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Solar Energy Conversion Process: Light and Heat

The scientific struggle to increase the efficiency in which renewable energy is used and then reused has proven to be a daunting task. Large wind farms and fields of solar panels are commonly used to generate energy through solar radiation. Congruently, investors are having a troublesome time competing with traditional oil and electric suppliers.

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Supply fears hit UN carbon credits

FT, 6 Sep 2010

Uncertainty about the supply of UN-issued carbon credits has led to their price hitting a four-month high. Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) have surged on international carbon markets in recent weeks after a UN board acted over concerns that chemical plants in China and elsewhere in the developing world were deliberately overproducing HFC 23, a potent greenhouse gas, in order to claim the saleable credits for subsequently destroying it.

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A carbon border tax can curb climate change

FT, 6 Sep 2010

As global growth picks up after the economic crisis, carbon emissions are going back up too. With China and India back on track to double their gross domestic product every decade, and with coal providing nearly 30 per cent of global energy, the chances of stabilising and reducing emissions are low. Indeed, little progress has been made in the last two decades. Only recessions lower emissions – and then only for a short time.
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Low-carbon market to treble by 2020 - HSBC

Reuters, 6 Sep 2010

The world's low-carbon energy market is likely to treble by 2020, HSBC analysts forecast on Monday, saying that rising concerns about resource scarcity would support broad consensus on the threat of climate change.
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Novacem: Cement That Eats Carbon

Bloomberg, 3 Sep 2010

The construction materials industry emits gobs of carbon dioxide, but a British startup has devised a new cement that absorbs and stores CO2 when it's produced
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UK urged to invest more in low-carbon technologies

19/07/2010 by GUARDIAN

The UK was today warned it should invest more in the development of low-carbon technologies if it is to achieve ambitious targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Innovations such as offshore wind and wave power, and smart grids and meters, will help achieve the target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said.

The independent body, set up to report on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, said that developing green technologies would also provide a boost to the economy in the long term.

It warned that without government support, a range of essential low-carbon technologies were likely to get stuck in a "valley of death" where development is stalled and fails to make it to market.

The technologies are "vital" in generating cleaner forms of electricity, which can then be used to fuel electric vehicles and heating and in creating energy-efficient buildings, it said.

Any reduction in current funding levels of £550m a year for research and development of green technologies would increase the risk of missing targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and would see the UK losing out on "critical" opportunities to build a green economy, the CCC said.

Once financial pressures have eased, increased funding will be required in specific cases such as marine technologies and electric vehicles, and for low-carbon innovation more generally, over the next decade, the committee said.

The findings were published in a report for the government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir John Beddington.

Professor Julia King, a committee member, said: "The case for action is strong. With adequate funding, new policies and strengthened delivery arrangements, we would expect UK firms to take leading roles in the development of key technologies, driving down emissions to meet carbon budgets and targets, and fulfilling the new government's clear objective to build a low-carbon economy.

"We urge the government to put the appropriate low-carbon technology support arrangements in place to unlock environmental and wider economic benefits."

Prof Beddington said: "Innovation will be enormously important if the UK is to meet its climate change goals, and to do so affordably.

"We need to develop and deploy the most promising low carbon technologies quickly across all sectors.

"In times of austerity we must also make sure we invest public money to maximum effect."

Tim Yeo, the chairman of the Commons energy and climate change select committee, warned today that the UK and other western countries risk being left behind by China, which is investing heavily in low-carbon technology. He said: "They are using this period furiously, while their economy is growing, to invest in low-carbon technology. They are rolling out a high-speed rail network in very short order, so that will cut the demand for domestic flights in China; they are investing quite heavily in renewable energy; they have got quite demanding vehicle standards; they have a quite impressive tree planting programme."

Last week details of £34m cuts to low carbon technology programmes were announced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) as part of the coalition government's spending cuts. They followed figures published by the DECC last month that showed energy supplied by renewable sources, such as wind and hydro, dropped this winter, despite years of promises and policies to end the nation's dependence on fossil fuels and slash emissions.


Copyright 2010 Guardian News and Media Limited

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