Saltire prize boosts marine energy

ELN Editor Sumit Bose takes to the Orkney islands to find out why the Scottish Government hopes the public-funded £10million Saltire Prize will boost the country’s marine energy, along the way speaking with Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. He hears from some of the companies involved in Scotland’s growing wave and tidal sector, including ScottishPower […]

Obama order backs industrial energy efficiency

US President Barack Obama yesterday signed an executive order to help investment in industrial energy efficiency, including combined heat and power systems (CHP), across US businesses. The order also sets out a new national objective of 40 gigawatts of new combined heat and power capacity by 2020, a 50% increase over the current level. CHP […]

Green cars get their own Formula E

Green cars are set to get the Formula One treatment with their own hot competition – the Formula E. That’s after motor racing’s world governing body the FIA recently gave the green light to a new motor racing series for electric cars. The new Formula E Championship will debut in 2014 with a target grid […]

More young people working in oil and gas

Fears the oil and gas sector is failing to attract young workers will be set at ease as new figures show at least twice as many ‘twentysomethings’ work in offshore oil and gas than 60-65 year-olds. Trade body Oil & Gas UK says there are two and a half times as many workers aged between […]

New solar technology cut costs by 75%

A new solar technology developed in the US could cut solar costs by as much as 75%. Scientists at the Research Triangle Park (RTI) say they can make solar energy more affordable and help “speed-up” the market. The solar cells are made from particles called colloidal quantum dots, which are inorganic semiconductors that capture light […]

Heat retention cooker cuts fuel usage

A new cooker that cuts the use of fuel has been launched in Africa. Natural Balance claims the ‘Wonderbag’ can prevent the emission of half a ton of carbon every year, equivalent to more than 45,000 EU households emitting carbon annually. After food is boiled for around 10 minutes and taken off the heat, it […]

Energy made in the UK drops

Production of virtually all forms of energy except for wind and hydro fell in the UK between April and June 2012 compared to the year before. Oil and gas production stood at 31.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent for the second quarter of 2012, 10% lower than the same period a year ago, continuing a […]

Iran must increase its renewable energy generation

Iran needs to step-up its energy generation from renewable sources and nuclear to cut its reliance on fossil fuels. GlobalData made the comment in its latest report, which shows that 90% of the 264,625GWh of electricity generated last year came from oil, gas and coal. With the country’s implementation of its Renewable Energy Power Purchase […]

Wind power “is not inefficient” gusts new report

A think-tank has blasted claims wind power is inefficient or unreliable as “untrue”. The left-leaning Independent Public Policy Research centre (IPPR) sets out research which suggests wind power is an effective way of cutting carbon emissions. The IPPR report counters the idea wind is unreliable, stating wind power output is “remarkably stable and increases and […]

Greenpeace ends action at Gazprom Arctic rig

Greenpeace has finally ended its five-day protest at an Arctic oil rig. The campaign group had been trying to stop Gazprom from starting to drill for oil in the Pechora Sea off the north west Russian coast. On the last day of the protest a Greenpeace speedboat carrying campaigners capsized as it tried to stop a ship […]