The most recent articles from BusinessGreen

Pumped storage hydro plants enjoy dual boost

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:15:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 00:15:00

Scottish and Southern announces plan for first new UK pumped storage plants in more than 30 years, as US government releases fresh hydro funding

There was good news for the hydroelectric industry on both sides of the Atlantic this week, after Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) announced plans for two new pumped storage developments...

Public sector bosses fear they will miss green IT goals

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:28:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 17:28:00

Survey of public sector IT managers reveals deep concern over ability to deliver on carbon-neutral targets

Public sector IT managers are deeply sceptical about their ability to deliver on high-profile targets intended to ensure the government's IT estate is carbon neutral by 2012....

BusinessGreen.com Most Read – 3 July

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:10:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 15:10:00

From record-breaking solar panels to the International Renewable Energy Agency's new home, we round up the top stories from the past week

US cap-and-trade bill moves forward following House victory Waxman-Markey bill secures narrow House victory and prepares for battle in the Senate UK firm lays claim to world solar record QuantaSol claims...

US powers up new Energy Star PC standards

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:31:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 14:31:00

EPA hints it could soon raise efficiency bar for routers, modems and storage systems

New specifications for PCs carrying the popular Energy Star energy efficiency label were officially launched this week, increasing pressure on manufacturers to deliver highly efficient desktops, laptops and monitors....

BusinessGreen.com LinkedIn Group tops 500 members

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:44:00 GMT

BusinessGreen.com staff, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 13:44:00

The BusinessGreen.com Group for UK Green Professionals goes from strength to strength

Less than two months after its official launch, BusinessGreen.com's LinkedIn group has grown to more than 500 members from across the green business community....

Updated: South West announces £10m boost for regional wave hub

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:16:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 13:16:00

Fresh funding will provide new wave energy research equipment and support research

The South West's plan to establish itself as one of the UK's leading clean-tech hubs received a major boost today with the news that more than £10m of development funding...

World's largest cement firms slash production emissions by a third

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:49:00 GMT

Greenbiz staff, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 10:49:00

Report shows emissions from cement production at 18 global firms are falling despite increased demand for their products

Efforts by the world's leading cement companies reduced carbon dioxide emissions from the industry's manufacturing process by 35 per cent, even while production climbed 53 per cent, according to the...

Geothermal firm to tap Perth city centre hot rocks

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:28:00 GMT

Giles Parkinson in Sydney, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 10:28:00

Hot water could provide cold air for offices, data centres and housing estates

Australian geothermal specialist Green Rock Energy has this week announced it is to tap extensive geothermal resources under the city of Perth in order to power air-conditioning facilities at the...

Suntech to invest $1bn in 500MW China solar project

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:14:00 GMT

Yvonne Chan in Hong Kong, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 10:14:00

Deal comes as module maker secures $50m loan for next-generation Pluto technology

Suntech Power Holdings, one of the world's largest photovoltaic module makers, yesterday announced it is to invest $1bn (£611m) in a 500MW on-grid PV project in China's south central city...

China plans dramatic increase in solar capacity to 2GW by 2011

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:04:00 GMT

Yvonne Chan in Hong Kong, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 10:04:00

New subsidies aim to deliver fifteen-fold rise in installed capacity over next two years

China is set to raise its target for installed solar capacity to 2GW by 2011, a fifteen-fold increase on the 140MW goal it set only last year....

Solarcentury boss slams Carbon Trust report

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:55:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Friday 3 July 2009 at 09:55:00

Jeremy Leggett argues Carbon Trust's "technology prioritisation" strategy will hamper expanding solar industry

One of the UK's leading renewable energy experts has today accused the Carbon Trust of undermining the success of the UK's solar industry....

Clean tech report: Q2 venture capital investment hits $1.2bn

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:15:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 00:15:00

Green cars, battery developers and biofuels are the big winners as investment levels rebound

The Cleantech Group and Deloitte yesterday released the second report this week confirming that venture capital investment in the second quarter of the year rebounded following two consecutive quarters of...

