Forecast Dims for Future Growth in Wind Power
Despite a recent report trumpeting a record year for wind power in 2012, the numbers are not as encouraging as they seem. Because even though total wind power capacity grew by 30 percent last year, with 13,000 megawatts in new wind turbines, the actual portion of our electricity coming from wind energy did not increase proportionally. Also, the … Read More
Study: Wind Power ‘May be Less Than Thought’
Wind power may in some conditions manage to produce less energy than its supporters believe it can, two U.S. researchers suggest. In the latest contribution to the debate over wind’s potential, they say they have found evidence that some of the largest wind farms may cause effects which substantially reduce their generating capacity. The research,… Read More
Offshore Wind Turbines at Risk from Destructive Waves
Offshore wind turbines are vulnerable to sudden and catastrophic destruction in moderately stormy seas, according to new research. Wind turbines are at constant but unpredictable risk of being snapped in pieces like matchsticks by medium-sized waves, a researcher has found. "The problem is, we still do not know exactly when the turbines may break… Read More
New Study: ‘World Can End Poverty and Limit Warming’
Eradicating poverty by making modern energy supplies available to everyone is not only compatible with measures to slow climate change, a new study says. It is a necessary condition for it. But the authors say the plan to provide sustainable energy worldwide will not by itself be enough to keep the global average temperature rise below the widely… Read More
Dusty Springs in Asia, Africa Can Increase Snow in Calif.
A dusty spring in Asia and Africa can increase snowfall thousands of miles away in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, according to a new study. The process begins when winds stir up tiny particles of dust, pollution, bacteria and heavy metals from the Taklimakan and Gobi deserts in Asia and the Sahara in northern Africa. In a matter of days, … Read More
Solar Forecasts Could Help Electric Utilities and Climate
It’s even more important to electric utilities that want to tap into solar power as a non-polluting, climate-friendly alternative to the coal- or gas-fired power plants that spew heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to warm the globe. Solar is certainly better for the climate, but as Drobot explained, it can also be risky to count on.… Read More
EU’s Attempt to Curb Carbon Emissions Limps On
The European Union’s failing carbon market has been thrown a lifeline by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee. It has backed the Commission’s plan to prop up the price of a ton of carbon by withdrawing an oversupply of credits from the market. Carbon trading is one of the major EU policies designed to combat climate change. But a combi… Read More
With Keystone In Limbo, Alberta Launches Carbon Contest
Best known as the home to Canada's oil sands and Keystone pipeline, Alberta is calling for climate change solutions.… Read More
