Source: Planet Ark

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will be investing in the world’s largest wind turbine, with a capacity of 7.5 megawatts, announced by her property company, Crown Estate.

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Energy is the fuel for growth, an essential requirement for economic and social development. By 2050, energy demand could double as population rises and developing countries expand their economies. With the prospect of such increases in energy demand giving rise to further increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, action on climate change is now stated as a high priority for many governments.

Triple Pundit

Geothermal energy is attracting a lot of long overdue attention recently. Gathering in Reykjavik last week officials from Australia, Iceland and the U.S. signed a charter to establish the International Partnership for Geothermal Technology.

The Guardian

The EU is studying plans for a transnational power grid in the North Sea that could provide electricity from renewable sources for 70m homes. It could cost up to €20bn (£16bn) to install.

The proposed 3,850 mile offshore grid would connect more than 100 wind farms, containing 10,000 turbines, to seven North Sea countries – Britain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.

Planet Ark

South Korea said on Wednesday it will spend 111.5 trillion won (US$103 billion) through 2030 in developing new renewable energy, in an effort to cut its reliance on fossil fuels and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Environmental News Network

The Chinese government’s energy policy has led to a large rise in investment in renewables, helping it to dislodge the UK in a ranking of the top five most attractive countries for investment in renewable energy, according to a study published on 19 August.

MIT news

In a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn’t shine.

Dr. Dave Worsley from Swansea University’s School of Engineering is researching ways to create solar cells by painting on “flexible steel surfaces commonly used for cladding buildings.”

Guardian

A British company is poised to construct the world’s first floating wind turbine, in a move that could herald a new generation of cheaper, less problematic wind energy.

The New York Times

Now, with oil prices hitting dizzying levels and the world struggling with global warming, the country is hoping to use its conservation record to take a rare leadership role on a pressing global issue. It will showcase its efforts to export its conservation ethic — and its expensive power-saving technology — at next week’s meeting in Japan of the Group of 8 industrial leaders.