Category: Archive

Italian town exports renewables

admin /22 December, 2007

Varese, Italy has added 140 jobs in the past ten years. That’s pretty good for a town with a population of only 2,400. The town, which is located in Liguria in the northern part of Italy, is experiencing an economic boom fueled by renewable energy.

The town has seen a six-fold increase in tourists in the last ten years, many coming just to see its renewable energy network.

Varese became the first municipality in Europe to get 100 percent of its power from renewable energy sources six years ago. It now generates three times more electricity than the people living in Varese need and there are plans in the pipeline for even more renewables.

For this pioneering role, the town won a prize from the European Union (EU) in 2004.

Murray Darling Commission wants free trade

admin /22 December, 2007

The Murray Darling Basin Commission has released its annual report, claiming that the key to water management in the troubled river basin is an effective interstate water trading scheme. THe vast bulk of Australia’s fresh food is grown in the region, and farmers across the region have been unable to plant crops this year despite the complete removal of environmental flows from many wetlands. The previous Federal Government pledged 2 billion dollars to the area two years ago, and ten billion dollars for a national water management scheme in the lead up to the recent Federal election. So far the only money spent has been on funding meetings to discuss how the existing authorities will work together.

Korean Oil Spill damages China’s coast

admin /22 December, 2007

The crew of the 147,000-tonne Hebei Spirit stopped the leaking on 8 December, and pumped the remaining oil out of the last of three containers holed by a barge in a collision. Major disaster: But with over 10,000 tonnes of crude oil spilled into the Yellow Sea and now polluting a long stretch of coastline, Continue Reading →

Vertical wind turbine available for low wind situations

admin /15 December, 2007

A vertical axis wind turbine known as the PacWind Delta II is available for small commercial operations. It produces 10 kilowatts of electricity in a small footprint and is completely silent. The turbines can be placed very close together and stacked up to five high. Eighteen months ago, Energy Matters reported that five large vertical Continue Reading →

Penguins take the heat

admin /15 December, 2007

All four species of Antarctic penguins are in decline as a result of climate change according to a World Wildlife Fund report. The Adelie penguin population has plummeted by two thirds and the chinstrap penguins by one third over the last 25 years.. Population numbers on the Emperor Penguin were not quoted, but their nesting Continue Reading →

Europe plans desert solar

admin /5 December, 2007

A £5bn solar power plan, backed by a Jordanian prince, could provide the EU with a sixth of its electricity needs – and cut carbon emissions

• Robin McKie, science editor
• The Observer

Solar panels like these near Munich could capture heat in areas of the Mediterranean under the plan proposed by Prince Hassan bin Talal. Photograph: Alamy Europe is considering plans to spend more than £5bn on a string of giant solar power stations along the Mediterranean desert shores of northern Africa and the Middle East.