Energy network owners are frequently using legal battles to draw out the regulatory process.
From www.shutterstock.com
Generators, retailers and consumers should be central to regulating utilities because network operators are gaming the system.
The public are increasingly keen to trespass on corporate land.
MollyBob/Flickr
The UK spent much of the late 20th century voting to sell off public services – but now support is growing for a renationalisation programme.
Plugging in: more energy efficient cars are just one of the ways to improve energy productivity.
Electric car image from www.shutterstock.com
‘Energy productivity’ is the new buzz-phrase in energy and climate policy, what even is it?
Oil’s continuing slide so far isn’t leading to lower U.S. production, but concerns are growing that it’ll drive some out of business.
Reuters
Producers keep pumping more oil, even as prices are falling to fresh 12-year lows every day. What’s driving this?
Oil prices are rattling investors.
Carsten ten Brink
The future does not bode well for global oil. This, however, is for reasons related to climate change, not because of tumbling prices.
A raft of logs in the Lagos lagoon where wood, a form of biomass, is the sole source of energy for many who don’t have access to power.
Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters
Investment is key if Nigeria is to improve on providing adequate energy to the people.
Christmas can be a drag for the planet, let’s lighten the load.
from www.shutterstock.com
Many of us are concerned about just want to get through it. But the consumer madness of late December is the perfect time to ponder the consequences of our habits and excesses.
‘Not a goosebump between us.’
WorldWide
While the Paris climate talks focus on technical fixes, no one talks about how we’re much more afraid of roughing it than ever before.
Is the “end of the world” the best way to understand our ecological woes?
chiotsrun/flickr
Collapse porn. Apocalyptica. Eco-rapture. A growing genre of environmental writing that sees endless economic growth as the enemy.
More people are installing solar panels to take control of their electricity supply.
Solar PV image from www.shutterstock.com
Updated forecasts from CSIRO suggest electricity prices will continue to rise as more renewable energy enters the grid.
South Africa has installed solar water heaters in low cost housing areas. It should be installing solar PV for energy.
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South Africa has been slow to adopt renewable energy sources. One option, which has proved successful elsewhere, would be to install solar photovoltaic panels on rooftops in low-income areas.
By 2030 large-scale solar cost about the same as fossils fuels.
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By 2030 renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will cost a similar amount to fossils fuels such as coal and gas, thanks to falling technology costs
India is deepening its ties with Africa. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India-Africa summit in New Delhi.
Reuters/Adnan Abidi
India is pursuing numerous energy interests in Mozambique, where many people are without energy access. But this has come with a high carbon output.
Loosening their grip. Will markets exit oil like they edged away from tobacco?
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Efforts to break our financial addiction to the energy sector might find useful lessons in the slow decline of tobacco.
Will the EU reveal its true face?
Francois Lenoir / Reuters
After being quietly ignored at Copenhagen 2009, these talks are a big challenge for the EU.
A solar water heating unit on the roof of a home in Kuyasa outside Cape Town. South Africa has a long way to go to get people off the grid and onto solar heating.
Epa/Nic Bothma
Africa is blessed with an abundance of sunshine.Given the heavy demand for energy, alternatives, such as solar, could provide solutions and help stimulate economic growth.
Australia can balance energy, water and food needs with the environment.
Wind turbine image from www.shutterstock.com
We have all the tools to achieve economic growth and environmental sustainability - we just have to choose to use them.
Part of the coal loading facility at Kooragang Island, NSW.
Flickr/eyeweed
The Academy says it will withdraw “millions of dollars” from investments in environmentally sensitive activities, primarily in energy and mining companies.
Nanotechnology that can detect illnesses will become available next year.
shutterstock
A novel approach to detect bacterial infections in 10-15 minutes is expected to become commercially available next year.
VW issues are a reflection of wider regulatory problems.
Reuters Pictures/Lucy Nicholson
If we even can’t secure reliable data on car emissions then environmental regulators throughout the world are in trouble.