A Call to Action on Peak Oil
A Call To Action on Peak Oil
We are being lulled to sleep by temporarily low oil prices caused by the global financial crisis. In fact, low prices may lead to an increased level of consumption and accelerated exhaustion of oil reserves.
“Peak oil,” the point at which global oil production peaks and then rapidly declines, is still not sufficiently on the minds of the American public and policymakers. We don’t know exactly when peak oil will arrive, but it is very likely to occur within ten to twenty years. Some say that it may even be here now – the US Army Corps of Engineers, for example, wrote in a 2005 report: “We are at or near a peak in global oil production.” Peak oil should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind – here’s why:
Green energy overtakes fossil fuel investment,says UN
Green energy overtakes fossil fuel investment, says UN
Clean technologies attract $140bn compared with $110bn for gas, coal and electrical po
- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 3 June 2009 17.18 BST
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Green energy overtook fossil fuels in attracting investment for power generation for the first time last year, according to figures released today by the United Nations.
Wind, solar and other clean technologies attracted $140bn (£85bn) compared with $110bn for gas and coal for electrical power generation, with more than a third of the green cash destined for Britain and the rest of Europe.
The biggest growth for renewable investment came from China, India and other developing countries, which are fast catching up on the West in switching out of fossil fuels to improve energy security and tackle climate change.
The 10 big energy myths
The 10 big energy myths
There has never been a more important time to invest in green technologies, yet many of us believe these efforts are doomed to failure. What nonsense, writes Chris Goodall
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- The Guardian, Thursday 27 November 2008
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Myth 1: solar power is too expensive to be of much use
In reality, today’s bulky and expensive solar panels capture only 10% or so of the sun’s energy, but rapid innovation in the US means that the next generation of panels will be much thinner, capture far more of the energy in the sun’s light and cost a fraction of what they do today. They may not even be made of silicon. First Solar, the largest manufacturer of thin panels, claims that its products will generate electricity in sunny countries as cheaply as large power stations by 2012.
Heat and power plants could triple their energy output, report says
Heat and power plants could triple their energy output, report says
- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 19 June 2008 10.13 BST
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The energy produced by power plants that provide both heat and electricity could be almost tripled in the UK, according to an analysis of nine industrial sites. So-called combined heat and power (CHP) plants are far more efficient than conventional power stations because they harness heat that is normally wasted, by piping it to industrial or domestic users.
The report was written by Pöyry Energy Consulting for Greenpeace, and the additional CHP energy generation it suggests is feasible on the nine sites is equivalent to the energy needs of more than two-thirds of UK homes and half the nation’s natural gas imports. Currently 5.5GW of electricity is produced by CHP plants, but the new report suggests there could be up to 16GW more, the equivalent of 8 nuclear power stations.
Will Emerging Markets Make Renewable Energy More Democratic?
Will Emerging Markets Make Renewable Energy More Democratic?
Think of the renewable-energy market as an oligarchy, with a handful of countries making up by far a super majority. The top 10 wind countries, for example, represented a whopping 87.8 percent of the wind market last year, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). And in solar, even just the top two markets — Spain and Germany — accounted for 72.9 percent of the total world market, with the top 10 making up 96.5 percent, according to the European Photovoltaic Industry Association.
“I think the solar industry will be really surprised at how low solar prices can go. “It will open up new markets that we haven’t even considered.”
— Jenny Chase, Manager, Solar Insight Service, New Energy Finance
Green energy overtakes fossil fuel investment, says UN
Green energy overtakes fossil fuel investment, says UN Clean technologies attract $140bn compared with $110bn for gas, coal and electrical power Terry Macalister guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 3 June 2009 17.18 BST Article history Green energy overtook fossil fuels in attracting investment for power generation for the first time last year, according to figures released today Continue Reading →