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Power Forward: How the largest US companies are capturing business value while addressing climate change

The largest US companies are increasing their clean energy and energy efficiency efforts while improving their bottom lines.

Charted success: Five graphs that show the UK's low-carbon future is in sight

The Government has released two major reports detailing the UK's emissions figures for 2014 and where it got its' energy from. And there is reason for optimism.

Water: Securing the resources for future prosperity

This report aims to get all UK businesses - large and small from every sector and at every stage of their journey, to start thinking about their relationship with water and the steps they need to take to manage their use more sustainably and become more resilient to risk and extreme weather events in the future.

The Climate Group: Boardrooms finally grasping business case of climate action

Amid a flurry of high-profile corporate sustainability commitments, the Climate Group's chief executive has told edie that improved boardroom understanding around the business case of climate action has enabled the low-carbon agenda to flourish.

edie Explains: Solar PPAs

A power purchase agreement (PPA), is a contract between an energy generator and an energy buyer or ‘end-user’. PPAs can provide a fixed price for energy generated over the duration of the contract, removing exposure to energy price volatility and allowing for accurate and predictable cost planning.

The REA claims that the Government’s own Transport Energy Task Force had lobbied for a 10% ruling for the crop-based bioethanol

Government raises renewable fuel obligation, caps crop-based fuel use

The UK Government has confirmed that it will increase the percentage of petrol and diesel that is sourced from renewables used for vehicle use, while the use of crops in fuel production will also be capped.

M&M’s has launched its Fans of Wind energy campaign, using the Red and Yellow M&M characters to act as advocates for renewable wind energy

Kimberly-Clark and Mars make fresh moves to champion renewables

Personal care firm Kimberly-Clark has secured its first deals to source renewable energy, in a move that will help the company surpass a carbon goal for years early, while food company Mars has used an iconic brand to promote renewables to consumers.

Kellogg's has set a goal to source 100% renewable electricity by 2050 and already sources 20% renewable energy through various contracts in the US and Europe

Kellogg's amongst latest raft of businesses to pledge to RE100

Business demand for renewable energy has surged to around 150 TWh, after food firms Kellogg's and Clif Bar & Company joined a global banking firm and a cosmetics company in joining the RE100 commitment to power their global operations with 100% renewable energy.

The mean average strike price for the three projects was £66.13 per MWh, well below the sector’s target to bring costs below the £100 per MWh threshold by 2020

'Historic', 'unprecedented', 'astounding': Industry reacts to falling offshore wind costs

Developers, green groups and politicians have welcomed the latest results from the UK Government's Contract for Difference (CfD) auction, which has seen the cost of offshore wind halve over the last two years to set a record low-strike price of £57.50 per MWh.

Leveraging the promoting power of one of the world’s biggest brands, M&M’s, Mars will call on consumers to champion renewable energy and combat climate change

Mars pledges $1bn to hit new sustainability targets

Global confectionary producer Mars has today unveiled a near-$1bn investment into a new sustainability action plan that uses science-based targets to "drastically expand" on previous carbon goals, as the company's chief executive Grant Reid called on the sector to fix "broken" global supply chains.

For 2020, individual EU member states were handed legally binding targets at national level in order to meet the EU-wide threshold of 20% renewables

MEPs agree to bolster EU's renewable energy target for 2030

The European Parliament's energy committee confirmed that MEPs want renewable energy targets to be more ambitious than the proposal put forward by the Commission.

DNV GL predicts that the first “emission-free” year will only occur in 2090

World set to exhaust carbon budget in 2040s, despite predicted energy plateau

A "watershed moment in human history" will occur in 2030 as energy demand plateaus, although the rapid decarbonisation of the global energy supply will still deplete the carbon budget for the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2041.

More than 40 social landlords including local authorities will be involved across England and Wales. Photo: Solarplicity

£1bn solar project set to power 800,000 UK homes

More than 800,000 low-income UK households will have access to cheap solar electricity in the next five years thanks to a £1bn Government-led programme.