UK firm lays claim to world solar record

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:15:00 GMT

BusinessGreen.com Staff, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 00:15:00

QuantaSol claims to have independently tested single junction solar cell with conversion efficiency of more than 28 per cent

UK start up QuantaSol has this week become the latest solar firm to stake a claim for the world record for photovoltaic solar cell efficiency, with the unveiling of a...

Nokia secures top spot in green electronics ranking

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:33:00 GMT

BusinessGreen.com Staff, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 16:33:00

Nintendo slammed again over poor toxics policy

Greenpeace has today released its quarterly Guide to Greener Electronics, again awarding top spot to mobile giant Nokia and slamming games console manufacturer Nintendo for its poor environmental record....

Treasury faces legal action against "dirty and destructive" RBS investment

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:15:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 15:15:00

Treasury says it will "strongly resist" legal challenge

The growing legal risks faced by carbon intensive businesses was hammered home this week with news a coalition of environmental groups is taking legal action against the Treasury for its...

BSI launches energy management standards

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:33:00 GMT

BusinessGreen.com Staff, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 13:33:00

Standards body urges businesses and public sector body to embrace energy management guidelines

Firms that are interested in curbing their energy use but remain unsure how to do so, will get new help from this week with the launch of a new Energy...

Clean industrial revolution promises £70bn economic boost

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:46:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 12:46:00

But only if government abandons "technology neutrality" and steps up support for offshore wind and marine energy

The UK has the potential to become a leading player in the global offshore wind and marine energy market, generating a £70bn economic boost and providing almost a quarter of...

Canada and Japan accused of blocking Copenhagen progress

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:50:00 GMT

BusinessGreen.com staff, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 11:50:00

Former UK chief scientific adviser warns Copenhagen process is "faltering"

Sir David King, the UK's former chief scientific adviser, yesterday accused Canada and Japan of blocking progress towards a meaningful international deal to tackle climate change....

Australia to launch carbon labels in 2010

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:17:00 GMT

Yvonne Chan in Hong Kong, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 11:17:00

UK Carbon Trust takes labelling scheme Down Under

A carbon reduction labeling scheme will be launched in Australia next year, informing shoppers of the overall carbon footprint of products....

Papua New Guinea suspends carbon chief amid reports of dodgy deals

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:45:00 GMT

Yvonne Chan in Hong Kong, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 09:45:00

Foreign firms allegedly paid millions of dollars for unauthorised carbon credits

Theo Yasause, Papua New Guinea's Office of Climate Change (OCC) director, was suspended earlier this week following reports that he issued unofficial carbon credits worth millions of dollars from 39...

EPA backtracks on Californian exhaust emissions waiver

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:24:00 GMT

Danny Bradbury, BusinessGreen, Thursday 2 July 2009 at 09:24:00

Long-running battle between California and the EPA ends after the state is granted freedom to set its own car emission standards

In an historic move, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has this week reversed a Bush-era decision by granting 14 states permission to impose stricter fuel emission criteria than federal standards...

CBI slams energy planning delays

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:15:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Wednesday 1 July 2009 at 00:15:00

Lobby Group calls on government to hurry up and release national planning policy statements for renewables and nuclear

The CBI will today accuse the government of dragging its feet over reforms to the planning systems designed to accelerate the rollout of renewable and nuclear energy projects, arguing that...

Obama to pull plug on energy guzzling lights

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:13:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Wednesday 1 July 2009 at 15:13:00

New standards for commercial and residential lighting to be followed by energy efficiency rules for household appliances

Fresh from securing victory in the House of Representative vote on the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, the Obama administration pressed on with its low-carbon programme this week with a raft...

England puts brakes on dirty buses with hybrid grant scheme

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:45:00 GMT

James Murray, BusinessGreen, Wednesday 1 July 2009 at 13:45:00

New £30m fund to promote take up of low and zero carbon buses

The Department for Transport (DfT) has today launched a new £30m fund designed to help bus operators and councils invest in new low carbon buses that result in a 30...

Clean tech investors show green shoots of recovery

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:14:00 GMT

BusinessGreen.com Staff, BusinessGreen, Wednesday 1 July 2009 at 13:14:00

New report claims venture capital investment in green tech rebounded during the second quarter

Those predicting that the worst of the global recession is already behind us were given fresh ammunition this week with the publication of new research suggesting that venture capital (VC)...