Where the UK's electricity comes from

"Our research has found that the majority of fuel used to generate electricity in the UK is imported from a wide variety of countries across the globe. According to our figures, the UK relies on almost 40 countries across the globe for fuel to produce electricity, with only 43% of fuel coming from the UK's own resources."

http://www.goodenergy.co.uk/get-involved/connect-with-energy/where-the-uks-electricity-comes-from

Japan gadget charges cellphone over campfire

"A member of Japanese electronics venture TES NewEnergy unveils a pot that can charge mobile phones while boiling water for use in earthquake and other emergency situations, at a demonstration in Tsukuba City in Ibaraki prefecture on June 9. The Hatsuden-Nabe thermo-electric cookpot turns heat from boiling water into electricity that feeds via a USB port into digital devices such as smartphones."

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-06-japan-gadget-cellphone-campfire.html

How Much Oil Spilled in the Gulf? Less than Six Hours' Worth

"The roughly 183 million gallons (to use a moderate estimate) spilled so far into the Gulf are about what we Americans burn every five and a half hours.

Five and a half hours of sitting in traffic and flying to meet clients and firing furnaces and trucking fruit, bottled water, and Amazon packages across the country."

http://www.good.is/post/how-much-oil-spilled-in-the-gulf-less-than-six-hours-worth/

Could Wales’ rural heartlands be the pioneers of a DIY energy revolution?

"The rewards would be great: lower levels of fuel poverty, reductions in carbon emissions, and greater energy security. But the challenge of incentivising consumers, in the age of government austerity, may require a few lightbulbs of inspiration."

http://waleshome.org/2010/07/could-wales%E2%80%99-rural-heartlands-be-the-pioneers-of-a-diy-energy-revolution/

Wales' first solar park powers up in Pembrokeshire

"The first solar park in Wales is expected to start converting sunlight into electricity later at the Rhosygilwen estate in Pembrokeshire.

Almost 10,000 solar panels have been imported from the United States and are placed in 12 lines in a six-acre field.

The £2.5m investment will be onstream three weeks before the UK government lowers the subsidy for large-scale solar energy investors."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14073447

Development of Tiny Thorium Reactors Could Wean the World Off Oil In Just Five Years

"One ton of thorium can produce as much energy as 200 tons of uranium and 3.5 million tons of coal, according to the former director of CERN"


http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-08/thorium-reactors-could-wean-world-oil-just-five-years

Imagining Life Without Oil, and Being Ready

"Jennifer Wilkerson’s preparations for a post-petroleum world include growing her own food and stockpiling supplies against any shortages."

"Americans have long been fascinated by disaster scenarios, from the population explosion to the cold war to global warming. These days the doomers, as Mrs. Wilkerson jokingly calls herself and likeminded others, have a new focus: peak oil. They argue that oil supplies peaked as early as 2008 and will decline rapidly, taking the economy with them."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/us/06peak.html

Tipping Point: Near-Term Systemic Implications of a Peak in Global Oil Production

"The key to understanding the implications of peak oil is to see it not just directly through its effect on transport, petrochemicals, or food say, but its systemic effects. A globalising, integrated and co-dependant economy has evolved with particular dynamics and embedded structures that have made our basic welfare dependent upon delocalised 'local' economies. It has locked us into hyper-complex economic and social processes that are increasing our vulnerability, but which we are unable to alter without risking a collapse in those same welfare supporting structures. And without increasing energy flows, those embedded structures, which include our expectations, institutions and infrastructure that evolved and adapted in the expectation of further economic growth cannot be maintained."

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6309

"There is no solution, though there are some paths that are better and wiser than others. This is a societal issue, there is no ‘other’ to blame, but the responsibility belongs to us all. What we require is rapid emergency planning coupled with a plan for longer-term adaptation."

