Business

Renewables deliver 20% of global electricity

To the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century and their latest Global Status Report : ” In 2010, renewable energy supplied an estimated 16% of global final energy consumption and delivered close to 20% of global electricity.” ” Renewable capacity now comprises about a quarter of total global power-generating capacity. (…) Global solar PV production […]

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Cleantech investments increased by 32% in 2010

If you think the economic downturn is plaguing every sector, think again. To the UNEP : total global investments in clean energy grew by 32 percent in 2010 to $211 billion (146 billion euros). However, there is a catch : To Grist : ” For the first time ever, developing countries lead yearly investment in

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Lafarge pursues its sustainability commitment

According to the WWF : ” WWF and Lafarge, the world’s largest cement maker, today agreed to continue working together to further reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions and to help build hundreds of energy-efficient buildings.  ” ” (…) The company has been a member of WWF’s Climate Savers Programme since 2001 and has already

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More efficiency, wind power and nuclear for China

As the world’s first energy consumer and greenhouse gases emitter, the People’s Republic of China is under closed scrutiny from energy analysts. Last week, not one or two but three different news caught my attention on this country. The climate situation there is dreadful as according to CNN massive floods forced 1.6 million people to

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Brazil and South Korea are increasing their efforts

To CleanTechnica : ” A new national 10-year plan from Brazil shows that the country will triple its use of renewable energy by 2020 and that a lot of that energy will be wind energy. ” ” Going from 9 GW of wind, biomass and small hydropower in 2010, the country intends to hit 27

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GE : Solar cheaper than fossil fuels by 2016

After the quite depressing news from the International Energy Agency yesterday, here is something that might cheer you up. If proven true, this could literally change everything. According to Bloomberg : ” Solar power may be cheaper than electricity generated by fossil fuels and nuclear reactors within three to five years because of innovations, said

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Hydropower strikes back, with a controversy

To the New York Times : ” Hydropower, a renewable energy source often overshadowed by excitement about wind and solar power, is enjoying something of a global resurgence.” ” Huge, controversial dam projects have recently made headlines in Brazil, Chile and Laos. Many developing countries, hungry for energy to supply their growing economies (…) are

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Is climate change to blame for more tornadoes ?

To BusinessWeek : ” The tornado outbreak that killed 327 people in the Southeast last week may have been the largest in U.S. history, with an estimated 305 twisters, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. “ “More than 600 tornadoes formed in all of April, compared with the previous record of 267 set in

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Total to invest one billion euro in SunPower

To Reuters : ” French energy major Total SA’s landmark $1.37 billion (note : one billion euro) offer for a majority stake in U.S. company SunPower Corp gave fresh impetus to hopes of more deals, lifting global solar stocks. ” ” Total’s move is one of the biggest ever by an oil and gas giant

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Book review : Environmental strategy and sustainable development

While looking for a new book in the shelves of the ESSEC Business School’s learning center, I found this one. With such a promising and current title, little was I doubting that it was written more than 15 years ago. Indeed, published little after the Rio summit, the author – Richard Welford – outlines what

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