By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2009-10-13 05:30
No effective, affordable, low risk solutions available
If we are able to influence the earth’s CO2 density and climate in a negative way, it seems logical to assume that we are also able to influence it in a positive way. That is the basic idea behind geo-engineering solutions to climate change. Those solutions generally include such ideas as afforestation, CO2 air capture, ocean fertilisation, cloud albedo (using sea water spray to whiten clouds and increase cloud reflectivity), surface albedo (using specifically coloured roofing and paving materials), creating stratospheric sulphur aerosols, and space solar reflectors.
Is CCS geo-engineering?
A recent article on the subject in the Financial Times also includes CO2 capture at the stack ('Carbon Capture and Storage', CCS) among other geo-engineering solutions. This is noteworthy primarily since this solution is generally seen as more realistic. CCS already receives significant amounts of R&D funding, in contrast with the other geo-engineering solutions.
Read full story
By Fernando Nuno / Published on Wed, 2009-07-08 14:04
The renewable energy industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in Europe thanks to two factors: the supportive political and legal frameworks and the region’s prominent investment in renewable energy research and development.
Read full story
By Fernando Nuno / Published on Thu, 2009-06-11 13:14
Our partner EUREC, the European Renewable Energy Research Centres Agency, has launched this 45-page publication as the result of a very broad consultation of the European scientific community in renewable energy research.
Read full story
By Fernando Nuno / Published on Thu, 2009-06-11 13:06
The European Renewable Energy Research Centres Agency was established as a European Economic Interest Grouping in 1991 to strengthen and rationalise the European research, demonstration and development efforts in all renewable energy technologies. As an independent member-based association, it incorporates 43 prominent research groups from all over Europe.
Read full story
By Angelo Baggini / Published on Sun, 2008-06-01 09:00
Year: 2006
Policy Status: In force
On 25th April 2006, France announced a series of public-private research partnerships, including three to reduce dependence on petroleum products and mitigate climate change.
Projects slated to receive substantial public funding from the Agency for Industrial Innovation (AII), included:
Read full story
By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Wed, 2007-11-28 17:42
Leonardo ENERGY launches its video channel where you can watch interviews with sustainable energy experts around the world. In this interview, Bill Howe shares the vision of EPRI on PQ research for the next 10-20 years, and also presents a renewed and vigorous vision for the role that PQ can and should play in enhancing the economic performance of modern electric power suppliers, manufacturers, and other key industry partners.
Read full story
By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Thu, 2007-02-01 13:05
The European Commission published on the 30th of January a report “The state and prospects of European energy research”. The report analysis the energy research activities in the EU and MS comparing them to those in major competitors, including the US and Japan.
The main conclusion of the report is that European energy research is fragmented, spread out and unconnected. This leads to fewer results comparing to the ones in Japan or the US. These countries can more easily prioritise their programs and drop the activities that appear not to have a future.
Read full story
By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2006-11-14 08:30
Partnership with energy giants
The UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced the creation of the Energy Technology Institute. This is a new energy and environmental partnership dedicated to researching energy technologies. The primary reason for its creation is the urgent need to accelerate the development of secure, reliable, and cost-effective low-carbon energy technologies for commercial deployment.
Read full story
By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Thu, 2005-12-08 21:19
Under this title, the Alumni associations of the universities of Brussels and Mons organised a well attended conference today. In one of the interventions, Philippe Busquin, Member of the European Parliament and former Commissioner for Research (1996-2004) shared his personal view on the 5 major energy research issues that need to be addressed for a European energy policy in the 21st century:
Read full story
