Toyota Motor Europe (TME) was confirmed as the automotive industry leader with lowest CO2 emissions in the recently published 2010 final report by the European Commission and European Environmental Agency. The fleet-wide CO2 average for TME was 112.2 g/km (comprising of both Toyota and Lexus vehicles), well below the industry average of 140 g/km and some 16 g/km ahead of the Commission’s 128.35 g/km target for TME.

The recent results form an integral part of the Commission’s aims for lowering CO2 emissions. As a first-of-its-kind report, the 2010 and 2011 results will be used as indicators for the automotive industry to determine the distance to reach each manufacturer’s 2012 target. Under current regulations, the 2010 report looks at the 65% lowest emitting vehicles for each manufacturer.

The target for TME of 128.35 g/km was set based on the 564,633 new Toyota and Lexus car registrations over the course of 2010 in European Union Member States. Using fleet emissions calculation methods for 2015, taking into account 100% of the fleet, TME’s fleet-wide average CO2 emissions in 2010 was 129 g/km, just 0.7 g/km above the company’s target, and already below the Commission’s 2015 industry target of 130 g/km accounting for 100% of the fleet.

The recent result not only confirms Toyota’s environmental leadership, but also validates the company’s long-term global strategy towards clean and sustainable mobility through the introduction and mass marketing vehicles with full hybrid technology. First launched in 1997 in Japan (and in 2000 in Europe), the Toyota Prius was the world’s first mass-produced full hybrid vehicle, quickly becoming a perennial favourite. This year, the Prius will be joined by two new members in the Prius Family – the seven-seater Prius+ and Prius Plug-in Hybrid.

Toyota believes hybrid technology is one of the most effective and practical ways to lower emissions and increase fuel efficiency with significant short- to mid-term results. The company is continuously improving its proven hybrid technology by lowering the weight of battery packs and improving the efficiency of its Hybrid Synergy Drive. Toyota is also developing other technologies to advance green mobility in the future, with solutions ranging from bio-fuels to electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The recent Tokyo Motor Show saw the release of two new concepts – the ultra-compact and light-weight electric FT-EV III, suitable for short city trips, and a fuel cell sedan, the FCV-R, a working platform for a model introduction in 2015.

The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) has released a major new report addressing two of the British Government’s toughest energy policy goals – delivering reliable energy to consumers while meeting its legal commitment to reduce C02 emissions by 80% by 2050.

The report concludes that:

* The UK electricity sector must be decarbonised by 2050, by which time oil use will be virtually eliminated;

* Tougher energy efficiency measures could reduce exposure to volatile energy markets, buying time before full decarbonisation of the electricity system takes place;

New and improved low-carbon technologies need a reliable carbon price; a market signal of around £200/tonne C02 by 2050, 15 times the current EU carbon price, is needed to hit the long-term target. This rises to £300-350/tonne C02 if action is delayed or more stringent targets are set.

The report finds that decarbonising the electricity system with nuclear, renewables and coal plant fitted with carbon capture and storage (CCS) would unlock new potential, allowing electricity to be increasingly used in transport and buildings. A low-carbon energy system could be a high-electricity system.

But it also shows that the more aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency would make the UK system more secure while still leaving it on track to hit the 2050 target. Under this scenario, energy efficiency provides insurance against delays in the development of low carbon technologies, allowing decarbonisation to take place a decade later.

Report findings include:

* Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way of reducing energy demand and carbon emissions, while protecting vulnerable consumers from higher energy prices;

* None of the UKERC scenarios foresee renewable energy going in sufficiently quickly to meet the target in the EU Climate and Energy Package;

* Lifestyle changes could dramatically reduce the cost of meeting CO2 targets. This could involve phasing out petrol/diesel vehicles in town and city centres by 2050, though the use of vans could increase as a result of restrictions on HGVs and an increase in internet shopping. Halving energy use in homes is possible with a combination of major efficiency improvements and modest lifestyle change;

