America is ditching coal
I stated early this year that 2016 would be a bad year for fossil fuels. It seems I was quite right as bad news keep on piling for coal in the United States.
Wind
Al Gore’s optimism on climate change
Al Gore did it again in another TED Talk in the end of last month. In 20 minutes he managed to show how critical our climate situation is but also brought a lot of optimism as solar and wind are beating all past predictions on how fast and big they are growing.
50 MW giant wind turbines are being researched
Here is some research we might see one day off the coasts around the world : giant 50 MW offshore wind turbines, with blades as long as 200 meters (650 feet). That’s two and a half times longer than any existing wind turbine blade.
Renewables will be the primary electricity source by 2030
With renewable energy sources ramping fast, it is no surprise that even the generally conservative International Energy Agency believes that solar, wind and the likes will the primary electricity source globally by 2030.
President Obama unveils ambitious climate plan
Earlier this month President Obama has announced his country’s strongest move to date on climate change. As IFLScience and many other reported : ” The finalized Clean Power Plan aims to cut carbon emissions from power plants by 32% from 2005 levels by 2030. “
Uruguay to invest $2.6 billion in Wind energy
The drought that is affecting Brazil so much is also undermining Uruguay and its large dependance on hydro energy ( 74 percent of local electricity ). The current alternative to hydro is oil. So the country will invest $2.6 billion ( 2.3 billion euros ) in wind energy in the next couple of years.
Saudi Arabia is planning its fossil fuels’ exit by 2050
While the G7 Nations are thinking about whining themselves off fossil fuels by the end of the century and while some – most ? – oil companies are not really diversifying themselves, Saudi Arabia is planning its fossil fuels’ exit by 2040 or 2050.
Ikea to invest a billion euros in sustainability measures
Ikea will invest and spend a billion euros ( over $1.10 billion) in renewable energy sources and other climate change related projects. This is an excellent example of Corporate Social responsibility.
7.7 million people are now working in renewables
Last year I was reporting that we were 6.5 million people working in the Renewable Energy Industries. If I have – temporarily – left it, many more have joined as now this figure reaches 7.7 million people.
China’s coal consumption is decreasing
In the past few weeks different news from China made me feel hopeful for our common climate and civilization. Indeed, the country’s coal consumption has started to decrease, with a 2.9 percent cut in 2014.