The final version of the project will consist of 61 turbines with a permitted capacity of up to 86MW

Pentland Firth tidal project sets record-breaking month for electricity generation

Turbines harnessing tidal energy in the Pentland Firth have set a world record for monthly tidal stream power production, after phase one of the MeyGen marine project produced more than 700 MWh in the month of August.

The NnG windfarm has faced considerable opposition of RSPB Scotland over the impact it would have on protected sea birds

Windfarm could boost Scottish economy by £827 million

The Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) windfarm off the Fife coast could be worth more than £800 million to the Scottish economy, according to a new report.

Scientists suggest that clean infrastructure would cost a quarter of the current fossil fuel system

Scientists sketch roadmap for 139 countries to go 100% renewable by 2050

A research team at Stanford University has outlined a new roadmap for 139 countries - including the UK - to switch to 100% renewable energy by 2050, which it claims would avoid 1.5C global warming and prevent millions of premature deaths from air pollution.

The report highlights some alarming green economy trends that need to be addressed by the long-awaited Clean Growth plan

Report: UK's leadership role in green economy hinges on 'ambitious' Clean Growth Plan

The UK's leadership role in the green economy is "far from guaranteed" due to delays in the Government's Clean Growth Plan, with a new report revealing that ambitious new policies in areas such as electric vehicles (EVs) could halve the oil imports in the UK.

Audi is aiming for almost the entire roof surface to be covered with solar cells in the future, with the generated electricity used to supply a vehicle’s air-conditioning system and seat heaters

Audi designing solar roof for future electric vehicles

German carmaker Audi has teamed up with a solar-cell specialist to develop a solar roof which will the extend the range of its electric vehicles (EVs).

The government completed the sale of the GIB last week

Green Party slams GIB sell-off

The co-leader of the Green Party has warned the controversial sell-off of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) is bad news for "everyone who cares about the future of renewable energy".

Sheffield Solar worked with the National Grid for two years to develop real-time generation estimates from solar photovoltaic systems in the UK, and can now forecast in advance

New forecast system to boost efficiency and reduce costs of solar energy

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have developed a forecasting system designed to boost energy generation from solar systems, which could boost the efficiency of the electricity system and help companies and households reduce costs.

Home Depot has a target in place to source 135MW of renewable energy by 2020

Home Depot to fit retail stores with solar panels and Tesla Powerpacks

The world's largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot, has signed an agreement with GE and Tesla to create "mini solar farms" at 50 stores in the US.

Bywaters has reduced its carbon emissions by around 45% and saved more than 640 tonnes of CO2 since February 2016

In practice: London's largest solar retrofit project

Waste management firm Bywaters has dramatically reduced its energy usage and achieved near self-sufficiency following the delivery of a 1MW solar retrofit project at its plant in East London.

Around 80,000 solar panels installed at the Moray site

Scotland's largest solar farm given go-ahead

Planning permission has been granted for what will be Scotland's largest solar farm, a 20MW project in the north-east of the country.

Dong Energy boss says falling price of renewables means they must power the electric car revolution or the environment will gain only a pyrrhic victory

Rise of electric car solves little if driven by fossil fuels, warns windfarm boss

The rise of electric cars will be a pyrrhic victory for the environment if they are powered by fossil fuels instead of renewables, according to the UK boss of the world's biggest offshore windfarm developer.

Of the money earmarked for fossil fuels, oil and gas received a total of 87% of UK funds, with 9% going to coal

Britain spent 'twice as much on overseas fossil fuels as renewables'

The UK has spent more than twice as much overseas support on fossil fuels projects as on renewable ones so far this decade, according to research commissioned by the Catholic aid agency Cafod.

The new solar PV system consists of 2,902 individual panels, each of which measures 1.6 m², which will supply 39% of the daytime electricity used in the mall areas of the centre

'The jewel in the crown': Landsec drives towards science-based target with Britain's biggest shopping centre solar installation

The UK's largest commercial property developer has today (11 August) flicked the switch on a giant rooftop solar system at a shopping centre in Leeds, kicking off a 12-month investment programme in onsite sustainability across its estate.

