The impact of fossil fuels on the environment is pushing architects and engineers to make buildings greener — and, when possible, fossil fuel-free. Hundreds of design decisions can impact a building's energy efficiency, making fossil-fuel-free structures more or less workable. Multilayered window designs can trap heat, making climate control systems more efficient. Advanced appliances can
In general, the tale of photovoltaics in Europe has been a success story, albeit one not completely devoid of obstacles and hurdles. The idea of producing clean energy was pushed by tailwinds when CO2 emissions skyrocketed and the catastrophic Fukushima incident once more made us recognize the hazards of nuclear energy. However, the PV industry
Given the increasing concerns about global warming and environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels, policymakers pay more attention to energy storage solutions than ever before. Apart from having the ability to address the intermittent supply of renewable energy, energy storage assets can also offer a multitude of uses consisting of frequency regulation and ancillary service
New research suggests that power companies are dragging their feet when it comes to embracing green energy sources such as wind and solar. Only one in 10 energy suppliers globally has prioritised renewables over fossil fuels, the study finds. Even those that are spending on greener energy are continuing to invest in carbon heavy coal
FRANKFURT -- Elon Musk appears to be opening a new front in the European battle for electric-car supremacy: providing power for EVs. Musk's Tesla has recently acquired a license that will enable the automaker to trade electricity across western Europe and the company has also been surveying customers in Germany about potentially using Tesla electricity
Renewable generation was up 32% year-on-year during Q2 2020, as the COVID-19 lockdown made Britain’s electricity ‘cleaner and cheaper, but harder to control’. According to the latest Drax Electric insights report, April to June 2020 was the cleanest quarter ever, with carbon intensity falling to an all-time low of 21 g/kWh on the Spring Bank
Heat pumps have a “critical role” to play in London reaching net zero according to a new report from The Carbon Trust. The report, which was commissioned by the Mayor of London, is designed to help guide local authorities, social housing providers and others considering a heat pump retrofit. Retrofitting will be of significant importance
When June and Frank Armstrong’s power supply company quoted a figure of £150,000 to hook up their new poultry shed to the mains electricity network, it forced a rethink. The Armstrongs had been milking 130 cows at Netherhirst, near Longtown, Carlisle, but when they reached their 50s, they began to question their future in dairying.
The sad reality is that the blackouts rolling across California this week were both predictable and avoidable. The silver lining is that future blackouts across California are avoidable – if we invest in large-scale energy storage projects to provide on-demand power. Energy analysts have warned for years that California’s embrace of renewable energy sources –
We are living in an era of big batteries, and they are getting bigger. Isn’t there a song about this: I like big batteries and cannot lie. You other utilities can’t deny, that when lightning takes out the power with a roaring CRASH but big batteries flip it back ON. In California, there’s a plan