Over 100 cities now get at least 70% of their electricity from renewable sources such as hydro, geothermal, solar and wind. This includes Reykjavík, Iceland where geothermal and hydro-power are powering much of the city, and Basel, Switzerland where 100% of renewable power comes from the city's own energy supply company. In the US, where some 58 cities and towns…
In Energy Research & Social Science, John Wiseman from the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute provides a visit from the future. From the abstract: Looking back from 2050, this article is written in the form of a fictional speech reflecting on the impressive progress made by 2050 towards achieving the global goal of zero net emissions. The speaker also highlights the severe and…
Miners of the cryptocurrency BITCOIN, use more electricity than 159 countries in the world. If it keeps increasing at this rate, Bitcoin mining will consume all the world’s electricity by February 2020. I might type that again. If it keeps increasing at this rate, Bitcoin mining will consume all the world’s electricity by February 2020. Think about that for a…
...and the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market
Impressive. The Melbourne Girls College won the Zayed Future Energy Prize in the category of Global Schools - Oceania back in January of this year. Seems somewhat 'unheralded' but worthy of recognition. The Zayed Future Energy Prize represents the vision of the Late Founding Father and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, who championed environmental stewardship.…
The Federal Minister for Industry & Science, the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP and Carnegie CEO, Dr Michael Ottaviano switched on the world’s first grid connected wave energy array power plant today, February 19th. The world’s first grid-connected wave energy array is now pumping enough electricity to power between 1,500 to 2,000 households in Western Australia. At the moment, the Department of Defence…
Mapdwell's web-based Solar System platform helps users design at-home solar energy systems: it visualizes the costs and benefits of installing a solar roof by layering information about tax credits and carbon emissions savings onto a topographical map of local roofs, and helps determine the most efficient spots for panels. Links Mapdwell
Designed for Urban Mobility http://youtu.be/1tfYN3lKheo Links: Clean Technica
The move from generation at the source of supply to generation at the source of demand is fundamentally restructuring the generation and distribution markets for electricity in ways we still do not comprehend [well at least I don't]. The opportunities for alternative energy sources is as profound. One of the major drivers? Knowing what your neighbour is doing! Alex Laskey, President of…