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Hurricane Sandy damage in New York (Creative Commons)

Can New York’s Electricity Market Rules Change the World?

Can electricity market rules deliver technical innovation, environmental pollution reductions, and social benefits – while reducing the cost of electricity? Those are some of the rather ambitious aims of New York State’s “Reforming the Energy Vision” policy package. The Brooklyn-Queens Demand Management Program will be the first attempt to put their ambitions to the test. […]

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Safe Electrification of Argentina’s Poorest Homes

A compact, safe and quick-installation system for the electrification of slum dwellings has been developed in Argentina. Professionals from a number of Argentinian electrical associations and standards organisations came together to develop MICEM (‘Módulos de Instalación Concentrada de Electrificación Mínima’) which translates as ‘Compact Installation Modules for Minimal Electrification’. The project included the design of […]

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Installation of Pennine Community Power wind turbine

Unexpected Twists and Turns Before English Wind Energy Project Succeeds

There can be many unexpected twists and turns before an English wind energy project succeeds, as the Blackshaw Environmental Action Team discovered. Wind turbines are a proven and fast-maturing technology. Small wind turbines are relatively cheap. With feed-in tariff payments, they should provide an excellent return to investors. But… Building a sustainable community Local food schemes, […]

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Loss of Feed-in Tariffs pushed Community Wind Power into Decline in Denmark

When the Government of Denmark replaced feed-in tariffs for wind turbines with top-ups for electricity sales, community wind power went into decline. While the Danish wind power story remains one of success, there are actually fewer wind turbines than there used to be and wind turbine ownership is becoming concentrated in fewer hands. Danish Wind […]

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How Hydro Project Management Team Navigated the Obstacles

The Harlaw Hydro Project at Balerno, East of Edinburgh, may be small, but it has faced some major challenges. It has been able to steer a path with the help of some high quality volunteers from the community, including architects, land surveyors as well as senior bankers and lawyers. The team avoided some opportunities where […]

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Small Hydro Project to Deliver Major Benefits

For a total investment of £315,000, the Harlaw Hydro Reservoir scheme at Balerno, East of Edinburgh, is expected to generate more than £50,000 per year.  Once the scheme has paid for itself (in less than 7 years), that annual revenue will be available for village improvement schemes for a further 13 years. The scheme will […]

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