Category: News

June 6 2017

Paris Climate Deal Needs New Rules and Clarity, Scientists Say

The Paris climate accord needs to be strengthened through new negotiations and national commitments to transparency, a study showed. Uncertainty about the pledges made by almost 200 countries in the landmark climate deal means the world could fail to mitigate runaway global warming, according to a report by six scientists published Tuesday in the journal […]

June 6 2017

Historic California Gas Leak Spurs Boom in Big Batteries

Installations of large-scale energy-storage systems surged to record levels during the first quarter as power companies and state officials pushed to better incorporate electricity from wind and solar farms. U.S. homes and businesses — mostly utilities — installed storage systems with 234 megawatt-hours of capacity during January, February and March — more than 50 times […]

June 6 2017

India’s Power Surplus Might Not Be a Good Thing

India expects to have a surplus of power for the first time in at least 13 years, a sign that the country’s goal of full electrification may be lagging. The country’s power plants are forecast to produce 8.8 percent more electricity than its distributors will demand during the year to March, the Central Electricity Authority […]

June 6 2017

Europe Is About to Go Into Overdrive With Offshore Wind Power

The governments of Germany, Denmark and Belgium backed a pledge to install 60 gigawatts of new offshore wind power next decade, more than fivefold existing capacity. Energy ministers from the three countries joined chief executives from 25 companies including Dong Energy A/S, the world’s biggest offshore wind developer, to issue a statement pledging to work […]

June 6 2017

Prince Was a Secret Patron of Solar Power

Before his abrupt death a year ago, the pop musician Prince made an investment in green energy that’s now helping solar start-ups weather an assault from President Donald Trump.  It started with a conversation in 2011 between Prince and his friend Van Jones, a CNN commentator and California human rights agitator and onetime green-jobs adviser to […]

June 6 2017

Google, Facebook Join Cities in Challenging Trump on Climate

Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Microsoft Corp. and Facebook Inc. are among dozens of companies that pledged their support for policies combating climate change following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris accord. The “We Are Still In” coalition also features nine states, including California and New York, scores of universities, and leaders of 125 cities […]

June 6 2017

India’s Adani Approves Controversial Australian Coal Project

India’s Adani Group will proceed with its $16.5 billion Carmichael coal project in Australia’s Queensland state after its board approved a final investment decision on the development. Adani announced the move Tuesday after last-minute delays due to uncertainty over a royalty deal with the state and amid resistance to the project because of concerns that […]

June 6 2017

China Said to Halt New Electric Car Permits on Glut Concern

China plans to halt issuing permits to produce electric vehicles because of concern additional approvals may lead to a glut in the world’s biggest auto market, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The National Development and Reform Commission, which oversees new investments in the auto industry, wants to evaluate the program after handing out […]

June 5 2017

Iberdrola Is Said to Review Options for Spanish Nuclear Assets

Iberdrola SA is exploring options including a sale of its nuclear power assets in Spain as it seeks to expand into other faster-growing businesses such as renewable energy and markets including the U.S., according to people familiar with the matter. The company is also considering a partnership or joint venture for the business with a […]

June 5 2017

Eastern Neighbors Bemoan German-Austrian Power Market Break

Germany and Austria are frustrating their eastern neighbors by dividing Europe’s biggest electricity market in a way that fails to prevent unplanned power surges through Poland and the Czech Republic. The 15-year-old German-Austrian market has long vexed the Czechs and the Poles because wind power from northern Germany on the way south often gets rerouted […]