Worldwide investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency stalled in 2018, with experts saying a “rapid boost” is required to keep Paris Agreement goals in sight.
The world added as much renewable energy net capacity in 2018 as it did in 2017. While that ties a record high, it’s also the first time in nearly two decades that additions didn’t see an increase from the prior year.
Washington governor and Democratic presidential candidate Jay Inslee has released his 100% Clean Energy for America plan, an ambitious proposal befitting his position as the candidate running on climate change.
Another tipping point in energy seems to be on the horizon, as renewable energy in the US is expected to surpass coal in electricity generation for the first time this month.
A global transition to 100% renewable energy is possible across the electricity, heat, transport and desalination sectors by 2050, and it can be done for cheaper than the current global energy system, a new study claims.
A combination of renewable energy and electrification can reach 75% of the energy-related emission reductions necessary to meet global climate goals established by the Paris Agreement, a new report suggests.
House Democrats are making a push for clean energy tax incentives, and a new proposed bill would expand the scope of energy storage installations that are eligible for the investment tax credit (ITC).
Scotland’s Orkney Islands have unveiled an initiative that aims to use a network of technologies, including renewables, batteries, and electric vehicles, to become a group of “smart energy islands.” The £28.5 million ($37.4 million) project hopes to eventually eliminate any need for fossil fuel use on the archipelago.
A number of Democrats are now considering proposing various policies on climate change, including clean energy mandates and carbon pricing. And many of these Dems are purposely keeping their distance from the Green New Deal.
Strong gains in solar and wind energy last year have pushed renewable energy to now account for a third of global power capacity, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Scientists have found a new way to create hydrogen fuel using seawater, which could open up a new array of exciting possibilities in energy production.
A new analysis of energy jobs in the U.S. shows clean energy jobs grew 3.6 percent in 2018, adding about 110,000 new net jobs. Clean energy jobs now outnumber fossil fuel jobs by a nearly 3-to-1 ratio.
A group of engineers and scientists have announced a proposal to build an “energy corridor” along the U.S.-Mexico border. The plan would bring energy, water, and jobs to the region, in addition to built-in border security.
The Trump administration is looking to make “severe” budget cuts to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, according to a new report.
The European Union is relying heavily on burning forest biomass to meet its carbon emissions goals. And now it’s facing a legal challenge that’s sure to ignite debate on what it really means for an energy source to be renewable and carbon neutral.
Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial, and political review/analysis of important green energy news.
Today in EGEB, a progress update on EU members hitting 2020 renewable targets. A Texas doctor aims high with his solar projects. Chinese regulators consider changes to solar subsidy policy. And a climate change prophet dies.
Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial, and political review/analysis of important green energy news.
Today on EGEB, researchers at University of Texas’ Cockrell School of Engineering found a new way to integrate solar power production and storage into a single system. Rocky Mountain Institute reports that solar power will outperform fossil fuels on an economical basis to replace the U.S. aging power plants. A new University of Uppsala study argues Nordic countries could supply their energy needs using only green power.
Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial, and political review/analysis of important green energy news.
Today on EGEB, U.S. oceans are about to get a little more crowded by wind turbines. China and India are the main players behind the massive expansion of solar power production. Scientists publish a new study that rebukes a previous one that claimed that powering a country only with renewable energy is impossible.
Electrek Green Energy Brief: A daily technical, financial, and political review/analysis of important green energy news.
Today on EGEB, wind power producers are bound to be more competitive by using AI technology. Scientists want to create polymer that takes 10 times less energy to make. GE, in alliance with Arroyo Energy, has been awarded a new contract to build wind turbines for Chile.
Expand
Expanding
Close
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has significantly upped their global installation predictions of new solar power and other renewable energy technology through 2022. This updated growth prediction is greatly based upon the significant acceleration of solar power being installed in China and the abruptly falling prices of large installations.
Expand
Expanding
Close
In its latest ‘World Energy outlook’ report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that fossil-fuel subsidies dropped sharply by 35% last year – from almost $500 billion in 2014 to $325 billion in 2015. It’s a significant improvement, but the industry remains largely over-subsidized relative to the renewable energy industry, which receives about half the monetary value in subsidies – $150 billion.
Expand
Expanding
Close
Recent efforts by several large polluting nations have started to make a global impact in power capacity and now the International Energy Agency (IEA) confirms that renewable energy has overtaken coal as world’s largest source of power capacity as of last year.
The organization announced today that it is raising its 5-year forecast for renewable growth by 13% as it sees “stronger policy backing in the United States, China, India and Mexico.”
Expand
Expanding
Close
Solar Power now has more employees than either the Oil & Gas or Coal Extraction industries in the United States. The solar industry employed approximately 208,000 individuals at the end of 2015 versus 185,000+ in oil and gas, or 190,000 in coal extraction. Solar power employment is expected to grow an additional 15% in 2016 to almost 240,000 individuals. Globally, solar power now directly employs 2.8 million people as the largest renewable energy employer.
Yale University announced the purchase of a 4,400-solar panel installation from SolarCity for its West Campus. The panels are spread on the rooftop of a 350,000 square feet warehouse.
Expand
Expanding
Close