* Reducing CO2 emissions leads, for the most part, to reductions in other environmental emissions; the release of some pollutants, notably sulphur dioxide, will fall substantially. However, pressures on water and land use will need to be managed, as will some atmospheric emissions and radioactive releases;

* Major gas shocks could have cost impacts measured in £billions, mainly through lost supplies to industrial consumers. More investment in gas storage or import facilities could mitigate these impacts;

* Investing in research and technological innovation would significantly reduce the cost of reaching CO2 targets; substantial increases in R&D expenditure appear justified;

* Early action on carbon reduction implies taking a longer-term view of investment in a low-carbon energy system: investing more in infrastructure and solutions such as low carbon buildings, hydrogen fuel cells and electric vehicles;

* Microgeneration offers a radically different approach to meeting energy needs, but capital cost and performance are currently barriers for many technologies. However, it could be important in meeting future residential heating needs, and could help catalyse change towards low carbon lifestyles.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Jim Skea, research director at UKERC says: “UK energy policy goals are extraordinarily ambitious. Meeting them will require efforts well beyond the bounds of historical experience. By looking at the energy system in the round, our researchers have shown not only that the goals can be met but that it is possible to reconcile them with wider technological, social and environmental changes.”

Renewable energy in Ireland grew by an average of 15% per annum from 2005 to 2009, driven largely by a significant growth in wind energy of 28% per annum in that period, according to the annual ‘Energy in Ireland’ report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). In parallel, 2009 witnessed a steady trend towards lower energy prices in Ireland for both domestic and business energy users.

Energy in Ireland 1990-2009 shows that in addition to the decline in economic activity, increased energy efficiency and the consistent growth of renewables on the national grid contributed to a significant decline in energy-related C02 emissions in 2009 of 11%.

A key finding of the report in relation to transport and car purchase shows that Government changes to vehicle registration tax and motor tax are positively influencing consumer purchase choice to more efficient vehicles. 80% of new cars purchased in 2010 (Jan to Nov) were in the most energy efficient A and B label bands, up from 25% in July 2008, prior to the new tax band introduction.

The report also shows that overall energy use declined by 9% in 2009, with sectors such as industry at 13%, services at 12% and transport at 10% witnessing the greatest fall.

“Energy in Ireland 1990-2009 reflects important trends in our approach to, and management of, energy demand and supply in Ireland. We are seeing some positive results shine through as renewable energy continues to grow and energy efficiency continues to improve across all sections of society. As energy becomes more central to enterprise and our economy, it is increasingly important for us to keep a close eye on the emerging trends,” comments Professor Owen Lewis, chief executive of SEAI.

People planning to build a new home could save themselves thousands of euro each year by developing a passive house.

That is according to the Passive House Association of Ireland (PHAI), a low energy design initiative comprising passive house designers and contractors. The Association, which was officially launched in Dublin recently, will operate in tandem with the ‘International Passive House Association’.

Passive house is the term used for a house which has no heating system installed, but whose occupants, rely on maximum heat gains from sunlight, high insulation and draught-proofing levels, for a comfortable and healthy lifestyle.

“Passive houses are leading the way toward a carbon-neutral future by producing more energy than they use and radically reducing fuel bills and C02 emissions”, explains PHAI chairman Martin Murray.

He continues: “The Government’s Building Regulations have lead to some improvements in energy efficiency in Ireland, but remain a minimum guide. Those in the construction industry and prospective homeowners, however, need to take the lead and invest in proper design. By doing so their homes will be energy efficient, therefore, helping to reduce their energy bills along with reducing overall CO2 emissions. The infrastructure required to implement such designs is available and affordable in Ireland, despite claims to the contrary from elements within the Irish Construction Industry.”

The idea of passive house construction is not new, as there are now over 30,000 examples built world-wide. “These include many other types of building besides houses, such as, office-blocks, apartment-blocks, schools, and just recently a Tesco supermarket in Tramore, County Waterford. In each case, the building occupant has made considerable savings by not having to invest heavily in heating oil, gas or other fuel,” he points out.