British Land’s energy efficiency programme has already delivered £13m of gross savings for its occupiers

British Land completes major retail rooftop solar project

Top property development firm British Land has completed the installation of one of the UK's largest retail rooftop solar projects, which will deliver 22% of the site's annual electricity demand during the summer months.

(L to R) Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson, Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger and Chief Executive Officer Ivan Gazidis

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium inks deal to source 100% renewable energy

Arsenal Football Club's 60,000-seater stadium in North London has become the first Premier League stadium to source 100% of its electricity needs from renewables, after the club extended its supplier deal with Octopus Energy.

Onsite generation can help businesses save money on energy bills and even generate income by selling surplus energy back into the grid

edie publishes free business guide to onsite energy generation

Organisations and professionals with an interest in producing and consuming energy at a particular location away from the grid now have access to a free, comprehensive 'edie explains' guide which answers all of the key questions surrounding onsite generation.

The news is a timely boost for the solar industry, with project deployment at a seven-year low

Solar energy storage systems secure reduced VAT rate

Householders installing a storage system to integrate with a newly-purchased solar photovoltaic systems have been greeted with a reduced VAT of 5%, after the Solar Trade Association (STA) provided evidence to the HMRC.

A more sustainable energy system is being driven by the rapidly improving economics of renewable power, supported by cost-effective energy storage and the emergence of electric vehicles

Energy industry must embrace '3D transition' to sustainable future, say former Big Six bosses

Britain's 'Bix Six' utility companies must rapidly adapt and find a new role in an energy system which is undergoing the "3D transition" of decarbonisation, digitisation and decentralisation, a new report by industry experts has concluded.

The new home battery packs are priced from £3,000, with costs rising to £6,925 when combined with Ikea solar panels

Ikea offers home energy storage systems alongside solar panels

Ikea has partnered with renewable energy firm Solarcentury to launch a new domestic battery storage solution that could help to double the amount of solar energy used by UK households and reduce electricity bills by 70%.

The financial institution will use a combination of onsite projects and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to hit its 100% renewables target

JP Morgan commits to 100% renewables as it makes $200bn clean finance vow

One of the world's biggest banking institutions JP Morgan Chase, has pledged to facilitate the "largest commitment" by a financial institution in the form of a $200bn clean financing fund, alongside a transition to 100% renewable energy.

The station in Leyland can serve up to 600 HGVs daily and has certified 100% renewable gas, which qualifies for Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates

UK high-pressure gas refuelling station records substantial drop in emissions

The UK's biggest gas network operator Cadent has confirmed that the UK's first high-pressure gas refuelling station has reduced the emissions of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) used by the likes of Waitrose by 84% compared to diesel equivalents.

Capgemini also has goals in place to reduce office energy use by 20% by 2020 and by 40% by 2030 against a 2014 baseline

Capgemini closes in on science-based emissions reduction target

Global IT consultancy Capgemini is three-quarters of the way towards its verified science-based target for 2020, and has also launched a supplier assessment tool and case studies to push towards a Net Positive goal.

The 588MW development is expected to generate enough renewable wind energy to power roughly 450,000 households

Beatrice offshore project to provide social value windfall for UK communities

Money placed into a community fund to support the development of the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm off the coast of Scotland could create nearly £20m in social value for the communities involved in project, according to new analysis.

Mark Kenber took the reins at Mongoose Energy in April after spending more than 20 years playing an influential role in international climate policy

Decentralised energy will revolutionise sustainable business, claims Mongoose Energy boss

EXCLUSIVE: Businesses that invest in decentralised energy systems can enjoy the triple benefit of economic value, security of supply and "telling a good story", the new chief executive of community energy supplier Mongoose Energy has told edie.

The latest round of funding commitments was built on existing relations with clients, who accounted for 70% of the added £475m

BlackRock: UK's largest renewables fund passes £1bn mark

The world's largest investor has raised the largest fund for renewable power generation in the UK, totalling £1.1bn in commitments, with more than £600m already funnelled into 40 UK solar and windfarm projects.

