Defining biomass as a low-carbon fuel is not only mistaken, it is also the cause of higher carbon dioxide emissions and lower building efficiency, according to a paper published today.

Energy giant E.ON today announced it will be investing into a pioneering industry initiative to slash the costs of offshore wind power.

The UK’s energy and climate change policy was today recalibrated for the long term, supported for the first time by comprehensive analysis of plausible pathways to a secure, low carbon energy system in 2050.

E.ON is leading the European offshore business. According to new statistics released by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) 118 new offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 333 megawatts, were connected to the grid in the first half of 2010.

The CBI today welcomed the outcome of the vote on the Industrial Emissions Directive in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The European Union's greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory report, compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA), shows that emissions have not only continued their downward trend in 2008, but have also picked up pace. The EU-27's emissions stood 11.3 % below their 1990 levels, while EU-15 achieved a reduction of 6.9 % compared to Kyoto base-year levels.

What the new coalition want to do about ENERGY AND CLIMATE
CHANGE

E.ON has put another major onshore wind plant into operation in southern Portugal. The Barao Sao Joao wind farm has an installed capacity of 50 MW and cuts CO2 emissions by about 60 tonnes annually.

Low Carbon Construction Innovation and Growth Team, chaired by Chief Construction Adviser, Paul Morrell, published its Emerging Findings

Ice loss from the Greenland ice sheet, which has been increasing during the past decade over its southern region, is now moving up its northwest coast, according to a new international study.

new consortium to develop and produce ‘carbon efficient’ transport biofuel

Paving the way for ‘pay as you save’ green finance to make energy efficiency pay from day one
Up to 7 million British households to benefit from eco upgrades by 2020

Feed-in tariff for small scale low carbon electricity finalised for 1 April introduction
Power from solar panel could earn £900, on top of £140 reduction on household energy bill
Blueprint published for world first incentive scheme for renewable heat
Tariff levels index linked
Micro combined heat and power piloted in the scheme to kickstart the industry in the UK

The UK will not be able to achieve its target of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 unless it urgently addresses carbon emissions from the built environment, according to a report published today by the Academy. Buildings currently account for 45 per cent of our carbon emissions but it is estimated that 80 per cent of the buildings we will be occupying in 2050 have already been built.

Many 20th century buildings are totally dependent on fossil fuel energy to make them habitable - in the 21st century buildings must be designed to function with much lower levels of energy dependency. The scale of this challenge is vast and will require both effective Government policy and a dramatic increase in skills and awareness in the construction sector.

Four students from the University of Bristol have won a prestigious, once-in-a-life time competition to accompany British explorer Robert Swan and his team from 2041 to see first-hand the effects of climate change on the South Pole.

In the PBR it says Households can also play a part in generating low-carbon energy by installing smallscale
renewable electricity generation on site. Feed-in tariffs, worth on average £900 in 2010
for households, will provide a financial incentive to install renewable technologies, allowing
homes to generate around half of their own electricity.

Smart energy use will save consumers money, make electricity use more efficient and cut carbon emissions

Small-scale renewable electricity schemes could generate more than twice the output of Sizewell B nuclear power station by 2020 if Ministers improve the proposed Clean Energy Cash-back scheme (or feed-in tariff), due to be launched in April next year, according to figures released today (Monday, 30 November 2009) by Friends of the Earth.

Housing and Planning Minister John Healey has today launched measures to cut carbon emissions by overhauling the planning system.

Carbon Trust reveals new foundation designs to transform offshore wind industry

The CBI is warning that unless at least six new nuclear plants are built by 2030 the UK risks missing its climate change targets and undermining energy security.

PLANNERS have done a U-turn over a tourist development in one of Tynedale’s smallest village – because of bats.

Northumberland County Council’s west area planning committee granted conditional permission for a micro-wind generator to provide power for a holiday home at Ingoe in May.

But at its meeting on Thursday the committee reversed the decision, so that a formal bat survey could be carried out at the site.

The decision incensed applicant Rosalind Scott-Bell, who said: “This was approved in principle in May – this change of mind is inappropriate, unfair and contrary to natural justice.”

By BRIAN TILLEY brian.tilley@hexham-courant.co.uk

Quiet Revolution’s helical machines hit by moisture leak and critical report from Southwark council

The maker of one of the most popular brands of “urban” wind turbine has said it remotely shut down all its installed units after the discovery of a fault in August.

Over half of Quiet Revolution’s 100 or so QR5 turbines (pictured right), which have been installed on 55 sites owned by clients including Sainsbury’s, Network Rail and self-storage firm Big Yellow, are still out of action. The company has set a deadline of Christmas to restart the units, which cost about £38,000 each.

According to Michael Willoughby of Building.

A new report, launched today by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), argues that conventional oil production is likely to peak before 2030, with a significant risk of a peak before 2020. The report concludes that the UK Government is not alone in being unprepared for such an event - despite oil supplying a third of the world’s energy.

E.ON has put the world’s largest wind farm into operation in the United States. After a construction period of just over two years, 627 wind turbines with an installed capacity of approx. 780 MW are now operating in Roscoe, Texas. They can generate electricity for more than 230,000 homes.