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edie Explains: Onsite generation
Is onsite energy generation right for your business? What are the technology options and how do you choose the right one? This edie explains business guide, produced in association with Centrica Business Solutions, has the answers.
Record 11 million people now employed in renewable energy sector
Renewable energy now accounts for more than 11 million jobs worldwide, according to the latest set of official figures on the sector.
UK Government's Smart Export Guarantee to stabilise small-scale renewables market
The Government's replacement initiative for the Feed-in Tariff (FiTs) scheme for residential and business-owned solar has been introduced today (10 June), ensuring that users will be paid for electricity they send to the grid.
Facebook invests in large-scale solar project
Social media giant Facebook has made its first direct investment in a renewable energy project, as it strives to source 100% clean power by 2020.
Public EV charge points outnumber petrol stations in the UK
The number of public charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK has surpassed the number of petrol stations for the first time.
Onsite solutions and behaviour nudges: How to take an energy strategy to the next level
There are no shortcuts to success and you need to be opportunistic in your sustainability opportunities, according to a panel of energy leaders at edie Live.
Bringing Energy Home: Labour unveils plans for solar homes and grid renationalisation
The Labour Party has unveiled fresh plans concerning how it will decarbonise and democratise energy in the UK, with headline ambitions of renationalising the National Grid and installing solar panels on 1.75 million homes.
Solar car with range of 'up to 800km' to launch next month
Dutch electric vehicle (EV) startup Lightyear has confirmed that it will unveil a prototype of the world's first long-range solar-powered passenger car next month, claiming that the vehicle will have a range of up to 800km (497 miles).
In action: Anesco's subsidy-free solar farm supported by a storage floor price
Renewable energy firm Anesco is working with EDF Energy and it’s tech partner, Upside Energy, to introduce an industry-first guaranteed floor price for revenue from the battery storage units operating at the first subsidy-free solar development in the UK.
In numbers: Charting the rapid growth of renewable energy in the UK
A new report tracking investments into independent clean energy and energy storage technologies in the UK has illustrated the speed at which to low-carbon transition is gripping the power sector. Here, edie rounds up the key findings.
Moat Homes launches 'Energiesprong' retrofit pilot to create zero carbon houses
A five-home pilot project has launched in Essex to create zero-carbon retrofit homes in the UK, fitting the buildings with solar photovoltaics (PV) and battery storage systems.
Britain notches up another coal-free record over Easter
Great Britain's power grid notched up another coal-free record over the Easter weekend, operating for nearly 92 consecutive hours without any domestic coal generation.
An EV revolution: Four key takeaways from Tesla's first sustainability report
On Wednesday (16 April), the world's most talked-about electric vehicle (EV) company published its inaugural sustainability report, revealing in-depth information on its environmental credentials for the first time. Here, edie rounds up the key takeaways.
Algae-boosted solar panels and floating cities: The best green innovations of the week
Every week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations are being developed to help businesses and nations turn their green ambitions into actions. Here, we round up six of the best.
Walmart launches reusable bag range and spurs progress on supply chain emissions
The world's largest retailer, Walmart, used its annual sustainability summit to reveal that checkouts at its US stores will offer reusable bags made from post-consumer recycled content for the first time, alongside an update to its Project Gigaton supply chain emissions programme.
National Grid 'ready to handle' zero-carbon network by 2025
The operating firm for National Grid has claimed that Great Britain's electricity system can operate as a zero-carbon grid by 2025.
Danone's ultra-sustainable factory and Hilton's soap recycling: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Battery storage and solar farms to power 100 UK 'Electric Forecourts'
Green technology firm Gridserve has unveiled a £1bn programme to construct more than 100 "Electric Forecourts" across the UK, which combine renewable energy, battery storage and rapid chargers to meet the needs of electric vehicle (EV) drivers.
Green Alliance: Feed-In Tariff closure a 'major blow' for community solar
The Government's decision to axe the Feed-In Tariff (FiT) scheme will leave dozens of UK community groups "struggling to make the business case" for new small-scale solar projects, think tank Green Alliance has warned.