Biogas trials have been conducted by Wyke Farms tractors, but range is still an issue

Political barriers hampering onsite biodiesel production

EXCLUSIVE: Biomethane generated from food and drinks process residues is emerging as a viable low-carbon alternative to diesel used in commercial vehicles, but a lack of political clarity has left the food sector "scratching the surface" of a potential closed-loop, onsite fuel system.

Other notable achievements include a 70% waste recycling rate at JLL UK’s Norwich and London headquarters

JLL UK targets 100% renewables and zero waste to landfill in new 2020 targets

Real estate specialists and investment management firm JLL is chasing 100% renewable electricity and zero waste to landfill offices as part of a new corporate sustainability agenda for 2020.

Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations order, biofuel must be blended into petrol and diesel in the UK today at a rate of 4.75%

Biofuels needed but some more polluting than fossil fuels, report warns

Biofuel use needs to increase to help fight climate change as liquid fuels will be needed by aircraft and ships for many decades to come, finds a new report requested by the UK government.

The report also draws attention to the rapid expansion in renewable and distributed generation

Rise of EVs could add 18GW to peak demand by 2050

The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) could add up to 18GW - or 30 per cent - to peak power demand by 2050, National Grid has predicted in its latest Future Energy Scenarios report.

The RE100, delivered in partnership with CDP, is now creating around 146TWh in demand for renewable electricity annually

RE100 targets 500 companies after hitting 100-member milestone

EXCLUSIVE: The Climate Group's RE100 initiative to get firms to source 100% renewable electricity is targeting 500 members by 2020, with each signatory encouraged to promote the initiative to its suppliers, after passing the 100-member milestone on Tuesday (11 July).

Members of the European Investment Bank visit Welsh Water's Five Fords treatment site in Wrexham

Welsh Water secures £250m renewables loan and DONG Energy deal

The sixth largest regulated water and sewage company in England and Wales has secured a £250m loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance on-site renewable generation projects, alongside a clean energy purchasing agreement with providers DONG Energy.

250 kWp ground mount PV system designed and installed by HBS New Energies at the Coal Authority’s Deerplay Mine Water Treatment Scheme, Lancashire

UK Coal Authority turns to solar to offset water treatment costs

A regulatory body of the UK coal industry has named the latest contractor for a four-year renewable energy framework to offset the costs of its 75 mine water treatment sites.

CCEP continues to ensure that all of its packaging is recyclable

Coca-Cola European Partners closing in on 100% renewables target

Multinational bottling company Coca Cola European Partners (CCEP) has almost cut emissions in half over the past six years, as it closes in on a target to purchase 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

The report names the UK, which has already invested £450m into the sector, as an area to lead the exploration

UK primed to lead Europe's £46bn wave energy market opportunity

Wave power can contribute to 10% of global electricity demand by 2050 if governments and the private sector offer financial support and political stability, with the UK primed to act as the marine energy leader.

Sustainability professionals and green groups are calling for the new UK Government to step up its green policy ambition and finally release a number of key environmental frameworks

It's time for ACTION: 14 green policy priorities for the new UK Government - Part two

A decentralised energy system, more ambitious renewable energy targets and a stronger low-carbon heat and transport policy are all listed in the second part of edie's feature exploring the most critical areas of green policy that Theresa May's new Government must prioritise.

The microgrid provides WEB Aruba with real-time optimisation capabilities to forecast and cater for growing electricity demands on the island

Caribbean island turns to microgrids in quest to become fossil-fuel free

The island of Aruba is a step closer to becoming fossil-fuel free, after a new deal was signed to integrate an advanced microgrid into the operations of the island's main utilities provider to balance growing demand for electricity with increased renewable energy generation.

UPS operates more than 8,300 alternative fuel and advance technology vehicles globally

UPS focuses on renewables and alternative fuels to deliver new science-based target

Delivery firm UPS has today (27 June) unveiled a new science-based target to reduce carbon emissions by 12% by 2025, alongside goals to source a quarter of its electricity needs from renewables and a scale-up of its alternative fuels programme.

