British Gas price snip kicks in New Year’s Day

An average price snip of 3.2% from British Gas for its household gas and power tariffs kicks in tomorrow. The supplier’s cut is equivalent to an average £41 off a yearly dual fuel bill. British Gas said this means an average bill will fall £1,282 to £1,241, based on Ofgem’s new industry average for annual […]

US recycling trucks switch to compressed gas to cut emissions

An American recycling and waste firm has traded its diesel trucks for new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicles to cut its fuel use and save emissions. Indianapolis firm Republic Services rolled out 79 CNG solid waste and recycling trucks. It has installed two natural gas fuelling stations to support the new fleet. Travis Simpson, […]

Oil train ablaze after collision in the US

An oil train was set ablaze in the US state of North Dakota yesterday after a collision with another freight train carrying grain. Plumes of black smoke and a fireball were seen after the crash and residents within a five mile radius were advised to evacuate their homes. No injuries were reported. It is unclear […]

Chinese panel maker flogs Cornish solar farm

Sunergy the Chinese solar panel manufacturer has sold a Cornish solar farm to UK generator Lightsource Renewable Energy Based in the southwest of Cornwall, the 5MW solar project was hooked up to the grid at the end of March 2013 and generates enough to power more than 1500 households. Built on farmland traditionally used by […]

Aloha biomass! Hawaii power plant bags approval

A biomass plant in the US state of Hawaii has reportedly bagged approval from state regulators. The Pepeekeo plant in a converted sugar mill could provide 10% of the energy needs of Hawaii’s Big Island. It will use biofuel including locally grown biomass such as eucalyptus, according to the developer Hu Honua Bioenergy. A previous […]

Free carbon cutting course opens for Suffolk businesses

Medium-sized businesses in Suffolk can get four days of free advice on how to cut energy with a new scheme backed by the county council. Launching on New Year’s Day (1 Jan 2014), the new programme is open to businesses with between 50 and 250 staff in the coastal county. Eligible companies will get help […]

National Grid men make New Year Honours List

Singers and sporting heroes aren’t the only ones to earn the royal seal of approval: this year’s New Year Honours List recognises the work of prominent energy and water industry figures too. While more Brits are likely to know of classical singer Katherine Jenkins (pictured, right) or the DJ Pete Tong, who both bagged OBEs, […]

Colombian telecoms firm hopes to save £4m with energy efficiency

A Colombian telecoms firm hopes to mash down its electricity bill by £4 million (13,000 million pesos) through its PUREE energy efficiency scheme. Une Epm Telecomunicaciones (UNE) said last week it has already saved 6.8 million kilowatts of electricity and reduced its emissions by about 1,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent with the scheme since 2009. […]

Warning over oil thefts from rural homes

Rural households are being warned to stay vigilant in case of oil thefts as the winter chill increases. Thousands of homes across the country rely on oil for central heating, according to the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) which represents the domestic oil heating and cooking industry. A recent survey by the National Farmers Union […]

Qatari oil firm buys Congo oil stake

Qatar Petroleum International has bought a share of Total’s oil business in the Republic of Congo for $1.6 billion (£960m). The deal for a 15% stake of Total E&P Congo was sealed on Boxing Day. The business is a leading oil producer in the country, operating 10 of the 22 fields developed. It accounts for […]