SolarCity has agreed to pay $29.5 million (£22m) to settle allegations it violated a claims act to generate more money through a US-based solar deployment programme. The Department of Justice said there was no determination of liability as part of the settlement with the company, now owned by Tesla Motors. SolarCity has also agreed to […]

  The UK experienced the “greenest” summer on record this year. New data from National Grid reveals almost 52% of the nation’s electricity generation was met by low carbon sources from 21st June to 22nd September. That’s in comparison to around 35% four years ago. The news comes as the grid operator launches a new […]

Plans to develop India’s first large commercial hybrid solar-wind project have been announced. Siemens Gamesa is to help connect a 28.8MW solar facility to an existing 50MW wind farm in the state of Karnataka. It will also handle the design, engineering and commissioning of the new solar plant. The project is scheduled to be up […]

Energy supplier E.ON has announced plans to phase out the controversial standard variable tariffs (SVTs) from next year. The company believes SVTs “have had their day” so they will no longer be the default option for customers coming to the end of their existing tariff. They will instead have the option to “roll over” to […]

Around 50% of the public would back the construction of coal and gas plants with carbon capture and storage technology. A new survey of 2,009 people by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) also revealed 35% said the government’s first priority for generating power should be enough to meet all domestic and industrial needs. A […]

  One of Toyota’s offices in the US has achieved a green building certification. Toyota Motor North America’s (TMNA) headquarters campus in Plano, Texas has received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standard from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). It is the most widely used green building rating system in the […]

An inquiry into electric vehicles (EVs) has been launched by the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee. It will look into the challenges EVs represent for the energy infrastructure and the actions needed to support the development of this market. The inquiry will build on the work of the previous inquiry, which was interrupted […]

The European Commission and China are to co-operate on water protection against pollution, wastage and climate change. They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement joint priorities in the water sector and establish a Water Policy Dialogue. The co-operation between the EU and the Ministry of Water will give political steer to the Chinese […]

UK Chancellor Philip Hammond has announced a £5 million fund to support new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. The funding will be used by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) to survey underexplored areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). The government believes its work with industry on new subsea technologies could […]

Production has started at a giant gas field in Oman. Phase One of the Khazzan field, operated by BP in partnership with Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production, is expected to plateau at one billion cubic feet of gas per day (bcf/d). Once the second phase is up and running, production is expected to rise […]