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A tidal turbine near the mouth of Strangford Lough, UK,  has begun producing electricity at full capacity for the first time.

The SeaGen system now generates 1.2MW, the highest level of power produced by a tidal stream system anywhere in the world.

The system works like an “underwater windmill” but with rotors driven by tidal currents rather than the wind.

It has been undergoing commissioning trials since May.

SeaGen will now move towards full-operating mode for periods of up to 22 hours a day, with regular inspections and performance testing carried out. 

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Wales took the biggest step yet towards its target to become the UK’s leader in renewable energy yesterday when the government granted permission for a 750MW wind farm off the north coast which, when finished in 2014, will be the second largest in the world.

The Gwynt y Môr wind farm, to be built by the energy company Npower Renewables, will be eight miles off the coast of north Wales and, at maximum capacity, will be capable of generating enough power for the annual needs of more than 700,000 homes; it will be second only to the proposed 1GW London Array wind farm. Read more…

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The destruction of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has accelerated for the first time in four years, Brazilian officials say.

Satellite images show 11,968 sq km of land was cleared in the year to July, nearly 4% higher than the year before.

The government said the figure was unsatisfactory but could have been a lot worse if it had not taken action against illegal logging.

High commodity prices had allegedly tempted farmers to clear more land.  Read more…

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US researchers have come up with a way to predict the rate at which ice shelves break apart into icebergs.

These sometimes spectacular occurrences, called calving events, are a key step in the process by which climate change drives sea level rise.

Computer models that simulate how ice sheets might behave in a warmer world do not describe the calving process in much detail, Science journal reports. Read more…

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Brazil is the world’s second biggest producer and is also considered the most efficient. Biofuel - if based on sugarcane as opposed to corn - produces carbon dioxide emissions about 90% lower than petrol.

So it is hardly surprising that, for a while at least, biofuel looked like the energy of the future.

But Brazil has watched as, around the world, the biofuel dream began to get complicated. read more…

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Yup this is a dry dry post but your boiler is one of your main uses of power, so having a well-maintained boiler is a good way of keeping your consumption to a minimum.  What happens when your boiler breaks down though?

Boiler insurance needn’t be a stress, there are some great boiler insurance products available to give you the boiler cover that you need for your UK boiler. Check out Boiler-Insurance-and-Repairs.co.uk for all the latest news and advice on boiler insurance cover in the UK!

Gas Cost Hits New High

Energy Bills in the UK look set to soar again after wholesale gas prices hit an all-time high yesterday (10/06/08).

A therm of gas, enough for 12 hours in the average house, will cost £1 to supply this winter, and £1.09 in the spring.

The previous record was 88p in April 2006.

Best hope the rest of the year is warm!

Source The Sun Newspaper, UK

Japan vows future emissions cut

Japan will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80% by 2050. 

Announcing the target, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said Japan could match the EU in cuts over the next 10 years, but did not set targets on this timescale.

Mr Fukuda also announced the setting up of a trial national carbon market which could help establish a global scheme. The news came ahead of next month’s G8 summit in Japan, at which heads of government aim to develop a position on future cuts in greenhouse emissions.

Mr Fukuda hopes to use the summit to build a consensus among the G8 countries which currently remain divided on how to approach the period after the current Kyoto Protocol targets expire in 2012.

Hopefully this will encourage the other G8 countries to follow suit, but the USA still looks doubtful even with a new president, according to analysts. Sort it out chaps!

Source BBC Website

Argentine leader defends tax hike on grain exports

Argentina’s president has defended her government’s decision to impose higher grain export tax, which has triggered months of protests by farmers.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said the additional money raised would be spent on tackling poverty by building more housing, hospitals and roads.

She also apologised to anyone who had been offended by anything she had done.

On Monday, the farmers suspended the protests in the hope of returning to the negotiations with the government.

Argentina raised export taxes on soy from 35% to 45% in March, trying to tap into an international commodities boom.

Will she tax other commodities other than soya? We’ll have to see, but the Argentines know how to do a proper protest…

Source BBC Website

For all the latest eco and green news, and advice on saving energy, check out www.goecogo.com.

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