How to power the entire planet with renewable energyRidding the world of fossil fuels doesn’t have to be a pipe dream, say scientists Mark Jacobson and Mark Delucchi. Here’s their plan to supply 100% of the world’s energy needs with wind, water and solar technologies by 2030.
Renewable energy
Sunny side up: power the whole world with solar
How much of the earth’s surface would need to be covered by solar panels in order to power the whole world in 2030? Not that much. It would take up a far bit of the Sahara desert, but that alone could power all of Europe and North Africa.
Throwing money to the wind: Wall Street splurges
The wind energy industry is booming in America — thanks to billions in government subsidies. But is there a market for the higher-priced electricity they’re producing? No-one knows yet.
Watermelon powered cars
Watermelons aren’t just a tasty snack, they can also be converted into ethanol fuel. Watermelon fuel requires less water and has more nitrogen then ethanol fuel created by corn, sugar cane or molasses.
Guy Rundle: Rundle: Who ate all the yellowcake?
If you think it’s tough to get an incinerator built these days, trying putting a nuclear waste dump anywhere. Voters wouldn’t allow it, not in their backyards. Nuclear power is the defining struggle, around which a new politics is organised.
Australia: an environmental joke
Australia is becoming a laughing stock. The country blessed with some of the most abundant renewable energy resources on earth is rapidly squandering our poll position in the race to a clean energy future, writes John Hepburn.
Solar-powered blimp powers on
Using flexible solar panels, French engineers have created an unlimited emissions-free transport in the form of a solar powered blimp, set for a test flight in two weeks.
China’s renewable energy source: human power
China may own the dubious title of being the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, but it’s 1.3 billion citizens also provide much sustainable human power.
Future of clean energy jobs in Senate’s hands
It’s time politicians and big polluters stopped arguing or seeking excuses for inaction and got on with the job, writes John Connor.
Budget 09: fossil fuels exit-strategy mark one
Australians would be alarmed to know that their taxes go to multinational oil, gas and coal corporations but the budget papers do not contain any details, or Ministerial Statements explaining these.
Obama calls renewables ‘pillar’ of new economy
Environmentalists had a tiny little greengasm as Obama announced his intention to place renewable energy at the heart of economic recovery.
Wind-powered car breaks speed recordFitzgerald: Do we really need emissions trading?
In a macroeconomic environment where the Australian Government is trying to balance excessive demand pressures of the growth States against the subdued performance of the southern States, emissions trading will only make the task harder, writes Ross Fitzgerald.
Powering Sydney with the sun? Not if the pols can help it
Sydney could have been powered by solar thermal technology in three years, if only for the short-sightedness of politicians. By Alex Mitchell.
Milne: Oil price rising — how surprising!
As Einstein said, you cannot solve a problem with the same thinking that created it, and that’s a reasonable starting point for tackling peak oil, argues Greens Senator Christine Milne.
New Bill fills only some of the holes on clean coal
New draft legislation answers some of the questions surrounding the development of carbon sequestration technology, but raises others, writes carbon policy trading expert Renee Garner.
Fighting climate change — a job for Budget 09?
Last week’s Budget wasn’t really green, or even greenish. Will Budget 09 take the environment more seriously? asks John Connor, CEO of the Climate Institute.
Milne: The great climate betrayal
For those who thought the Rudd government was serious about climate change, Tuesday night’s budget was a rude shock, writes Australian Greens Climate Change spokesperson Christine Milne.
Sunny days for your electricity bill, if the pols get it right
Feed-in tariffs seem to be the flavour of the month in Australian political circles, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about it, writes Brad Shone of the Altenative Technology Association.
Renewable energy on the outer at 2020
Judging by the participants of the climate change group at the 2020 Summit, it seems the Government might still be hanging onto the false hope that geosequestration is going to save the day for coal, writes Helen Oakey.
Peak oil: the world’s dirty secret bubbles up from the ground
If the rampaging crude oil price is any guide, the world’s dirty little secret might finally be starting to come true. The looming spectre of peak oil is fast becoming a reality, writes Adam Schwab.