First Utility rebrands as Shell Energy and switches 700,000 customers to renewable energy
A year after Shell acquired First Utility it has rebranded the supplier as Shell Energy Retail and has today (25 March) confirmed it has switched more than 700,000 homes in Britain to 100% renewable electricity.
Doubts raised over viability of 'subsidy-free' renewables
Senior figures from the energy and finance industries have declared doubts over the feasibility of building "subsidy-free" renewables at scale without some form of revenue stabilisation.
Bristol City Council smashes carbon target two years early
Bristol City Council will soon set new climate-related mitigation goals, after surpassing a target to reduce carbon emissions by two-thirds two years ahead of schedule.
Inside Forest Green Rovers – the world's greenest football club
With the Football League approaching its nail-biting climax, edie pays a matchday visit to Forest Green Rovers to explore how the Ecotricity-owned outfit is uniting sport and environmental consciousness.
Ikea creates blockchain solution to "democratise" renewable energy
Plans have been created by furniture giant Ikea's innovation lab Space 10 to develop a blockchain-powered solar microgrid.
We need to put jobs and poverty at the centre of climate action
Discussions around climate change are in need of a new narrative that outlines the opportunities of a low-carbon transition, as renowned environmentalist Jeremy Leggett and Xynteo's Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Philip Smith explain.
Warrington Council moves towards energy self-sufficiency with major solar and storage deal
Two industrial-scale solar farms and a 27MW battery storage facility are set to be installed in York and Hull before the end of next year, after funding for the project closed today (28 February).
Etsy to offset global shipping emissions
Online retailer Etsy has announced plans to offset 100% of its carbon emissions generated from shipping items, free of charge for its customers.
Manifesto demands stronger support for community energy
A coalition of 20 charities, green campaigners and community energy groups has published a new manifesto calling for stronger support for community energy schemes to help improve their dwindling prospects.
Audi to install Europe's largest rooftop solar array in 'climate-neutral' bid
Carmaker Audi has unveiled plans to install a 12MW rooftop solar array across two of its logistics centres in Hungary, in a drive to make the facility's operations carbon-neutral.
Printed solar panels and carbon capture breakthroughs: The best green innovations of the week
Each week, numerous eye-catching and potentially transformational innovations that could help businesses and nations deliver on resource efficiency, low-carbon transitions and combat climate change emerge. And each week edie rounds-up six of the best.
Call for decentralised energy optimisation as FIT regime due to end
Fresh mechanisms will be required to ensure that new decentralised generation is visible on the grid once the feed-in tariff (FIT) regime ends this March, an event heard last week.
Swansea tidal lagoon plan revived - without government funding
The backers of a pioneering project to harness energy from the tides off the Welsh coast have rebooted the scheme and believe they can build it without the help of government.
Coca-Cola's world without waste and VW's EV investment: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Ikea's solar homes and Manchester's 'net-zero' pledge: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Solar households to be paid for excess power after Government U-turn
The UK Government has made a U-turn on its decision to end the solar "export tariff", confirming that households which install solar panels in the future will be paid for excess power they generate and send to the grid.
UK power stations' electricity output lowest since 1994
The output of British power stations fell this year to levels last seen almost a quarter of a century ago, while renewables achieved a record share of the UK electricity supply.
AB InBev signs deal to source 100% renewable electricity in UK
The owner of Budweiser and Corona has secured a deal to purchase 100% renewable electricity for its UK operations.
Solar households expected to give away power to energy firms
The Government has said households that install solar panels in the future will be expected to give away unused clean power for free to energy firms earning multi-million-pound profits, provoking outrage from green campaigners.
Large-scale solar costs expected to fall below £40/MWh by 2030
The cost of large-scale solar generation is expected to fall below £40/MWh by 2030, according to the latest assessment by the Solar Trade Association (STA).
Energy regulations: Coming to a home near you
The launch of the new version 10 of the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP10) means that energy regulations are changing. But what does this mean for our buildings?
Tesco's EV charging network and Sweden's ice hotel: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
H&M's transparency hackathon and FedEx's e-vans: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Flexible energy: edie launches new business guides for onsite generation and energy storage
As the UK's energy system undergoes a fascinating transition towards decarbonisation and decentralisation, edie has published two new guides that help businesses seize the opportunities of onsite generation and battery storage technologies to achieve a sustainable future.
