Related:

• ‘In the darkness, solar industry sees some light’ (Globe & Mail)
• Report: ‘Solar power: darkest before dawn’ (McKinsey)

1 out of 11: The IEA’s New Report Card on Climate Change and Clean Energy

From The IEA:

While progress is being made on renewable energy, most clean energy technologies are not being deployed quickly enough, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today in an annual progress report presented to ministers and representatives of nations that together account for four-fifths of global energy demand.

The report, Tracking Clean Energy Progress, highlighted the rapid progress made in some renewable technologies, notably the solar panels easily installed by households and businesses (solar PV) and in onshore wind technologies. In fact, onshore wind has seen 27% average annual growth over the past decade, and solar PV has grown at 42%, albeit from a small base. Even more impressive is the 75% reduction in system costs for solar PV in as little as three years in some countries. This serves as evidence that rapid technology change is possible. Unfortunately, however, the report concludes that most clean energy technologies are not on track to make their required contribution to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and thereby provide a more secure energy system.

“We have a responsibility and a golden opportunity to act,” said IEA Deputy Executive Director Ambassador Richard H Jones. “Energy-related CO2 emissions are at historic highs; under current policies, we estimate that energy use and CO2 emissions would increase by a third by 2020, and almost double by 2050. This would likely send global temperatures at least 6°C higher. Such an outcome would confront future generations with significant economic, environmental and energy security hardships – a legacy that I know none of us wishes to leave behind.”

…

The report offers three over-arching policy recommendations for changing this status quo and moving clean-energy technologies to the mainstream market:

• First, level the playing field for clean energy technologies. This means ensuring that energy prices reflect the “true cost” of energy – accounting for the positive and negative impacts of energy production and consumption;
• Second, unlock the potential of energy efficiency, the “hidden fuel” of the future. Making sure that energy is not wasted and that it is used in the best possible way is the most cost-effective action and must be the first step of any policy aimed at building a sustainable energy mix’
• Finally, accelerate energy innovation and public support for research, development and demonstration. This will help lay the groundwork for private sector innovation, and speed technologies to market.

Check out the rest of the article here.

Related: 

• ‘We can have safe, sustainable energy’

• ‘The truth about renewable energy: Inexpensive, reliable, and inexhaustible’

Infographic source: IEA via The Guardian

Study: ‘97% of Americans Overestimate Cost of Installing Solar Panels’

Source: CleanTechnica

Clean Energy Future: ‘Solar Cheaper Than Oil in Long Run’

From Bloomberg:

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Ali Al-Nuaimi, a member of one of the ruling royal families in the United Arab Emirates, talks about his efforts to change the way his country makes and consumes energy, and the outlook for the growth of renewable energy sources. He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s “InBusiness with Margaret Brennan.”

Al-Nuaimi was also recently profiled by CNN in the article, ‘From polluter to protector: The UAE’s Green Sheikh’.

(Photo credit: Masdar City)

Thomas Edison on the great potential of solar energy. In 1931.

(Source: CleanTechnica)

Infographic: The Top 10 Countries for Solar Energy

(Source: One Block Off the Grid)

From Reuters:

China has further revised up its solar power development target for 2015 by 50 percent from its previous plan, state media reported on Thursday.

The government has set a target for installed solar power generating capacity to reach 15 gigawatts by 2015 and wind power capacity to hit 100 GW, China National Radio reported, citing an announcement from the National Energy Administration.

The ambitious move may have been encouraged by a rapid increase in solar power installation in recent months after the government unified grid feed-in tariffs for solar projects for the first time in July, and offered a higher price for projects that would be put into operation before the year end.

China had doubled its 2015 solar power goal to 10 GW after the Japanese nuclear power crisis.

(Photo Credit: Associated Press)

Renewable Energy: A Map of Earth’s Solar Energy Potential 

From e360:

This map illustrates annual energy generation potential using so-called crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) systems. The regions with the largest PV potentials, which include the Himalaya and Southern Andes, have a combination of large irradiation values and low temperatures. Researchers say the Himalayan region is especially attractive since it is located close to countries with large future energy demands, including China and India. 

The map accompanies the article, ‘Earth’s Coldest Regions Have Best Solar Potential, Study Says’.

Infographic: Green Home Improvements That Pay You Back

(Source: One Block Off The Grid)

SLIDESHOW: ‘Freiburg, Germany: A model sustainable city’

From Grist:

There are few better examples of a living, breathing sustainable city than Freiburg, Germany. It’s one of the most livable urban environments in the world, thanks to a deep respect for cultural and architectural roots coupled with bold and unconventional planning decisions. Take a look.

For those interested in learning more about this amazing little city (I was fortunate to live and study there for a year! It truly is an amazing place!) and its visionary planning you might want to check out the Academy of Urbanism’s ‘Freiburg Charter for Sustainable Urbanism’ (PDF). The websites SolarRegionFreiburg and Wikipedia’s Freiburg page are also worth a look.