Energy

Whatever concerns energy and the ways to produce it goes here

90 percent of Israeli households have solar water heaters

An information that really caught my eyes in my RSS feeds is the fact that 90 percent of Israeli houses have a solar water heater. This is a huge percentage. It can be explained by the interest of the local government for this energy source as early as the 1950s. In 1983, up to 60 […]

90 percent of Israeli households have solar water heaters Read More »

The United Kingdom’s renewable energies plan

After India’s plan on climate change last week, the United Kingdom announced  a plan due expand in an important way the use of renewable energies. Up to 7,000 wind turbines – including 3,000 offshore – will be installed by 2020 in order to multiply by a factor ten the importance of these energies in the

The United Kingdom’s renewable energies plan Read More »

IAEA forecasts 60 % more nuclear plants by 2030

Last month, a speech on the future of nuclear energy at the International Atomic Energy Agency stated that the amount of nuclear plants worldwide is due to rise by 60 percent by 2030. This would bring the amount of nuclear reactors to around 700, a figures that has to be compared to the current 435

IAEA forecasts 60 % more nuclear plants by 2030 Read More »

Oil prices reach $140

Oil prices are breaking record every month since the beginning of the year. Today they reached an unprecendented level of $142 at the New York Mercantile Exchange. This occurs only seven weeks after oil prices reached $130. This phenomenom is most likely to continue as some forecasts infer that prices may reach $170 this summer. The Financial Times propose us

Oil prices reach $140 Read More »

China: the red giant goes green

I was reporting it last week, China now surpasses the United States as the first greenhouse gases emitter. It accounts for 24 percent of global greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, pollutions of all kinds are soaring in the country. To put an end to all this, the Beijing government is moving towards a greener country. The French

China: the red giant goes green Read More »

Decreasing the energy use of the IT sector

By reading the UNEP feeds, I came across an interesting report on the huge possible energy and money savings in the information and communication sector. According to a new report by the Climate Group and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, worldwide savings could reach 500 billion Euros (800 billion USD) by 2020. This would lead to

Decreasing the energy use of the IT sector Read More »

Solutions to keep cool and keep the Earth cool too

Now than summer has arrived in the Northern hemisphere, some of you might be willing to put to an end to the excessive heat in your homes and offices. Naturally, air conditioning comes to mind. But as this solution is very energy intensive and releases HFC – very powerful greenhouse gases – alternatives are sought.

Solutions to keep cool and keep the Earth cool too Read More »

Switzerland is considering building a new nuclear plant

After Russia, the United Kingdom and Italy, Switzerland is the fourth European country in just a few months to seriously think about building new nuclear reactors. This occurs as current Swiss nuclear reactors are due to close around 2020 and the energy demand is increasing in an important way and this is due to continue.

Switzerland is considering building a new nuclear plant Read More »

Renewables aren’t perfect solutions

As I stated previously, no energy solution answer perfectly to all our needs. Renewables are no exception as they also suffer from two main issues : low energy density and intermittance. According to the French magazine Science & Vie, this poses a serious problem which compromises the dream of a future where we would get

Renewables aren’t perfect solutions Read More »

G8 countries to cut oil consumption

Yesterday, the eight leading economies met in Japan, alongside with China, India and South Korea. One of the main topics of discussion was the soaring prices of oil and energy. To counter this, they pledged to invest massively in energy efficiency and low carbon technologies such as renewable energies, nuclear and carbon capture and storage

G8 countries to cut oil consumption Read More »