News

Global Cleantech 100

Paying people to use less energy will save money

An electricity efficiency feed-in tariff would cut demand and mean building fewer new power stations

Bio-diesel made from food in oil-rich UAE

North sea oil spill 'worst for a decade'

The government estimates oil leak could involve more than 1,300 barrels but claims it has been greatly reduced

Barack Obama bets on next generation of biofuels industry

Up to $510m (£311m) in matching funds to help build new refineries or retrofit existing plants.

Ashden Awards international finalists 2011

Ten sustainable energy pioneers from Africa and Asia were selected as international finalists for the prestigious Ashden Awards for sustainable energy 2011.

New MIT Battery Design Could Be Breakthrough

The new design could be a breakthrough for electric vehicles and grid storage.

Google's SolarCity Fund

 Google is investing $280 million to help private homeowners put solar panels on their rooftops. It's Google's latest – and largest – investment in clean energy.

Nuclear power loses its appeal after Japan crisis

Switzerland latest country to shelve nuclear plant plans

Germany to shut all nuclear reactors

Move prompted by mass protests against nuclear power following Japan's nuclear disaster.

BritNed power cable boosts hopes for European supergrid

Electricity link between UK and the Netherlands seen as key step in connecting renewable energy to a European power grid

GE To Acquire France's Converteam For $3.2 Billion

General Electric Co reached a $3.2 billion agreement to acquire a maker of automation systems used in the oil and gas sector, marking the latest in a series of deals in the energy industry.

Budget 2011: Carbon tax brings higher electricity bills – and nuclear windfalls

Nuclear and renewable energy companies will scoop huge windfall profits after the government announced plans to raise £3.2bn by 2016 from a new carbon tax funded by higher electricity bills.

UK slips down global green investment rankings

Britain falls from third to 13th place in league table of countries investing in alternative energy and clean technology according to a report by the US Pew Environment Group.

Google funds company producing biofuel from grass

Biofuel technology is an "innovative solution to one of the world's biggest problems", says Google

10MW tidal power station gets Scottish government's approval

Underwater power station to generate enough energy for 10,000 Hebridean homes, and some distilleries

Wind power cheaper than nuclear, says EU climate chief

Connie Hedegaard says declining cost of offshore wind energy makes it genuine alternative to nuclear industry

SDG&E Drives Solar Power, Green Jobs

SDG&E has agreed to purchase 150 megawatts of energy from Tenaska’s proposed Imperial Solar Energy Center (ISEC) West facility, under a 25 year contract. The 1,057 acre ISEC West solar facility is set to be built outside El Centro, California and will begin construction later this summer following a loan approval from the U.S. Department of Energy. The project will bring nearly 300 construction jobs to the area over the course of the 18 month building process.

Canada’s Largest Wind Farm Approved

The proposed wind farm is being called the Blackspring Ridge I Wind Project and is expected to have a total generating capacity of 300 megawatts.

China Suspends New Nuclear Power Plans

Japan's nuclear crisis reverberated in atomic power-friendly countries Wednesday, with China saying it would hold off on approving new nuclear plants and French lawmakers questioning top energy executives about the safety of their reactors.

'Fracking' Site Closures Extended As Earthquake Link Studied

Two natural gas exploration companies agreed Thursday to extend the shutdowns of two injection wells in Arkansas as researchers continue to study whether the operations are linked to a recent increase in earthquake activity, a state commission said.

Underwater nuclear stations destined for English channel?

Chevron fined $8bn over Amazon 'contamination'

An Ecuadorian judge has ruled that Chevron was responsible for widespread contamination of the country's Amazon basin and fined the company $8bn (£5bn).

Obama 2012 budget includes $8bn for clean energy

President Barack Obama proposed boosting funds for clean energy research and deployment in the 2012 budget by slashing subsidies for fossil fuels

Google invests in $5bn wind-power superhighway

The Atlantic Wind Connection Project will serve 1.9m homes from New Jersey to Virginia with electricity from dozens of offshore windfarms

EU plans strict new controls for offshore oil drilling

Ernst & Young Renewable Energy Attractiveness Indices

World Economic Forums 31 Technology Pioneer companies

The list includes 9 companies with eco and energy efficient theme.

BIS/DECC Consultation: Meeting the Low Carbon Skills Challenge

The Energy Institute recently responded to the governments ‘Low Carbon Skills’ consultation at a meeting chaired by Phil Willis, the former Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

The key recommendations were that

-          The sustainable development principles should be embedded in all areas of the public and private sectors

-          Drastic changes are needed in the delivery of workforce training. New qualifications and skills sets must be developed with sustainable development principles at their core

-          More must be done to build on peoples’ existing skill sets and adapt there applications based on there relevant industry. 

Based on the additional research conducted by the EI in association with Deloitte and Norman Broadbent, we recommended the following be taken into consideration by the industry and academia.

The industry in general needs to

-          Raise the profile of the energy industry as one of the most exciting to work in to combat skills shortages

-          Re-skill and cross-train existing or new staff to combat the decline in STEM skills

-          Develop new and potential graduates at an early stage to combat lack of experienced hires for key roles in an expanding industry.

In turn individual energy companies need to

-          Treat skills shortages as a strategic boardroom issue that requires long term planning

-          Invest in in-house training and development programmes to upgrade the skills of the existing and future workforce

-          Engage with universities to offer technical support, student placements and allow recruits to return to university to promote the industry to future graduates.

For their part, academia should

-          Engage closely with industry to develop and deliver qualifications that meet business needs.

-          Liaise with professional membership bodies to provide students with a head start towards professional recognition.

Please click on the link below to view the full report

Power industry to introduce a national qualification

Australia's Zero Carbon Energy plan to create 125,000 jobs

Scotland bids to host world's first floating windfarm

Drilling begins on Corish geothermal plant

Hawaii becomes a key federal laboratory for biofuels

Germany aims for 100% renewable electricity by 2050

British Gas opens training centre for renewables installation

British Gas has officially opened what it claims is the "UK's first" green skills training centre in South Wales, with the aim of training people in tasks such as installing renewable energy technologies.

BBC - Energy in the UK

BBC Special Report on Energy issues in the UK

Guardian

Various news stories from the Guardian's energy section.