some suspect a little sleight of hand as it appears that at [...]
Government annouces 55% reduction in feed in tariffs for photovoltaics
Posted on by nickcheffinsDECC has announced an ultra fast consultation on reductions to the feed in tariffs for small scale pv installations which could severely reduce the roll out of this technology. The scale of the cut back may also cause significant job losses amongst installation business in Lincolnshire. For more details go to http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_091/pn11_091.aspx Pictures like [...]
Review announced of renewable energy tariffs
Posted on by nickcheffinsThe government has annouced proposals to limit the size of biomass plants to 50 megawatts. Drax has indicated that it may put its projects on hild as a result of the details in the consultation paper. Some interventions such as support for advanced co-firing will go up. This may be interpreted by some as favouring [...]