BEIS signals policy shift on export tariff
Energy and clean growth minister Claire Perry has signalled a shift in policy when it comes to the closure of the Feed-in Tariff.
edie Explains: Energy storage
How does energy storage work? What are the business benefits of commercial battery systems? And how can they interact with other onsite energy technologies? This free edie Explains guide gives you everything you need to know.
Spain targets 100% renewable power by 2050
Spain's government has published a new climate plan that targets a 100% renewable energy electricity system by 2050, with goals that outstrip those adopted by the EU and a ban on new gas and oil exploration.
Shenzhen's e-bus network and 'climate-positive' homes: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
UK renewable energy capacity surpasses fossil fuels for first time
The capacity of renewable energy has overtaken that of fossil fuels in the UK for the first time, in a milestone that experts said would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
Former National Grid boss Steve Holliday: Britain is undergoing a chaotic energy revolution
Former National Grid boss Steve Holliday has championed the role that businesses and innovators have played in igniting a "chaotic revolution" in the energy sector, by accelerating demand for renewable energy and battery storage installations.
UPS's e-bike fleet and Nike's circular footwear drive: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
In action: EDF's renewable energy-based renovation of a listed building
Between 2012 and 2015, EDF Energy embarked on an ambitious project to bring a listed 12th Century building into the 21st Century by installing onsite renewable systems to generate low-carbon heat, cooling and electricity.
Floating solar farm to power water treatment works in Lancashire
Water company United Utilities has this week begun building a floating solar farm on the surface of a reservoir in Lancashire, in a move that will enable it to power one of its water treatment plants with 100% renewable power by early 2019.
Why an ex-Tesla VP has turned to storage, blockchain and Virtual Power Plants to 'save the planet'
Last month a UK start-up announced that ex-Tesla vice president Ben Hill was joining their team. Here, edie discovers why he has swapped the world of mobility to embark on a vision to transition the world to 100% renewable energy.
Amazon pledges to install 20MW solar systems across UK fulfilment centres
Amazon has this week pledged to deploy 20MW of solar panels across its UK fulfilment centres, in a move that will slash its carbon footprint by 6,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
Green Investment Group funnels £1.6bn into clean energy projects
The Green Investment Group made or arranged £1.6bn of investments in clean energy projects in the 12-months following its privatisation, according to the company's first annual progress report.
The Climate Coach: Transport
It will take you twenty minutes to get there - depending on traffic. Not an unusual statement wherever you live. People design cities and communities and yet often it is people that seem to be least considered as most of the space for movement is taken up by cars, vans and lorries. Pedestrians are pushed to the side and cyclists must brave traffic with a risk for their lives.
edie Explains: Combined heat & power (CHP)
Is combined heat & power (CHP) right for your business? What are the different CHP technology options, and how do you choose the right one? This updated edie explains business guide has the answers.
Google launches new online data tool to help cities lower emissions
Google has launched a new online tool to help city planners build policies to lower emissions by targeting projects in the built environment, transport and clean energy sectors.
Sony and RBS among latest RE100 pledges
Global electronics firm Sony, management consultants McKinsey & Company, office space company WeWork and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have all pledged to transition to 100% renewable energy through the Climate Group's RE100 initiative.
40% of solar installers 'set to leave UK amid subsidy cuts'
Companies accounting for more than 40% of the UK's solar installation industry could leave the national market if the Government does not extend the export tariff and provide a replacement for the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme.
Calls for Government to 'urgently' stabilise UK solar sector amid subsidy closures
More than 200 stakeholders in the UK's solar sector, including energy companies, NGOs and city leaders, have called on the Government to continue an export tariff once the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme ends next March.
UK summer 'wind drought' puts green revolution into reverse
Britain's long heatwave threw the country's green energy revolution into reverse and pushed up carbon emissions this summer, leading experts to stress the need for a diverse energy mix.
Sadiq Khan calls for rethink on solar subsidies closure
London mayor Sadiq Khan was written to the Government expressing his concerns that a decision to let financial solar incentives expire next year could create a "cliff edge" for the wider solar market.
