The UN Industrial Development Organisation calculates that 87% of Western Europe’s economically viable small hydropower capacity has been exploited. In Northern Europe that figure rises to 95%. Yet, innovative companies in niche segments are seeing opportunities in hydropower – and good growth. MJ2, a small French hydro turbine manufacturer increased its turnover in 2014 by […]
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Storing Power as Liquid Air
A novel 5MW/15MWh liquid air energy storage system is nearing completion at a landfill waste site near the city of Manchester, England. The demonstration system will be connected to the UK grid to provide balancing services. The system takes waste heat from the jacket around GE Jenbacher landfill gas engines and uses that waste heat […]
Reaching the Power of High Altitude Winds
A 16-meter long helium-filled cylinder will rotate creating considerable lift force. A ground-based winch-generator will convert the lift force into electricity. Once the cylinder has reached its maximum height, its rotation is stopped and the module descends to its starting position. During trials in April 2015, the airborne module will fly below 500m of height […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
First Green Investment Bank wants to turn a profit
The UK government is recruiting staff for the world’s first green investment bank dedicated solely to investing in green projects. The Green Investment Bank will work towards a ‘double bottom line’ of significant green impact and financial returns. Meeting the need with the capital available will be a major challenge. A UK Parliamentary Committee concluded […]
Renewable Energy Developers want a Feed-in Tariff for Poland
A feed-in tariff for Poland would deliver certainty and promote investment, according to local renewable energy developers. The unpredictability of the prices of renewable energy certificates (‘green certificates’) was identified in a survey of Polish developers as the greatest obstacle to renewable energy investment in the country. The difficulty of obtaining grid connections, permitting administration, […]
Community Ownership Best for Renewable Energy Development
Community ownership may be the best way to achieve rapid renewable energy development. Early wind power projects were often small-scale and based on cooperative principles where the governance and the benefits were evenly shared. That was somewhat swept aside in the 1990s, Industrial-scale renewable energy needs industrial-scale, efficient, market-based investment, it was argued. As the […]
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Increasing Profitability through Flexible Energy Consumption
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Can New York’s Electricity Market Rules Change the World?
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Exploiting niches in hydro power
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Zero-emissions refrigeration transport
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Storing Power as Liquid Air
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Reaching the Power of High Altitude Winds
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Nuclear Power for the UK – Does it Make Sense?
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Safe Electrification of Argentina’s Poorest Homes
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Storing Energy on Rail Tracks
- An Energy Wikipedia
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Small Hydro Project to Deliver Major Benefits
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How Hydro Project Management Team Navigated the Obstacles
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German University Clusters of Excellence receive Funding
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Two Cheers for the Energy Bill – And a Pat on the Back for Ed Milliband
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Wind Power Sector in Turkey in Take-Off
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Wind Power in Brazil is Cheaper than Gas
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CEOs pay lip-service to Teamwork
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Good Designers Understand Business Management Constraints
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Increasing Profitability through Flexible Energy Consumption
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Gossip in the Workplace and Management
