The worldwide transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. As fossil fuel resources shrink, as air pollution worsens, and as concerns about climate instability cast a shadow over the future of coal, oil and natural gas, a new world energy economy is emerging. The old economy, fueled largely by coal … Continue reading Lester R. Brown: The Great Energy Transition to Solar Power and Wind Energy Is Underway
Continue readingCategory Archives: OpEd
US power sector emissions poised to fall to two-decade low
This should prove to be a watershed year for the “de-carbonization” of the US power sector, with record volumes of coal-fired capacity to be shuttered, renewables capacity to be built, and natural gas to be consumed. The result, according to research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF): CO2 emissions from the power sector should drop … Continue reading US power sector emissions poised to fall to two-decade low
Continue reading
Vestas urges Australian parliament to support Clean Energy Council’s compromise proposal on Renewable Energy Target
Australia now one step away from a return to bipartisan renewable energy policy. After more than a year of uncertainty, the Australian Government can act quickly to secure jobs and investment in rural and regional Australia by accepting the Renewable Energy Target (RET) compromise proposed by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to break the current … Continue reading Vestas urges Australian parliament to support Clean Energy Council’s compromise proposal on Renewable Energy Target
Continue reading
Obama orders gov’t to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 pct.
President Barack Obama on Thursday signed an executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by the federal government by 40 percent over the next decade, a move made as part of his administration’s efforts to fight climate change. The executive order also set a target for 30 percent of the electricity consumed by the … Continue reading Obama orders gov’t to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 pct.
Continue readingWorld CO2 emissions stall in 2014, Rising use of renewable energy, particularly in China, helped keep emissions in check
Global energy emissions stayed stable last year even though the economy grew, according to data released Friday that could boost chances for a landmark climate accord later this year. The rising use of renewable energy, particularly in China, played a role in keeping emissions from the energy sector to 32.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide … Continue reading World CO2 emissions stall in 2014, Rising use of renewable energy, particularly in China, helped keep emissions in check
Continue reading
The Great Transition: Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar power and Wind Energy
“The energy transition will change not only how we view the world but also how we view ourselves,” say the authors of The Great Transition. “With rooftop solar panels to both power homes and recharge car batteries, there will be a personal degree of energy independence not known for generations.” As fossil fuel reserves … Continue reading The Great Transition: Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar power and Wind Energy
Continue reading
U.S. trend toward sustainable energy continued in 2014
The United States saw continued growth in renewable energy, natural gas and energy efficiency in 2014, according to the third annual Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The Factbook shows that U.S. deployment of sustainable energy increased as prices continued to fall and that investment in U.S. clean energy grew at a higher rate. Analysts at … Continue reading U.S. trend toward sustainable energy continued in 2014
Continue reading
The cost of wind energy and solar power keeps dropping
A new study from the International Renewable Energy Agency laying it out in detail. Large wind power farms got cheaper between 2010 and 2014. Large-scale solar power got a lot cheaper. And at least some renewable plants are even becoming competitive with new fossil-fuel plants: The chart shows the “levelized cost of electricity” for different … Continue reading The cost of wind energy and solar power keeps dropping
Continue reading
Global capacity of renewable energy will more than double in 2025
The past decade has witnessed significant developments in policies for renewable energy. Previously, less than 50 countries worldwide had support policies for renewable energy; this number now stands at more than 130. As a result of political and financial support, investments in renewables have risen dramatically in recent years. In fact, the European Union has … Continue reading Global capacity of renewable energy will more than double in 2025
Continue reading
Renewable energy now cost advantageous, especially when cost of pollution is factored in
The cost of generating power from renewable energy sources has reached parity or dropped below the cost of fossil fuels for many technologies in many parts of the world, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) revealed in a new report today. The landmark report, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2014, concludes that biomass, hydropower, … Continue reading Renewable energy now cost advantageous, especially when cost of pollution is factored in