UK's first subsidy-free industrial solar project to power business park
A business park in Buckinghamshire is set to become the first facility of its kind in the UK to generate more solar than it requires, once the nation's first subsidy-free industrial solar installation is completed on the site.
Anglian Water to boost onsite generation with AI-powered energy storage technology
Water utility Anglian Water is set to install an energy storage machine controlled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology at one of its water treatment facilities, in a move it claims will increase the site's solar generation by 80%.
Landsec hints at energy storage to bolster Britain's biggest shopping centre solar array
The UK's largest commercial property developer, Landsec, has revealed that it is sourcing 22% less grid electricity for its White Rose shopping centre in Leeds after installing a 2,902-panel solar array on the roof.
Government to consider opening Capacity Market to renewables
The UK Government will consider opening up the Capacity Market to solar and wind generation under a newly published review into the Market's scope, objectives and the way it is regulated.
Upgrade home electricity supply systems to unlock low-carbon technologies, says REA
The single "phase" electricity supply system, which has been the norm in UK homes since before the Second World War, should be scrapped for new homes, a report has urged.
Dairy giant to power cheese plant with 100% renewable energy
Northern Ireland-based dairy manufacturer Dale Farm has announced that it is now running one of its cheese manufacturing plants with 100% renewable energy after bringing a self-consumption solar farm online earlier this month.
Big leap in corporate clean energy purchases in 2018, research shows
The business community has set a new record for levels of procurement in clean energy in 2018, research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (Bloomberg NEF) has revealed.
Apple partners with Etsy, Swiss Re and Akamai on renewables projects
Apple is collaborating with cloud services firm Akamai, reinsurer Swiss Re and e-commerce brand Etsy to develop two new wind and solar farms that will enable the companies to increase access to renewable energy in the eastern US.
Maximising the power of onsite solar: edie launches free guide for businesses
Organisations seeking to capitalise on the sustainability benefits offered by onsite solar now have access to a new edie Explains guide which breaks down everything you need to know about deploying solar solutions across business facilities.
edie Explains: Onsite solar
What is onsite solar and how could it work for a business? What are the business benefits from installing onsite solar? And what considerations and funding opportunities need to be examined to build the business case? This free edie Explains guide gives you everything you need to know.
edie at 20: Looking 10 years back - and forward 10
To celebrate edie's 20th anniversary, writer and thinker, John Elkington, reflects on a decade of corporate action, the need to imagine tomorrow, and why we should clean oceans, not just fish.
No replacement for Feed-in Tariff 'major blow' for renewables
The Government has axed subsidies for new small-scale low-carbon electricity generation, sparking dismay from renewable energy bodies.
Stepping up the global energy transformation: Why Mars Australia commits to 100% renewable electricity
Major brands like ours have an opportunity to lead in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future. A new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that businesses are stepping up their use, procurement and investment in renewable electricity. While this is good news, only 17% of us have a specific target for renewable electricity and a mere 134 have committed to 100% renewable electricity use.
edie at 20: The changing global energy outlook
As part of a running content series to mark edie's 20th anniversary as a sustainable business media brand, we have produced an infographic which explores the transformation of the global energy system over the past two decades.
IEA warns of 'worrying trend' as global investment in renewables falls
The world's energy watchdog has sounded the alarm over a "worrying" pause in the shift to clean energy after global investment in renewables fell 7% to $318bn (£240bn) last year.
Apple launches $300m fund to build 1GW of supply chain solar capacity
Tech giant Apple has announced that it has partnered with its key suppliers to jointly invest $300m (£228m) in solar power projects, as it strives to drive the uptake of renewable energy across its supply chains.
The Climate Coach: Renewable Energy
I have a dream, of a society where children play safely outside in green, common areas, where there are no cars. People travel to work in electric powered trains, buses and through electric car share. They walk and cycle to school, to the local shop and to meet friends. A dream where renewable energy sources provide all the power we need - for heating, electricity and transport - in businesses as well as in homes.
edie at 20: Is sustainability finally coming home?
It's official - edie is now 20 years old. Our 20th anniversary as a sustainable business media brand offers a chance to celebrate and reflect upon the tremendous achievements of the green economy - but it is also a time for us to realise the immense opportunity that now lies ahead.