Hinkley Point C is among the projects expected to be negatively affected by UK’s planned withdrawal from the Euratom treaty

UK on track to miss carbon emissions target due to stalled energy policy

The UK's ambitious target of slashing carbon emissions by more than half within 13 years is at risk because of government dithering on energy policy, industry professionals have warned.

IBM said that the company has saved more than $600m, avoided 4.4 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions and conserved 7.2 million MWh since 1990

IBM slashes emissions by 38% in just over a decade

Tech giant IBM has slashed its energy consumption by more than one-third since 2005, the company has revealed.

The outcome is slightly more generous than the original consultation which proposed reducing the benefit to around £2/kW

Ofgem condemned for slashing subsidies for small-scale energy generation

Energy regulator Ofgem has faced accusations of "hammering" the financial viability of low-carbon projects, after it confirmed subsidies made to small-scale electricity generators will fall by up to 93%.

New consumer products like Tesla’s grid-connected home battery, along with small-scale solar, are becoming more popular, and are tipped to revolutionise the way power is stored

Storage 'not fundamentally needed' for future power grid, scientists say

The emergence of household batteries, along with small-scale solar photovoltaic and plug-in electric cars, is tipped to transform electricity storage, according to a new state-of-the-art report by European science academies. But experts claim storage is not actually fundamentally needed.

BNEF found that solar will account for 48% of the world’s installed capacity and 34% of electricity generation by 2040

'Unstoppable' renewables to reach new heights as costs tumble, report finds

Renewable energy sources will account for around three quarters of the expected $10trn global investment into power generating technologies between now and 2040, a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) has claimed.

The green bond will finance renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects and initiatives at Apple facilities, although a specific focus will be given to the company’s supply chain

Apple targets supply chain efficiency through $1bn green bond

Apple has launched a dedicated funding stream to finance clean energy and environmental projects, through a $1bn green bond.

BP research shows that the UK more than halved its own coal consumption in 2016

Global carbon emissions flat for third straight year, BP study shows

Global carbon emissions remained flat for the third consecutive year, according to a BP study, which shows the fuel mix shifting away from coal towards low-carbon sources and energy efficiency.

Together Towards Zero sets 2030 targets for carbon, water, zero irresponsible drinking and a zero accidents culture that are “much bigger in scale and scope” than previous aims

Carlsberg targets zero-emission breweries under industry-leading sustainability strategy

EXCLUSIVE: Carlsberg has launched a new "industry-leading" sustainability strategy that aims to push beyond the company's own group strategy and exceed science-based recommendations by eliminating carbon emissions and halving water usage at breweries by 2030.

The Burbo Bank offshore windfarm has been fully operational since 2007

DONG Energy turns to battery storage for Burbo Bank windfarm

Wind energy provider DONG Energy has announced plans to integrate a 2MW battery storage system into the Burbo Bank offshore windfarm to deliver frequency response to aid the National Grid in managing grid stability.

Wind energy output peaked at 9.5GW on Wednesday 7 June

Windy weather brings new renewable energy record

Windy weather brought with it a new renewable record on Wednesday lunchtime as output from wind, solar, biomass and hydro peaked at 19.3GW - more than half of all demand.

One of BT’s flagship sustainability commitments is to help its customers cut carbon emissions by three times their own end-to-end emissions by 2020

BT offers renewable-energy tariff to customers with Good Energy partnership

As part of an ongoing initiative to help customers cut carbon emissions alongside operational reductions, BT has inked a new energy bill contract that offers discounts for consumers to switch to a renewable energy tariff.

Through the Climate Savers Programme, Lego has improved the energy efficiency of producing Lego bricks by more than 12%

Lego launches new carbon-efficiency plan in partnership with WWF

Fresh from hitting a renewable energy target three years early, the Lego Group has extended its partnership with WWF to increase carbon efficiency by a further 10% per Lego brick produced.

2016 is the first year that the new solar capacity added to the energy mix has been greater than any other electricity-producing technology

'Spectacular' drop in renewable energy costs leads to record global boost

Renewable energy capacity around the world was boosted by a record amount in 2016 and delivered at a markedly lower cost, according to new global data - although the total financial investment in renewables actually fell.

