Tough Tory manifesto commitments and hatred of wind farms from the right will make it hard for the new government to meet its EU renewables commitments. Scotland might be able to help.
Lots of wind blowing – often at night when there’s little demand for power.
ncbob/flickr
Smoothing out variable wind and solar is a growing problem. Instead of storing energy with batteries, utilities can adjust the power of millions of devices in buildings and homes.
South Australia’s wind farms have coped without baseload power before - they can do it again.
Fairv8/Wikimedia Commons
Coal closures announced this week in South Australia will cause employment pain, but could also help pave the way for the state to go 100% renewable - something that modelling suggests is eminently possible.
Since its launch in 2011, South Africa’s renewable energy programme has brought a diversity of new players and sources of investment to the country.
Reuters
South Africa has won global recognition for its renewable energy programme, but will it succeed in balancing the demands of financial and commercial soundness, and the transformation agenda?
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) is looking to provide his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, with nuclear energy.
EPA
G7 leaders have pledged to help end the world’s fossil fuel use by the end of the century. It’s a laudable aim, but decarbonisation can and should be done by the middle, not the end, of this century.
What if jet fuel could be grown sustainably?
Fe Ilya/Flickr
The Grattan Institute has reported that the costs of solar panels have outweighed the benefits by almost A$10 billion in Australia. But the real benefits of cutting greenhouse emissions are much larger.
Wind farms in the pipeline could fill out Australia’s renewable energy target, leaving no room for other sources.
Lawrence Murray/Flickr
While Australia has reached a deal on the Renewable Energy Target, there’s no long-term certainty for the sector yet.
Countries should make pledges to fund low-carbon research - such as developing solar technology - and development as part of global climate talks.
University of Salford Press Office/Flickr
Countries will take emissions reduction pledges to international climate talks in Paris at the end of this year. Those pledges should also include funds for low-carbon R&D.
The states could ‘top up’ renewable funding to encourage development.
Indigo Skies Photography /Flickr
Nobel Laureates met recently in Hong Kong to sign a memorandum calling for cities to help guard against climate change. As the most creative places on the planet, big cities are the perfect place to meet this challenge.
Still chugging: the operation of existing nuclear plants in the US is being extended far beyond their expected life.
James Marvin Phelps/flickr
We cannot eliminate the inherent risks of nuclear power but it is rigorously monitored and has a proven performance of delivering zero-carbon electricity.
The drop in oil has not sparked the nadir of green energy.
David Clarke/flickr
Contrary to economic theory, data shows that the latest drop in energy prices does not undermine investment in renewable energy.
The cost of low emissions technology is falling faster than modelling five years ago expected, lowering the cost of reducing carbon emissions.
Bas/Flickr
Despite solid results from the first emissions reduction fund auction, Australia hasn’t yet got a climate policy to last.
Batteries to store excess solar power will be a game-changer. But energy-efficient appliances will mean you can use a smaller battery.
AAP Image/Raoul Wegat,file
The unveiling of Tesla’s Powerwall home battery has been hailed as a huge moment in renewable energy. But don’t forget the other innovations that can help you use that stored power more efficiently.
Amid the fanfare over the launch of the Powerwall, has Tesla’s Elon Musk struck a decisive blow for renewable energy?
YouTube/Tesla Motors
Tesla’s new home battery could help halve the costs of electricity for typical American households - all using existing technology. The fossil fuel industry is right to be worried.
The SNP wants Westminster to learn from them.
Danny Lawson/PA