Renewable energy sources accounted for 62% (17GW) of the new electricity generation capacity installed in the EU27 in 2009, according to the ‘Renewable Energy Snapshots’ report, published recently by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). The share rose from 57% in 2008. For the second year running, wind energy accounted for the largest share … Read more
New research reveals that Europe could not feed itself on fish from EU waters for more than 189 days a year, and so from today would be dependent on fish caught elsewhere. Consuming far more than our depleted European seas can produce is making the EU increasingly dependent on fish from elsewhere, according to a … Read more
Belfast shipyard Harland and Wolf has won the contract to construct a tidal turbine for Scotrenewables, the Orkney-based marine power company. Producing 250kw of energy, the SR250 tidal turbine will weigh around 80 tonnes and will measure 30m in length with twin 8m diameter rotors, giving the system a very competitive power to weight ratio. … Read more
GE Energy plans to install up to five offshore demonstration wind turbines through two separate partnerships within the Norwegian and Swedish offshore wind industries. Both initiatives will feature the largest wind turbine in GE’s fleet, a 4.0-megawatt machine that includes a 110 meter rotor. GE’s 4.0-110 incorporates advanced drive train and control technologies and GE’s … Read more
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legislation of the EU. EIAs are carried out to make sure that the environmental impact of projects is taken into account before final decisions are made. Plans for roads, waste installations, power stations and a range of other projects must go … Read more
Topaz, the country’s largest fuel and convenience retailer, is expanding into the aviation fuel sector, after agreeing a joint venture deal with Shell Aviation. The deal will see Topaz, the fully Irish owned and managed company, buy 50% of Shell Aviation Ireland to create a 50:50 joint venture that will sell aviation fuel in Ireland. … Read more
South West College, County Antrim, is the first educational institution in Ireland to sign a ‘heat contract’ with green energy company Rural Generation based in Londonderry, which will see the college save up to £25,000 on heat costs annually. The college, which houses its own Renewable Energy Academy at the Omagh campus, has already been … Read more
The new energy management standard EN 16001 provides a set of standardised requirements for an energy management system and also the framework for energy management best practice to aid organisations. Certification Europe, based in Dublin, is leading the way across Europe in the adoption of the new energy management standard. One organisation that has implemented … Read more
Having called for an energy technology revolution to tackle climate change and enhance energy security and economic development, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is seeing the first signs of this happening across the globe. However, it cautions that more needs to be done to achieve the necessary long-term cuts in CO2. The new IEA study … Read more
US-based AES Corporation has agreed with BG Energy Holdings to acquire Premier Power, owner of the 1,246 MW natural gas-fired Ballylumford Power Station in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, for £99 million. The transaction is subject to license consents from the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation and the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and … Read more