Telefonica already sources 44% of its electricity from renewables, having doubled the percentage over the last 12 months

Telefonica joins RE100 to accelerate clean energy commitment

Multinational broadband and telecommunications provider Telefonica has signalled its commitment to decarbonising its operations, by joining the RE100 initiative to accelerate its plan to source 100% renewable energy.

Skorupska called for clarity on how the Industrial Strategy plans integrate decentralised and smart technologies to enable the UK to reach its low-carbon commitments

A 'committed' Government can spur post-Brexit renewables job growth, says REA

EXCLUSIVE: The UK's departure from the European Union (EU) should be facilitated by a new Government that uses key "lighthouse areas" to outline how the country plans embed low-carbon smart technologies into operations as a means to attract better investment options.

Unilever goes 100% renewable across all UK manufacturing sites

Unilever has today (23 May) revealed that all of its UK manufacturing sites are 100% powered by electricity generated from certified renewable sources.

While poultry litter biomass has received a boost across the country, using ground coffee waste for a similar purpose is expanding outside of London

Coffee grounds and poultry litter proving a viable biomass option in the UK

As innovative waste coffee recycling firm bio-beans expands its collection service across the University of Birmingham, the UK Government has revealed that Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants using poultry litter will receive the highest tariffs under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The solar farm will save 3,800 tonnes of CO2 emissions at the CCEP factory in Wakefield - equal to taking more than 1,700 cars off the road

Coca-Cola bottler sourcing 100% renewable electricity

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has launched a new solar farm in Yorkshire to coincide with news that the firm is now sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable energy.

The project is the first time the 8MW turbines have been commercially used anywhere in the world

Mersey feat: world's biggest wind turbines go online near Liverpool

The planet's biggest and most powerful wind turbines have begun generating electricity off the Liverpool coast, cementing Britain's reputation as a world leader in the technology.

Labour has unveiled pledges costing £48.6bn, to be funded from extra tax revenue, in its election manifesto. Photo: @paulwaugh / Twitter

Labour manifesto: Renewables revolution, air quality crackdown and SDG push

The official Labour Party manifesto has been broadly praised by green groups for including a raft of bold pledges to ramp up renewable energy generation, tackle air quality and embed the Sustainable Development Goals into central government.

Elsewhere on the index, both China and India have surpassed the US which fell to third following policy changes introduced by the Trump administration

UK re-enters top 10 for renewables attractiveness

The UK has restored its position as one of the top 10 countries for renewable energy investment, although concerns remain about the impact that Brexit will have on future investments.

Tesco has had its goal to become a zero-carbon business by 2050 approved by the independent Science-Based Targets initiative

Tesco commits to 100% renewables by 2030

Tesco has pledged to deliver 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, as the supermarket giant unveils tougher Science-Based Targets to help achieve its long-term emissions reduction plan.

The manifesto proposes that all energy investment will be directed towards “clean, renewable energy”

'An inspiring vision for the natural world': Green Party unveils environment manifesto

The Green Party has today (11 May) made a swathe of green promises in its General Election environment manifesto, which aims to build a "prosperous, thriving future" for UK businesses and citizens.

Whitbread has ambitious growth plans to increase the number of Premier Inn UK rooms to around 85,000 by 2020

Whitbread now powered by 100% renewable electricity

Britain's biggest hospitality can now stake claim to being powered by 100% renewable sources after striking a deal for green electricity to be supplied to its hotels, restaurants and coffee shops across the country.

A Clyde project will develop the UK’s first water source heat pump for medium temperature district heating to service existing buildings

Scotland unveils winners of £40m low-carbon innovation fund

A string of pioneering district heat networks and a battery storage project are among the biggest winners in a £43m fund announced by the Scottish Government in an effort to boost low-carbon infrastructure across the country.

The manifesto notes that renewable energy companies will invest more than £15.6bn in UK infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 to boost capacity and production

Next Government must prioritise renewables to boost economy, says RenewableUK

As the Conservatives confirmed plans for a price cap for energy bills, RenewableUK has launched its manifesto for the General Election and called on the next Government to embrace renewables and flexible energy to match the needs of the UK economy.

