UK greenhouse gas emissions dropped significantly during 2009 at the peak of the economic recession. Government statistics out today revealed that the GHG emissions fell at least 8.7 per cent from 2008 figures. Carbon dioxide, the most common GHG, went down 9.8 per cent. UK GHG emissions, which fall under the Kyoto Protocol, were recorded at 566.3 million tonnes in 2009 compared to a total of 620.5 million tonnes during 2008. The figures, published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), indicate that UK emissions have dropped 26.5 per cent since the 1990s. In order to ... Full Story

Popular UK retailer Tesco has encouraged employees to cut down on carbon emissions by providing touch screen energy monitors. After a pilot programme ran successfully in the nine of the grocer’s stores, Tesco will roll out the scheme in 500 stores across the country. The energy boards are placed around staff areas in the store and show, which sections are helping to reduce energy usage. On the touch screen, employees can see, by section, such as bakery, lighting, petrol, which station is using the most energy. This marks the first time that the technology has been used in ... Full Story

A joint UK and Cuban venture will see a total of $250m invested in a biomass power facility near Havana. The move will mark one of the largest alternative energy partnerships for the two nations. Havana Energy, a UK-based energy group headed by former energy minister Brian Wilson is taking on a joint endeavor with Zerus SA, a state-owned Cuban firm. The venture will see five power plants that will be fueled by bagasse, a residue of sugar cane processing. A pilot plant is being built near the Ciro Redondo Sugar Mill – a 100-year old sugar plant ... Full Story

One Swedish company may bring a whole new form of energy to the alternative power game as it looks to a less well-known form of energy generation. Body heat is not always the first energy source that comes to mind when governments and organisations look to alternative means to sort out soaring energy prices. But it did occur to one Swedish company that has now used human warmth to naturally power its building. Jernhusen, a real estate firm based in Stockholm, found a way to harness body heat from the droves of commuters that enter Stockholm’s Central Station ... Full Story

Despite continued uncertainty over renewable energy targets, new information has emerged that evidences the Government could just reach 2010 renewable targets after all. Reports from UK renewable energy levels show that it is currently at its highest point in history. According to Energy Statistics, a government-sponsored research body, renewable energy now accounts for almost nine per cent of all energy in the country. This reflects a marked increase from 2009, nearly 23.1 per cent. Wind energy solely has grown 36.9 per cent from 2009 levels and Renewable UK says that figures are the highest they have ever ... Full Story

Energy firm nPower has slapped numerous households on quarterly accounts with bills a month early as families continue to struggle with Christmas costs. Nearly 200,000 nPower customers that expected to receive quarterly bills in January have seen demands for two months’ payment arrive just before the festive holiday. Consumers groups have shared concern that the unexpected bills could pressure many customers, who are already stretched with Christmas, into the red resulting in disconnections during the blistery cold weather. The company said that bills would be paid by direct debit from all customers bank accounts unless otherwise contacted ... Full Story

The UK’s first sustainable energy park is on its way after developers closed agreements with an overseas manufacturer. According to the Peterborough Telegraph, work will begin on the new facility following the New Year as Peterborough Renewable Energy partners with Malaysian firm KNM Group Berhad. Green Energy Park (GEP) – Peterborough Renewable’s parent company – announced the deal at the beginning of the week. Chris Williams, managing director at GEP said that in KNM Group Berhad the company has found a partner with similar ethos, ambition and drive to promote a landfill-free country. He added that the group ... Full Story

The US government has offered up special land areas – dubbed energy zones – across six states in the western part of the country in order for further solar infrastructure to be built. The Interior Department released a statement that reviews the effects of large scale solar projects, namely those that can generate 20MW of energy or more, in locations that have the most potential and are the least likely to suffer from major environmental impact from the plants. According to an official, land designated for anything must be handled with great care and it is vital ... Full Story

Ministers have been asked to consider launching a public review into a largely controversial decision by councilors in North Yorkshire to approve a £1bn waste contract, which includes a new incinerator. MPs opposing the proposal to construct a waste management plant between Harrogate and York are set to lobby the Government to prevent the scheme. The bid to have the approval overridden is being lead by Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams along with his Parliamentary peer Andrew Jones, both of whom have been vocal against the project. Yesterday, it was revealed that county councilors agreed ... Full Story

North Yorkshire County Council has awarded the controversial 25-year waste management contraction to AmeyCespa for North Yorkshire and York. The decision follows Government approval to use part of the funds allocated in PFI credits – a type of grant – to pay out the contract. The solution proposed by AmeyCespa will include recovery of nonrecyclable waste and will allow York and North Yorkshire to exceed their goal of 50 per cent waste recycled by 2020. Technologies proposed for the waste management include reclamation and mechanical sorting of nearly 20,000 tonnes of municipal waste each year. Anaerobic Digestion ... Full Story

Scottish ministers have approved a proposal for a £200m waste-to-energy facility in East Lothian. Viridor, the Scottish recycling firm behind the move, will build the plant in Dunbar after receiving approval from the Scottish government. The project, which will create 300,000 tonnes of capacity, will divert non-recyclable waste from ending up in landfill and create a ‘resource efficiency hub’. The site will generate 23MW of electricity, which should power around 39,000 homes in the area. It follows an application that was originally filed in May 2008, but refused by the council in November 2009. Scottish regional director ... Full Story

The ESB has purchased a sharehold in a floundering UK company that produces small power plants designed to burn waste wood and convert it to green electricity. The state-owned power utility announced its investment of £4.5m to buy the stake saying that Yorkshire-based Bioflame had already received planning permission to build 17 of its small-time biomass incinerators. The firm can process nearly 30,000 tonnes of waste each year and generate enough electricity for 6,000 residences. Most of the plants are typically built alongside waste dumps and burn wood that otherwise would be sent to landfill. Bioflame will ... Full Story