Continue reading
Renewable energy costs in 2014: Wind energy and solar power now cheaper than fossil
The cost of generating power from renewable energy sources has reached parity or dropped below the cost of fossil fuels for many technologies, the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) has revealed. Irena’s “Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2014” report concludes that biomass, hydropower, geothermal and onshore wind are all competitive with or cheaper than coal, … Continue reading Renewable energy costs in 2014: Wind energy and solar power now cheaper than fossil
Continue reading
Rebound in clean energy investment in 2014 beats expectations
Surges in investment in offshore wind energy in Europe, and solar power in China and the US, helped to drive the 2014 global clean energy total up 16% to $310bn. Clean energy investment rose for the first time in three years in 2014, overcoming a slump in oil prices that unsettled the outlook for the … Continue reading Rebound in clean energy investment in 2014 beats expectations
Continue reading
2015 will see nuclear power dream fade as wind energy and solar power soar
Governments are still spending billions on nuclear research, writes Paul Brown – but 2015 looks like being an unhappy year for the industry as it continues to shrink while renewables grow, amid massive delays and cost over-runs. With nuclear power falling ever further behind renewables as a global energy source, and as the price of … Continue reading 2015 will see nuclear power dream fade as wind energy and solar power soar
Continue reading
6 Reasons 2014 Was a Good Year for Climate Action
Here are six reasons to be optimistic under even the most climate-denying Congress: 1. The price of solar and wind energy has fallen below the price of conventional fuels, pushing utilities to switch to alternative fuels. The New York Times reports that “The cost of providing electricity from wind and solar power plants has plummeted … Continue reading 6 Reasons 2014 Was a Good Year for Climate Action
Continue reading
Deal reached at UN climate change talks in Peru
The U.N. weather agency said last week that 2014 could become the hottest year on record. More than 30 hours behind schedule, delegates from more than 190 countries agreed on what information should go into the pledges that countries submit for the expected Paris pact. They argued all day Saturday over the wording of … Continue reading Deal reached at UN climate change talks in Peru
Continue readingTowards the climate conference PARIS – mapping the way towards 100% renewable energies
The COP20 Presidency has branded the related WBA/WWEA Side Event of 5 December as “Lima Climate Action Highlight” and will showcase a summary during the COP20 High-level Session on 11 December. Regions, cities and communities leading the transformation towards 100 % renewables Regions, cities and communities demonstrate that the transformation to a 100% renewable fuelled … Continue reading Towards the climate conference PARIS – mapping the way towards 100% renewable energies
Continue reading
Fossil fuels should be ‘phased out by 2100’ says IPCC
That is the central message of a stark new report from the UN-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The United Nations’ expert panel on climate science on Saturday finished a report on global warming that the UN’s environment agency said offers ”conclusive evidence” that humans are altering the Earth’s climate system. The document, which combines … Continue reading Fossil fuels should be ‘phased out by 2100’ says IPCC
Continue reading
Heads of State miss the chance to back renewable energy in Europe
The European Council’s decision to set an EU-binding target of 27% showed a lack of ambition to improve Europe’s energy security. Governments also ignored calls from the renewable energy sector and European business leaders for a nationally-binding target of at least 30%. Thomas Becker, chief executive officer of the European Wind Energy Association, said: … Continue reading Heads of State miss the chance to back renewable energy in Europe
Continue reading
Wind power is more cheaper than gas
It’s no surprise that if environmental costs are considered, renewables—particularly wind power—are a far better bargain than coal power. But it might surprise many that according to a new such analysis, nuclear power lags far behind wind energy and even hydroelectric power in its economic impact, at least in the European Union. Energy costs are … Continue reading Wind power is more cheaper than gas
Continue reading
Renewable energy can supply 100% of world’s power by 2050
A global low-carbon energy economy is not only feasible – it could actually double electricity supply by 2050, while also reducing air and water pollution, according to new research. “Our analysis indicates that the large-scale implementation of wind, [solar] PV, and CSP [Concentrated Solar Power] has the potential to reduce pollution-related environmental impacts of … Continue reading Renewable energy can supply 100% of world’s power by 2050
Continue reading
