Sustainability stats: This week in numbers

Our most-read story of the week: the Southwick Estate Solar Farm has taken the title of being the UK’s largest solar farm. It snatched the position from the Landmead solar farm in Oxfordshire with just 2MW more capacity.

Solar is also the power source behind a round-the-world flight that set off on the first leg of its journey this week. The Solar Impulse will travel 35,000km, spending up to five days continuously in the air without using a drop of fuel.

On the other side of the pond, developers gave the go-ahead for the United States’ first commercial offshore wind farm. Five 6MW turbines are set be built off the coast of Rhode Island.

With heavy lorries contributing 25% of CO2 emissions from road transport in Europe, it’s not surprising they are the target of new European laws to make them aerodynamic and fuel efficient. In the UK, ULEVs have been given a boost by £65m funding from Government for ‘green’ buses and to make four cities centres for excellence for ULEVs.

Meanwhile, two timely reports also revealed the breadth and benefits of future ULEV market expansion this week. The global market is expected to have increased by $30m to $109.8bn by 2019, resulting in a 40% reduction to the UK’s diesel and petrol bill by 2030.

And lastly, when we are not driving around in electric cars or flying round the world in solar planes we can now stay in the UK’s first BREEAM rated ‘outstanding’ hotel; hub by Premier Inn in Convent Garden. 

As ever, click the pic for the full story…

Lucinda Dann