SmartestEnergy believes there would be more stability if wind and solar were brought back into the contracts for difference (CfD) auction system

UK energy storage predicted to grow 100-fold by 2020

SmartestEnergy has called for renewables and storage to be able to compete on a level playing field with other forms of energy, as it publishes a new report highlighting how independent developers are turning to batteries.

In total, 48% of the Fortune 500 companies now have climate or energy targets in place, a 5% increase on last year

Report: Fortune 500 firms showcasing the business case for energy efficiency

Major US businesses are reaping economic benefits from energy-efficiency projects implemented to meet broad sustainability targets, with 190 Fortune 500 companies collectively generating $3.7bn in annual energy savings.

The report was co-authored by representatives from groups such as the world’s largest investor BlackRock, multinational oil and gas firm Shell and private sector coalition We Mean Business

Report: Halving global emissions by 2040 achievable if businesses act now

Businesses must act now to halve global emissions by 2040 and "set the stage" for further reductions required in the second half of the century, according to new research from a diverse group of investors, companies and NGOs.

Coal has seen significant declines in recent years, accounting for just 9% of electricity generation in 2016

Britain set for first coal-free day since the industrial revolution

The UK is set to have its first ever working day without coal power generation since the industrial revolution on Friday, according to the National Grid.

The industry body has set out a series of policy recommendations for ensuring emissions targets for the early 2030s are met

Energy UK joins calls to back 'pot one' technologies

Energy UK has called on ministers to support established renewable technologies, like onshore wind and solar, in order to provide a better deal for customers.

BEIS representatives Nick Hurd, Greg Clark and Jesse Norman appeared before the BEIS Committee in Parliament today

UK Clean Growth Plan in 'holding pattern' after snap election announcement

Climate Minister Nick Hurd has said the release of the UK's long-awaited Clean Growth Plan is now in a 'holding pattern' of new policy frameworks following Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to seek a snap general election.

Theresa May's decision to call a snap election casts further doubt over the release of the Industrial Strategy, along with other key environmental frameworks. Credit: Tom Evans

Calls for low-carbon Industrial Strategy mount as Theresa May seeks snap election

A host of industry bodies have called on the Government's forthcoming Industrial Strategy to support business efforts to embrace renewable technologies, on the same day that Prime Minister Theresa May has made a surprise announcement to call a snap general election in June.

A new study has found that the UK Government could deliver 1GW of new onshore wind capacity at no additional cost to consumers above the long-term wholesale price of power

Reports reiterate value of strong policy signals in clean energy revolution

As new research indicates that the global decarbonisation process can be kick-started by a small group of countries with the right policy incentives, a separate study has found that the UK Government can now deliver 1GW of new onshore wind subsidy-free.

The energy storage system will control energy consumption from Walmart's on-site renewables arrays, including solar PV and wind energy

Walmart kickstarts energy storage project to 'increase reliance' on renewables

American retail giant Walmart has penned a deal to combine energy storage systems with on-site renewables, in order to balance energy generation at numerous Southern California stores.

The report names Grangemouth as the ideal location to create a “Co2 utilisation hub” in Scotland

Scotland viewed as ideal location for closed-loop CO2 market

As Scottish energy ministers meet with UK Energy Secretary Greg Clark to discuss "back-tracked" support for Scottish Islands renewables projects worth £2.5bn, a new report has claimed that re-using carbon dioxide could create a £500m market for Scotland.

A report published by UN Environment Programme (UNEP) shows that an extra 138.5GW of global renewable energy capacity last year was aided by tumbling costs

Renewables revolution surges both at home and abroad

The low-carbon and renewables revolution is in full swing, both domestically and on a global scale, as figures show the UK sector made a turnover of £43bn in 2015, and a UN-backed report highlights a record amount of world renewable energy capacity installed last year at plummeting costs.

