The world's best thinkers on energy and climate
2017, one of the hottest years in modern history, was also an extremely costly year. According to a new reportfrom the National Centers for Environmental Information, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “the U.S. experienced 16 weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion, with total costs of approximately $306 billion—a new U.S. annual record.” … [Read more...]
For anyone following solar industry news recently, there seems to be a few dark clouds forming out on the horizon. We’ve seen Suniva and Solar World’s Section 201 filing, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt propose repealing the Clean Power Plan, and Energy Secretary Rick Perry file a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) aimed at compensating coal and nuclear plants. … [Read more...]
Bilge Yildiz (left) and Ahmed Ghoniem. Photos: Denis Paiste/Materials Processing Center (left); Lillie Paquette/School of Engineering Winning teams will use grants to advance research in areas including fuel cells, solar-powered desalination, and impacts of electric vehicle charging on the power grid. By MIT Energy Initiative The MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) has made nine awards totaling $1.3 million under … [Read more...]
Almost three dozen firms representing $1.3 billion of investor money are pursuing technological innovations in the field of nuclear energy. A June 2015 report by the Third Way, a Washington, DC, think tank, details the mix of firms includes small startups and big-name investors like Bill Gates. All are placing bets on a comeback for nuclear energy working to get their respective technologies to market in an increasingly carbon-constrained … [Read more...]
Is your pension fund or insurance company a leader or laggard when it comes to avoiding risky bets on the future impacts of climate change?A new survey released recentlyfinds that many major institutional investors, like retirement funds and insurance companies, are putting their investments (read: your money) at risk by not addressing the negative financial impacts posed by climate change and atmospheric disruption.The survey, called the … [Read more...]
Image Credit: Renewable Energy WorldLocated on the Gulf of Alaska, the 750 kW Yakutat Wave Energy Project is set to make life easier for locales who have so far had to rely on diesel prices as high as $8 per gallon, thanks to the 1,000 mile journey the fuel has to make by road to get there.And now, Resolute Marine Energy (RME) have announced that Ocean Renewable Power Company’s subsidiary, ORPC Solutions, will be providing … [Read more...]
The World Bank Group has just agreed to stop funding coal projects. This is welcome news as the World Bank Group has funded almost $6 billion in coal projects over the past five years. As a part of a new energy strategy which will cover the Bank’s lending, the Bank agreed that it will only fund coal projects in “rare circumstances” under certain specific conditions. This commitment will help focus the World Bank Group on using scarce resources to … [Read more...]
In a new report released today, Lew Milford, President of the Clean Energy Group and Mark Muro, Policy Director at the Brookings Metropolitan Program discuss an underreported, but key state clean energy policy – public clean energy investment funds. These funds are investment vehicles for clean energy projects backed by dedicated revenue streams such as ratepayer electricity surcharges, RPS compliance payments, bonds, and other taxes. … [Read more...]
Money, money, money, money! Energy!That's not how the O Jays' song goes. But it may as well, and its my mental soundtrack whenever I engage in discussions of green finance. Financing and funding is a key holdup in renewable development, and indeed, in almost ever sustainability policy effort I can think of.What's frustrating is that it's not that the ROI hasn't been proven for most mainstream energy technologies. Most established energy and … [Read more...]
After decades of venture capital investment, growth and exit, the traditional focus areas of venture capital (such as IT, web and software) have developed strong entrepreneurial ecosystems. A high percentage of start-ups in these traditional areas come to market with one or more experienced entrepreneurs, or with a strong and active network of investors/advisors who have “been there, done that.” They know what it takes to raise … [Read more...]
TerraPower is working on the detailed design for a Traveling Wave Reactor that can effectively convert and consume actinide isotopes that are often considered to be waste products in a traditional light water reactor. The company was spun out of Nathan Myhrvold's Intellectual Ventures after the team's design progress attracted the attention of Bill Gates and Massachusetts-based venture capital firm Charles River Ventures (CRV). The latest … [Read more...]
The mainstream press has been keeping a close eye on the COP15 conference in Copenhagen which was always set to generate a host of strong feelings both outside the conference hall and within. A week into the conference and it has not failed to deliver the expected controversy. At the end of the first week an unauthorized 40,000 person demonstration yesterday led to 13 people being detained overnight. The conference kicked off a week ago … [Read more...]
It’s not too early to think about what needs to be done in 2010 Claims that one will turn over a new leaf in January, via new year’s resolutions, often get a bum rap. For example, will you go to the gym and lose all extra pounds gained during the holiday season? Usually, the rap is deserved because our good intentions fade by the time the Superbowl game hits the TV. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a good idea.As someone who spends a fair amount of … [Read more...]
Recent Comments