Related Posts
“Super-Smart” Grid may Provide Europe with Electricity from Completely Renewable Sources by 2050Do you live in Europe? If you do, I have a bit of good news for you. PricewaterhouseCoopers...' src='http://gf1.statico.be/wp-content/themes/greenfudge/thumbnails/7123.jpg' alt='uks-clean-energy-cashback-scheme-encourages-households-to-generate-own-green-power' class='art-teaser' width='95' height='95' />UK’s Clean Energy Cashback scheme encourages households to generate own green power When Germany introduced a similar FIT scheme 10 years ago -- but with targets of ten percent --...
Germany: Renewable energy to compete with nuclear power
If the unusually hot weather in Europe this summer is an environmental ‘cloud’ of bad news – forest...
Germany could use only renewable power by 2050
Germany’s Federal Environment Agency claims that the European nation could get all its power from renewables by 2050.
At...
Sustainable energy: Goodbye Canada, hello Africa?
According to Yale University’s 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) Canada ranked as the 46th greenest country in the...
Get your Eco Starter Kit
Create an account and start harvesting Carbon Credits! Exchange your Carbon Credits for green goodies, like the Eco-Hatchery Starter Kit!
-
Green network users
3,155 Users - Show All
Green Directory
Tip of the Day
When given the choice, take the stairs instead of the elevator to save energy and workout at the same time!
Saharan sun: Europe’s next energy source?
photo by Winam (source: Flickr Creative Commons)
With fossil fuels running out, not to mention polluting the earth and heating up the planet, the largest energy consuming countries are constantly looking for new sources of power.
One vast renewable and obviously inexhaustible source is sunlight.
As technology for capturing solar energy and converting it to usable power continually develops – making solar power an increasingly viable and affordable source – Europe is setting its sights on the African Sahara. The European energy commissioner claims that within 5 years the EU will be importing hundreds of megawatts of solar energy from North Africa. But that’s just the beginning.
From an article in the Observer:
According to the European commission’s Institute for Energy, it would require the capture of just 0.3% of the light falling on the Sahara and Middle Eastern deserts (an area around the size of Wales) to meet all of Europe’s energy needs.
The challenge is not the amount of sun, however, but the infrastructure to convert and deliver it to Europe.
From a Reuters article:
The EU is backing the construction of new electricity cables, known as inter-connectors, under the Mediterranean Sea to carry this renewable energy from North Africa to Europe.
The scenario of getting raw resources from the developing world with the technology of developed countries may sound familiar, but the European energy commissioner sees this as a mutually beneficial partnership.
The EU has committed to source 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Graham Land
Additional resources:
Wired – Europe to import Sahara’s solar power
Tags: commissioner, energy, EU, Europe, European, North Africa, power, renewable, Sahara, Solar, source, sun
Other Greenfudge.org posts
TCM quackery strikes again: No more Javan rhinos in Vietnam
Species come and go. It’s a normal, natural state of life on Earth since life began. Except since humanity has risen to prominence, more and more species have become extinct due to our behavior. Well, we are simply another species ourselves, right? A species of genocidal super-killers maybe, but just another animal nonetheless. Despite ongoing conservation efforts, there are now only 50 Javan rhinos left in the world. All of them live on Java, Indonesia’s (and the Earth’s) most populous island. There...
Met Office Releases 150 Years of Global Temperature Data
There is a lot of climate change activity going on lately. Right now, the COP15 event is happening in Denmark. A couple weeks ago, the CRU e-mail system was hacked. And a huge amount of climate change data and news just happens to be coming out now. Coincidence? I think not. You can count the Met Office as another who has recently jumped on the climate change bandwagon. The Met Office released data showing that the global surface temperature has increased...
Compostable Biodegradable Dog Waste Poop Bags
Did you know that the typical dog produces 125 kg (274 pounds) of waste each year (source: USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service)? With today’s town policies requiring owners to pick up after their pets that is a lot of plastic waste that takes op to 100 years to decompose. Luckily enough, some companies see economical advantages in providing biodegradable and compostable doggy bags. Some of these bags are even certified to decompose in just a couple of days, leaving practically...
Animal Mimicry: Not Just for Halloween
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation” – Oscar Wilde Copycats, mimicry and camouflage are common themes among the natural world. Animals and plants imitate others or their surroundings to either hide from their predators or trick their prey. Since tomorrow is a day for masquerading as something else, here are some amazing examples of animal mimicry that would surely make them a winner in any costume contest. The Walking...
Environmental Conflict: Desert Tortoise vs. Solar Power
For decades, perhaps centuries, there has been one great, never-ending battle: the expansion of man and industry vs. the preservation and existence of all other natural life. What happens when you pit two factions on the same side against one another? Big problems, that’s what. California’s BrightSource Energy company has been pushing for permission to erect 400,000 mirrors on part of the Mojave Desert for a solar-energy project. This project would be the first of its kind on US Bureau of...
Creature Feature: The Wollemi Pine
Today’s Creature Feature can be found in Australia. It was discovered rather recently—1994, to be exact—and it’s the only species of the Wollemia genus. Oh, and there’s one more interesting thing to note: the Wollemi Pine isn’t a type of Pine tree at all. Wollemi Pine trees are actually closer to related to species of the Araucariaceae family. These trees can be found in temperate rainforests and the last known fossil of the Wollemi Pine dates back 200 million years! Because...
Growing trends towards green campuses
More colleges and universities are choosing to participate in efforts to make their campuses more environmentally safe, more energy efficient, and of course more green. For many campuses, the inspiration to go green grows from the desire to set an example for their communities; other colleges and universities seek savings in funds and resources. Still other schools are attempting to tie their academic programs to how they run their campuses, as a way to practice what they preach. Whatever the...
Sri Lanka: Humans and elephants compete for land
As Sri Lanka’s human population grows, its number of wild elephants diminishes. It is a conflict that the elephants are losing, as humans take over tracts of land necessary for elephant survival. Land corridors are being marked off with electric fences and used for cattle farming, effectively reducing elephant food and water supplies. About four elephants are being killed per week in Sri Lanka, according to a BBC News report, but the casualties are not only on the side of the elephants: Last...
China Plans to Combat Water Pollution with 20 Million Fish
China is known for many things, ranging from the Great Wall to the Giant Panda. It’s also known to be one of the top polluters in the world; though that doesn’t mean they aren’t doing something about it. Eastern China authorities plan to release 20 million algae-eating fish into the Taihu Lake. This particular lake is severely polluted with sewage, industrial and agricultural waste. Last February, a previous attempt in using fish to clean up the lake was made. At that...
Q: How can I save energy working at home?
A: There are some tips that can help you keep your workplace eco-friendly. Plug in your computer and other devices to a surge protector and always turn them off when you’re finished working, so they won’t draw energy while you’re not using them. High-tech computers, copiers, monitors and printers have a power management function that provides an option to use up to 50% less electricity. A screensaver does not help to save energy. It is better to set your computer so...
View all articles
You can also log in to post a comment.