Plug in Britain

"We are a non profit making organisation, set up to promote the development and use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. We provide a forum that brings together all stakeholders to facilitate this initiative."

http://www.pluginbritain.com/

New High Rez Wind Power Resource Map Covers the Entire Planet

"Map courtesy of 3TIER, which wants you to know that "this image may be used or displayed in whole or in part, and in any format, provided that each use or display includes the 3TIER logo and copyright notice"

3TIER, the same people who about two months ago released a really cool interactive map detailing the solar power potential of the entire Western Hemisphere, have just announced a new 5 kilometer resolution map of the entire planet for wind power resources. "

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/12/new-high-rez-wind-power-resource-map-covers-entire-planet.php

The 10 big energy myths

"Myth 2: wind power is too unreliable 

Actually, during some periods earlier this year the wind provided almost 40% of Spanish power. Parts of northern Germany generate more electricity from wind than they actually need. Northern Scotland, blessed with some of the best wind speeds in Europe, could easily generate 10% or even 15% of the UK's electricity needs at a cost that would comfortably match today's fossil fuel prices."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/27/renewableenergy-energy

Europe's Leading Eco-Center Offers Clean Energy Surgeries

"Here’s an exciting opportunity for any UK-based folks who are planning a renewable energy project of any kind. The Center for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Wales is launching a series of Renewable Energy Consultancy Surgery Days to allow renovators, home builders and anyone interested in harnessing the sun, the wind, biomass, ground source heat pumps, small scale hydro or a combination of the above to leverage CAT’s expertise, accumulated over 35 years of leading renewable energy experimentation"

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/cat-renewable-surgeries.php

Hot Home Wind Turbines You Can Actually Buy

"Though solar panels definitely hog the renewable energy stage when it comes to home installations, a number of new, innovative wind turbines have entered the market in the past couple of months. Not all of these are intended to be mounted on your roof, some you’ll need a bit of a yard (and a dearth of neighbors) to install and they vary in price from affordable to "when am I going to actually pay this off?”, but they all go to show that there’s more than one way to harness the wind to generate electricity. Check 'em out:"

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/five-home-wind-turbines-you-can-actually-buy.php

Daylight Savings Time Could Be Costing Billions Yearly in Electricity

"The culprit is most likely a tradeoff between the reduced demand for lighting and an increased demand for heating and cooling—and it’s a trade that DST is on the losing end of."

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/daylight-savings-time-costing-billions-dollars-year-electric-bills.php

UK Technology Writer Takes His Electronics Off-Grid

"British technology writer and TreeHugger emeritus Matthew Sparkes faced a challenge- could he run all of his technology on solar and wind power, even in gloomy London? It turned into an interesting demonstration of how far technology has come but how far it has yet to go.... "


http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/techology-writer-goes-off-grid.php

Wind Turbine from Scrap for under £20

"Max Robson's prototype wind turbine cost him only £20 (US$37) to build, using rubbish he collected from skips (or dumpsters, as they are called in the former colonies). The do-it-yourself turbine reportedly includes a bike frame and bearings, a Vespa magneto and a Ford Fiesta battery."

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/08/cheap-diy-wind-turbine.php

One Year Cell Phone Vampire Power = Six Minutes Driving = One Bath

"With millions of small steps available for people to green their daily lives, it's pretty easy to go burn-out. Should I stop flying? Unplug my cell phone charger? Or buy a Prius? Or a clothesline? Comparing the trade-offs between decisions takes considerable time and effort; you could end up a crispy little mass mumbling on your bamboo rug. But a professor at the University of Cambridge was written a little something to assist us in our decision-making process, destroying a few 'Mythconceptions' in the process.



David MacKay, a professor at the University of Cambridge, to the rescue. Dr. MacKay has published an online tome "Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air" (free PDF download here) which relies on Kilowatt-Hours to quantify these decisions. It's incredibly comprehensive - 409 pages - and provides the apples-to-apples that points you in the right direction."



http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/one_year_cell_p.php



http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sustainable/book/tex/cft.pdf

Tidal Power Alternative to the Severn Barrage

"The main idea, being put forth by the Severn Tidal Fence group, is rather than a full tidal barrier a line of underwater turbines would be built, with spaces between the turbine groups large enough for commercial shipping to pass, as well allowing for the migration of salmon and reducing the risk of flooding upstream by reducing high tide levels upstream from the fence. Mudflat areas used by migratory birds would also be protected."



http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/tidal-power-alternative-to-severn-barrage-touted.php

Fifth Fuel

Forbes Magazine: "ten efficiency bangs for your buck include green roofs, building orientation, but surprisingly, from a business magazine known as 'the Capitalist Tool' and owned by a right wing perennial presidential candidate, such un-American ideas as bicycles and following the speed limit."



http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/forbes-magazine-on-energy-efficiency.php

Planners back cow dung power plan

"A farmer has been granted planning permission for a generator to turn cow dung into enough energy for 130 homes."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/7471295.stm