The UK Governement have agreed to invest £10m into the £51m ‘Meygen Tidal Stream Project’ which is set to create the world’s largest Tidal Power scheme in Scotland. The UK already has around 50% of Europe’s tidal energy resource, but the project in the north of Scotland could generate enough electricity to power 175,000 homesRead more
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The levels of gases in the atmosphere that drive global warming increased to a record high in 2012. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), atmospheric CO2 grew more rapidly last year than its average rise over the past decade. Concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide also broke previous records Thanks to carbon dioxide andRead more
A delay to the publication of revisions to regulations that govern the energy efficiency of buildings, considered crucial for delivering the UK’s carbon targets, could put back implementation of the changes by up to six months, industry figures have warned. In March, the Budget statement committed the government to “publish a detailed plan, setting outRead more
The government has dismissed a proposal that big shops and factories could be paid to cut their energy use to prevent shortages leading to blackouts. Electricity network owner National Grid has suggested large consumers could be asked to lower use between 16:00 and 20:00 on weekdays in the winter. It was responding to a warningRead more
The UK is not on track to hit its climate change targets through the 2020s, government advisers have warned. The Committee on Climate Change said carbon emissions rose in 2012 by 3.5%. After the figures were adjusted for the cold weather and a greater use of coal to make electricity, emissions fell – but byRead more
A new government report prepared by the British Geological Survey suggests that shale gas reserves beneath Yorkshire, Cheshire and Lancashire could be twice as large as originally thought. The estimated 130 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas could provide 40 to 45 years worth of UK gas demand. The UK governemnt seem determined to fast-track frackingRead more
Voltage optimisation is an increasingly popular retrofit solution to the problem of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in existing buildings. Whilst it may sound as simple as fixing a gadget to your incoming electrical supply, the truth is that VO requires careful consideration to establish the suitability of your building. What is Voltage Optimisation?Read more
Cowboy builders and criminals are using the Green Deal name to defraud money from homeowners. Trading standards officers have reported that cold callers posing as Green Deal assessors are charging “administration fees”. Green Deal loans are only available through government contracted assessors who are identifiable through an allocated assessor number. Complaints about fraudulent callers have so far been registeredRead more
Lighting company Philips has developed an LED lamp that it describes as “the world’s most energy-efficient”. It said the prototype tube lighting LED is twice as efficient as those currently used in offices and industry around the world but offers the same amount of light. Being able to halve the amount of energy used couldRead more
The chancellor’s promise to deliver tax breaks for shale gas and the oil industry has angered environmentalists. George Osborne promised a package of measures to promote early investment in shale gas, apparently hoping for a shale gas boom – but environmentalists point out that shale gas is unlikely to bring down energy bills in the UK.Read more