Energy

Coal costs the United States $500 billion each year

It made the headlights last week on practically all environmental websites. The hidden costs – the negative externalities if you prefer – of coal are of 500 billion Dollars per year for the United States alone. Yes, you read it right : burning coal costs the country half a trillion dollar on health costs, premature […]

Coal costs the United States $500 billion each year Read More »

Can the world be powered by 100% renewables ?

The WWF believes it can be done in four little decades. As they state on their website: ” All of the world’s energy needs could be provided cleanly, renewably and economically by 2050. “ They are right on one point : energy efficiency’s potential is gigantic. Indeed I am reading a book which thesis is

Can the world be powered by 100% renewables ? Read More »

16 GW of solar PV capacity added in 2010

According to Reuters : ” The world added about 16 gigawatts of new solar photovoltaic (PV) power in 2010, double the growth seen a year earlier, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association told Reuters on Monday.” Out of these 16 gigawatts, Europe is behind the vast majority of the growth with an impressive 13 gigawatts. Out

16 GW of solar PV capacity added in 2010 Read More »

Saudi Arabia overstated its oil reserves by 40%

To the Guardian : ” The US fears that Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest crude oil exporter, may not have enough reserves to prevent oil prices escalating, confidential cables from its embassy in show. The cables, released by WikiLeaks, urge Washington to take seriously a warning from a senior Saudi government oil executive that the

Saudi Arabia overstated its oil reserves by 40% Read More »

Oil prices back above $100

To the AFP news agency : ” Brent crude rose on Tuesday, holding above $101 on fears that worsening turmoil in Egypt could disrupt supply flows through the strategic Suez Canal, analysts said. “ It had been more than two years than oil didn’t reach such levels. This happens as I read yesterday an interesting

Oil prices back above $100 Read More »

Avanti ! Italy goes forward on solar

Italy is currently in the news more because of Berlusconi’s taste for orgies but little is written on the expansion of solar photovoltaic there. However, there is much to write as it installed 6,000 MW of solar PV capacity in 2010 alone. To Cleantechies : ” 7 GWs of PV power will yield well over

Avanti ! Italy goes forward on solar Read More »

Was it Obama’s “moon shot speech” ?

The State of the Union speech given yesterday by President Barack Obama might well stay in the History books like John Fitzgerald Kennedy moon shot speech that sent Americans on the moon in less than a decade. Indeed President Obama asked for 80% of America’s electricity from ‘clean energy’ by 2035 (including clean coal and

Was it Obama’s “moon shot speech” ? Read More »

Global clean power: A $2.3 trillion opportunity

While browsing the people I follow on Twitter I found an interesting study from the Pew Charitable Trust noting that global clean power investments could reach $2.3 trillion by 2020. Yes, that’s 1,750 billion euros ! ” the report extrapolated from 2009 clean energy investments to conclude that such financing could reach US$2.3 trillion globally

Global clean power: A $2.3 trillion opportunity Read More »

3 US States to cut emissions by 25 % below 1990

Are the United States staying idle in the climate change fight ? At the federal level, it seems to be the case. But at the State level, the situation is different as more and more of them are moving forward. Indeed, as CleanTechnica notes that ” Massachusetts joins California and New Mexico to cut GHGs

3 US States to cut emissions by 25 % below 1990 Read More »

European Union to exceed its renewables goals

Good news everyone ! To Cleantechies : ” The European Union will exceed its target of meeting 20 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020 (…). Twenty-five of the 27 EU nations will meet or exceed their national targets. “ This comes from a report from the European Wind Energy Association which

European Union to exceed its renewables goals Read More »