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Renewable revolution
Renewable technology news on the transformative technologies changing the world’s energy supplies. We cover the projects making power generation green, from solar innovations to future energy solutions, as well as some of the wider environmental initiatives using tech to improve our impact on the planet. Technology and the environment don’t have to be in competition.
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15 Oct
Fusion island breakthrough may make power source viable “up to a decade sooner”
Promising a step-change in energy generation, fusion power has long been on the horizon, but a breakthrough concept known as a fusion island could ultimately make it a reality far sooner than previously thought.
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14 Oct
Record-breaking solar project cements UAE as “leading player” in renewables
Despite being traditionally associated with oil, the UAE has cemented itself as a leader in the renewables industry thanks to an in-development solar project that when constructed will be the largest of its kind in the world.
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9 Oct
Stirling Prize winner shows “sustainable, low-energy design is financially viable”
The announcement that the RIBA 2019 Stirling Prize has been won by PassivHaus-standard council housing development Goldsmith Street is a sign that low-energy design is not only possible, but entirely affordable if the industry re-frames its thinking, according to experts.
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8 Oct
China on track to meet 2020 emissions target, study finds
Emissions from China’s power plants declined by more than 60% each year between 2014 and 2017, a new study has found, putting the East Asian nation on track to meet the standards set out in its Ultra-Low Emissions (ULE) Standards Policy.
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13 Sep
Inside HPE’s Technology Renewal Centre, its base in the war on e-waste
Some 50 million tonnes of electrical waste (e-waste) is discarded each year.
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6 Sep
Why reusability must become the new consumer technology norm
What do Formula One cars, mirrors, smartphones and hearing aids have in common?
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6 Sep
“World’s best solar cell” poised for launch as SoftBank doubles investment
SoftBank Group has doubled its investment in Exeger, a Swedish company making what it describes as the “world’s best solar cell”, in order to help bring the technology to market.
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4 Sep
After years of opposing right-to-repair, has Apple had a change of heart?
In what appears to be a u-turn for the company, Apple has made it easier for customers to repair their Apple products with the launch of its independent repair programme.
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29 Aug
World’s first hydrogen-powered gin distillery nets UK government funding
The UK government is investing in a project to convert an existing craft gin distillery so that is powered by hydrogen, as part of a slew of funding in low-carbon technology projects.
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29 Aug
F1’s Lewis Hamilton launches Neat Burger, the first international vegan burger chain
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has teamed up with hospitality organisation The Cream Group to launch the world’s first international, plant-based burger chain, Neat Burger.
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28 Aug
Water harvester pulls drinking water from the air
Researchers have designed a water harvester that can continuously absorb water from air, enabling it to collect water 24 hours a day.
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28 Aug
Meet the startup making ethical electronics mainstream
With ethical consumers increasingly concerned with the origin of their purchases, almost every industry, from fashion to food to diamonds, has been held to account over the ethics of its supply chain.
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15 Aug
Electric car charging points surpass petrol stations for first time
There are now, for the first time, more electric car charging points in the UK than there are petrol stations as growing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has driven a flurry of installations.
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13 Aug
Bigger is better when it comes to wind turbines, report finds
Larger and more-cost effective wind turbines have been key drivers in the uptake of wind energy, according to a new report.
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13 Aug
Helsinki launches sustainability tools to encourage climate-conscious choices
Helsinki, Finland, has launched the world’s first online service that encourages residents and visitors to the city to make informed sustainable choices.
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6 Aug
New airship technology could see zeppelins return to our skies
On May 6 1937, the infamous Hindenburg disaster, in which an airship caught fire after an electrical spark ignited highly flammable hydrogen that had leaked out, claiming the lives of 36 people on board.
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5 Aug
Bioreactor bricks: The building blocks of ecological architecture?
According to the International Energy Agency, the building construction industry is responsible for 36% of global energy consumption, highlighting the urgent need for ecological architecture.
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5 Aug
Saildrone completes circumnavigation of Antarctica – uncharted waters for unmanned systems
Saildrone, a wind-powered surface vehicle, has become the first unmanned system to successfully circumnavigate Antarctica, bringing back valuable climate change data with it.
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25 Jul
UK solar capacity growth stalls as heatwave rocks the UK
As the UK faces what looks to be the hottest day on record, the latest figures on solar capacity growth have been published – and the results are fairly disappointing.
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10 Jul
Researchers develop PV solar panels capable of producing drinking water
Researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have developed a method of purifying water and generating electricity from a single solar device.
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10 Jul
Off-grid solar is Africa’s best hope for prosperity – but business must take the lead
The World Bank recently announced it will invest $225m in off-grid solar electrification in Africa.
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9 Jul
Researchers engineer tobacco plants for biofuel creation
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Illinois have developed a way of producing proteins useful in agricultural processes inside the cells of tobacco plants.
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1 Jul
Retire fossil-fuel burning infrastructure early or miss climate goals, study warns
A new study warns how failing to retire existing fossil-fuel burning infrastructure early will result in nations missing their climate goals, which aim to stabilise global mean temperature by 2050.
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27 Jun
‘Unprinting’ recycling method blasts paper with light to remove ink
Researchers have developed a way to ‘unprint’ paper to reduce the environmental impact of recycling paper, using technology that could one day be installed in a home printer.
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24 Jun
Climate change to fuel dramatic rise in energy demand by 2050
An exhaustive global study has found that climate change is set to drive up energy demand significantly by 2050, suggesting policymakers and the energy industry need to take action now to prevent a surge in energy related costs over the next few decades.
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19 Jun
From ocean to office: HP turns 25 million plastic bottles into printer cartridges
With 8 million tonnes of plastic waste making its way into the ocean every year, the issue of plastic pollution has gained increasing attention over the last few years.
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6 Jun
Dell calls on EU to address problem of e-waste
Dell Technologies has called for urgent action to tackle the growing problem of e-waste.
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28 May
World’s first fully autonomous offshore wind farm repair system to replace humans with robots and drones
A cross-sector project launched in the UK today is set to see humans replaced by robots and drones on offshore wind farm inspection and repair, creating the first fully autonomous system of its kind in the world.
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28 May
Compostable bioplastic to bring biodegradability to food packaging
Scientists have developed a bioplastic that can biodegrade in conventional compost bins within two years, making it a suitable alternative to conventional plastics current used in food packaging.
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2 May
Electric vehicles are key to meeting 2050 zero-carbon goal
Amidst growing pressure for the government to commit to a legally binding target of a carbon-neutral UK by 2050, the Committee on Climate Change has said that the UK can end its contribution to global warming if a commitment is made now.