On the Mission Possible sofa with the ECIU's Richard Black and RSPB's Melanie Coath
The seventh episode of our new sustainable business chat show sees the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit's (ECIU) director Richard Black joined by RSPB's senior climate change policy officer Melanie Coath to discuss whether legislation is enabling or hindering the uptake of renewables in the UK.
Tetra Pak half way to sourcing 100% renewable electricity
Packaging giant Tetra Pak has this week revealed that it now sources half of the electricity needed to power its global operations from renewables, putting it on track to meet its target of sourcing 100% green electricity by 2030.
First of many? Why Amsterdam Arena is pursuing energy independence through battery storage
As the World Cup enters a nail-biting final week, edie explores how one football stadium is using battery storage innovation to revolutionise how local communities can store and consume energy.
London Mayor extends group-buying solar scheme
Sadiq Khan has expanded a scheme for London residents and businesses to buy high-quality solar panels after a first phase saw nearly 4,000 registrations.
UK Power Networks to host UK's first 'virtual' solar power station
The UK's largest electricity distributor has unveiled its plan to create the nation's first "virtual" solar power station by the end of the year, using PV panels on the rooftops of its London customers' homes.
In Practice: SEAT's largest solar array in the automotive industry
In a move to capture the benefits of Industry 4.0 and reach sustainability targets for 2025, Spanish carmaker SEAT is showcasing its Martorell factory as hub for innovative environmental solutions - including the largest solar plant in the automotive industry.
UK solar power growth halves for second year running
New solar power installations halved in the UK last year for the second year in a row, as the fallout of government subsidy cuts continued to shake the sector.
City of London to expand onsite arrays in drive to source 100% renewable electricity
The City of London Corporation will install more solar panels on its buildings and up its investments in wind and solar farms as part of its new commitment to source 100% renewable energy by October 2018.
In practice: AB InBev's onsite energy drive at its largest UK brewery
AB InBev's recently-announced carbon reduction targets will see the global brewer lean on past best-practice examples to decarbonise facilities. One of the shining examples thus far has been the use of onsite technologies at the Magor brewery in Wales.
Ikea to ban single-use plastics, targets 'climate-positive' status under new strategy
Removing all single-use plastics products from its range globally, eliminating more greenhouse gas emissions than its value chain emits, and generating more renewables than it consumes are all headline goals of Ikea's updated People and Planet Positive strategy.
10 things you probably didn't know about a record-breaking year for renewables
As a new report reveals that 2017 was a record year for renewable power installations, edie rounds up some of the headline trends that are shaping the transition to renewable energy.
Google's Project Sunroof arrives in UK
Google has launched an online tool in the UK that informs households how well a rooftop solar array would perform and how much money could be saved on electricity bills as a result.
Planning permission given for Scotland's largest solar project
The Scottish government has granted planning permission for the country's largest solar PV project.
SEAT installs air-cleaning pavement at Barcelona plant after surpassing emissions goal
After hitting its key environmental goals two years ahead of schedule, Spanish car manufacturer SEAT has installed 4,000sqm of air-cleaning paving slabs at its Martorell plant in Barcelona.
The danger of being positive
Positive things are being reported in the world of sustainability but is this a "false dawn" and we may prematurely assume success is inevitable and thereby prevent it.
Energy storage revolution within 10 years is essential, says E.ON boss
EXCLUSIVE: E.ON chief executive Michael Lewis has claimed that an energy storage revolution must happen within a decade if the world is to meet the Paris Agreement goals.
Whitbread to expand onsite solar to 70 more Premier Inn hotels
The UK's largest hospitality company, Whitbread, will roll out its onsite solar array scheme to a further 70 of its Premier Inn locations this year to help it meet its "industry-leading" science-based target.
Sustainability 'imagineered': The Disney-led resort powered by geothermal energy
edie's senior reporter Matt Mace travels to the outskirts of Paris to uncover how Villages Nature Paris tapped into geothermal energy to deliver on a holistic 10-step sustainability framework.
Mayor Sadiq Khan unveils goals to make London world's 'greenest city'
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced plans to make the capital the "greenest" city in the world by 2050, with a series of targets put in place to improve air quality, boost renewables investments and halve food waste.
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