Renewables
Coalition of 17 US states signals support for wind, solar
NEWS: New ‘Accord’ published on Tuesday avoids direct mention of climate change, but makes economic case for renewables and warns of future extreme weather events
China breezes past EU to become wind power leader
NEWS: Booming market grew 27% in 2015 edging past European Union for first time, says industry group
World’s first cactus-powered plant opens in Mexico
NEWS: Pilot scheme will run cars and a small power plant on biogas from prickly pear harvested in Michoacan state
Morocco opens first stage of vast solar power plant
NEWS: Noor 1 concentrated solar plant will provide enough electricity for more than a million homes when finished
US scientists eye Route 66 of clean energy
NEWS: Interstate energy “highways” would send wind and solar-generated electricity to where and when it’s needed throughout America
Weekly wrap: Solar tipped for 20% global energy share by 2027
Researchers eye sunny future, Vietnam to ditch coal, France plans climate diplomacy blitz, UK panned for weak green policies
NATO: Green energy saves soldiers’ lives
NEWS: Smart grids, roll-up solar panels and wind offer safer forms of energy for troops in hostile environments, says world’s largest military alliance in annual report
Kyte: Universal energy access possible by early 2020s
NEWS: Sustainable Energy 4 All chief says major strides in clean energy, efficiency and finance mean target of powering entire planet is closer than ever
A bridge to where? Gulf states in denial over climate goals
ANALYSIS: Saudi Arabia plans to ramp up clean energy investment and Qatar touts gas as a transition fuel, but officials struggle to see the fossil-free endgame
Solar panel costs set to fall 10% a year
NEWS: Power from the sun could supply 20% of energy worldwide by 2027 on current technology trends, say UK researchers
Vietnam to phase out coal, invest in gas and renewables
NEWS: Prime minister says government will review plans for new coal power plants, indicating country could shift towards lower emission gas and renewables
Total CEO: Solar is loss-making at $30 oil
DAVOS 2016: Forget turning a profit on sunshine with crude prices at 12-year lows, says French oil chief Patrick Pouyanne
Africans asked to raise billions for energy access plan
DAVOS 2016: Governments urged to radically boost energy investment under African Development Bank strategy to bring light to 645 million
Swapping oil for rays pays for Gulf petropowers
NEWS: Gulf region would spare scarce water and reserve lucrative hydrocarbons for export if it meets renewables targets in ‘Global Sunbelt’
Wind, solar to thrive despite low oil prices, say experts
ANALYSIS: Crashing hydrocarbon prices are helping consumers and hurting exporters, but won’t halt momentum for clean energy investment
Sheikh Mohammed eyes oil-free future for UAE
NEWS: Emir of Dubai to hold ministerial retreat on diversifying economy away from hydrocarbons, citing sustainability concerns
Renewables can make the world richer and happier. Here’s how
ANALYSIS: Doubling clean power generation within 15 years could add a Mexico to global GDP and improve wellbeing, says clean energy think tank tank
Clean energy investments at ‘record high’ in 2015
NEWS: New figures from Bloomberg New Energy Finance demonstrate clean energy surge is ‘irreversible’ say analysts, despite falling oil and gas prices
European wind industry is turning to emerging economies
INTERVIEW: Region’s turbine makers eye red-hot developing world as EU28 goes tepid on sector, says Brussels industry chief
US climate policies boosted economy $2.2 billion in 2013
NEWS: It’s not just the planet that benefits from reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that intensify global warming, says new study