Crookedstone is the largest solar energy connection to an airport in the UK and Ireland

Belfast International Airport solar farm savings soar above £100,000

Belfast International Airport has revealed it has achieved more than £100,000 in savings from a £5m off-site solar farm launched ten months ago.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (right) put pen to paper for a climate deal with Governor of California Edmund G Brown (left) in Sacramento this week

Scotland and California agree joint climate change deal

Scotland has signed a joint agreement to tackle climate change with the US State of California, in the same week that new figures have highlighted a record month for Scottish wind power generation.

Renewables have replaced 100m tonnes of oil equivalent electricity generation this decade, but will only need to replace 20m tonnes in the 10 years ahead, according to SolarPower Europe’s analysis

Renewables cut Europe's carbon emissions by 10% in 2015, says EEA

A surge in the use of wind and solar energy helped Europe to cut its fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by about 10% in 2015, an authoritative new report has found.

The report warns that CCS and nuclear - such as the Dukovany plant (pictured) - offer limited growth prospects compared to renewables

Europe's energy giants set to overshoot Paris Agreement 'carbon budget'

Europe's major utilities companies are "locked" into high emission projects, placing €14bn of earnings at risk unless they realign strategies with the goals of the Paris Agreement, a new CDP report has found.

Data released from the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) the day before the closure indicated that electricity from renewables shrunk in 2016

Shrinking renewables sector dealt further blow with Renewables Obligation closure

The UK's renewable energy industry is at risk of "rapidly shrinking" as one of the main financial support mechanisms for large-scale renewable electricity projects has now closed for new capacity developers.

edie has analysed this latest batch of data to bring you 10 statistics that you probably didn’t know about global renewable energy capacity

The renewables revolution rolls on: 2016 in charts

New figures from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have revealed that 2016 was the strongest year yet for renewable energy. Here, edie digs deep into the data to bring you 10 key statistics that chart a record-breaking year for the world's clean energy transformation.

AB InBev expects to source between 75% to 85% of its renewable electricity through power purchasing agreements, while BAFTA will collaborate with Good Energy

BAFTA and beer giant announce renewables purchasing plans

As BAFTA forms a partnership to help the television and film sector purchase renewable energy, the world's largest beer maker has announced a new commitment to secure 100% purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

The risks and rewards of brokers

As the non-domestic retail water market opens on April 1, brokers are anticipating a boom in business. edie sister title Utility Week has provided an in-depth guide to the utility broker market as it stands, and considers how it is likely to change after market opening.

The report highlights the need for more practices to be introduced to boost training prospects for those entering the renewables sector

Survey: Renewables workforce concerned about future skills shortage

A relatively young workforce in the renewables sector could create a future skills shortage unless mentoring and coaching is improved, while hiring managers across the energy sector are increasingly willing to recruit from other sectors to inspire "a new way of thinking" into companies.

For 2016, renewables supplied more than half of the global electricity demand growth, mainly through hydro technology, which accounted for half of this share

Emissions flat for third year running as economy boom continues

The decoupling trend between economic activity and emissions continued for a third straight year, after the International Energy Agency (IEA) revealed that global energy-related carbon emissions remained flat in 2016.

Despite the government recently announcing a review into energy costs for businesses, the committee said climate policies were adding relatively little to companies’ bills

UK climate targets 'will raise household energy bills by £100 in a decade'

The cost of supporting new windfarms and nuclear power stations to meet the UK's carbon targets will add nearly £100 to the average household energy bill by the end of the next decade, according to a government adviser.

Moixa and Hitachi hope that the energy management systems will improve fuel standards and increase the share of renewables in the energy mix

Energy storage set to invigorate the Isles of Scilly

A £10.8m project on the Isles of Scilly will test how electric vehicles (EVs) and domestic batteries can integrate into low-carbon energy systems that reduce electricity costs and promote the use of renewables.

Alongside energy provided by one of the largest rooftop installations in Europe at Wolverhampton, JLR will now source 100% renewable electricity from EDF

Jaguar Land Rover continues energy efficiency drive amid business expansion

A increased investment in a range of energy efficiency and low-carbon initiatives, including an agreement to purchase 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, has seen Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) decouple energy consumption per vehicle produced from a business expansion and wider data capture.