Explore Challenges
- 13 OCTOBER 2010: Plastic pollution in the oceans
- 1 DECEMBER 2010: Can the UK ever be sustainable?
- Natural disasters: how can we improve?
- Not In My Back Yard
- Digital Divide in the UK?
- Importing goods, exporting drought?
- The challenges and opportunities of an ageing society
- Engineering our climate
- The future shape of Capitalism
- Migration: skills and the job market
- Razing the Rainforest
- London under water
- Concreting the countryside
- Future of low carbon energy
- Africa in the 21st Century
Renewables
China’s ‘rapid renewables surge’
A colossal increase in investment will launch China to the top of the global renewable energy rankings by 2009; this comes at a time when it faces criticism over air quality during the Olympics. It is expected to invest an average of $33bn annually to meet a target of 15% of energy from low carbon technologies by 2020.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / China’s ‘rapid renewables surge’
Solar energy
60 second guide to solar energy
Europe’s biggest wind farm switches on
Europe's biggest onshore wind farm plugged itself into the grid today to provide enough electricity for up to a million people in northern Portugal. A total of 120 windmills are dotted across the highlands of the Upper Minho region of Portugal as one of western Europe's poorer nations continues to forge its reputation as a renewables champion.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Europe’s biggest wind farm switches on
Tidal energy project ‘will be funded by taxpayer’
A £22 billion tidal energy project that would provide almost 5 per cent of Britain’s electricity will receive taxpayers’ cash if it is approved, ministers indicated yesterday.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Tidal energy project ‘will be funded by taxpayer’
Biofuels more harmful to humans than petrol and diesel, warn scientists
Corn-based bioethanol has higher burden on environment and human health, says US study
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Biofuels more harmful to humans than petrol and diesel, warn scientists
New green strategy could create 400,000 jobs
Ed Miliband, Climate Change Secretary says new jobs will be created in low-carbon industries for 400,000 people - from lagging lofts to nuclear power - the government will announce today.
The future shape of Capitalism / In The News / New green strategy could create 400,000 jobs
Wind farms seek state aid to keep moving
Britain's wind industry is calling for government support to shield it from the falling pound and ensure existing wind farm projects go ahead.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Wind farms seek state aid to keep moving
Britain’s rivers called on to provide renewable energy
Up to 25 hydroelectric schemes generating enough renewable energy to power 40,000 homes may be sited on stretches of rivers including the Severn and the Trent.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Britain’s rivers called on to provide renewable energy
Anger after government halts solar energy grant programme
The government ran into a storm of criticism yesterday after quietly closing its grant programme for solar energy last week, which campaigners said made a mockery of its commitment to build a low-carbon economy.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Anger after government halts solar energy grant programme
Warning over renewables as economic crisis leaves funding gap
Green power companies are heading for "crisis" and Britain should no longer rely on them to meet its energy security and climate change obligations, some industry experts are warning.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Warning over renewables as economic crisis leaves funding gap
RSPB calls for more UK wind farms
There should be a significant increase in the number of wind farms built onshore in the UK, the RSPB has said.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / RSPB calls for more UK wind farms
Biomass ‘could be major emitter’
Biomass power could become one of the worst emitters of greenhouse gases, the Environment Agency (EA) has warned.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Biomass ‘could be major emitter’
UK wind industry jobs growth potential ‘at risk’
Britain risks missing out on tens of thousands of jobs and failing to hit its renewable energy target unless the state steps in to rescue the struggling wind power industry, the Government will be warned today.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / UK wind industry jobs growth potential ‘at risk’
Taxpayer bails out Europe’s biggest waste-to-energy scheme in Manchester
The Treasury today stepped in to rescue a £635m waste-to-energy project in Greater Manchester, the largest such project in Europe. The scheme, being funded under the private finance initiative, had stalled after banks refused to lend enough to complete it.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Taxpayer bails out Europe’s biggest waste-to-energy scheme in Manchester
Budget 2009: Darling gives renewables a £5bn shot in the arm
British Wind Energy Association welcomes package, but planning and grid connections still restrict renewables revolution
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Budget 2009: Darling gives renewables a £5bn shot in the arm
Winds of change blow for offshore power operators
It's official: it's getting windier down south. This unexpected quirk of climate change has given a much needed boost to offshore wind-farm developers.
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Winds of change blow for offshore power operators
Britain’s only wind turbine plant to close
Vestas is to shut down its Isle of Wight factory in the face of collapsing demand from a wind-farming industry hobbled by the recession and red tape
Future of low carbon energy / In The News / Britain’s only wind turbine plant to close