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European Clean Energy Investment Tops €1.9bn over 2003 to 2006
2007-06-07 19:31:00
This is the news today from The Carbon Trust. Download a copy of their report here.  The main finding is: Clean energy investment accounts for ten per cent of all European venture capital investments according to new research released today by the Carbon Trust. The report shows that investment in clean energy reached a total of just under €2 billion in 2003 – 2006, putting clean energy on a par with European IT, biotech and semiconductor venture capital investment levels. UK clean energy companies are proving the most attractive investment to date, accounting for more than 40 per cent of all European clean energy deals. It’s great to see the UK leading the charge. Having recently attended the ‘Essential Cleantech’ conference in London, I can testify to the vibrancy of this sector. There are now hundreds of companies in the UK developing a broad range of clean technologies, some of them really cutting edge. Particularly impressive were quietrevolution, a Lond...
More About: Investment , Tops , Energy

Hydrogen cars in Trafalgar Square
2007-06-06 14:08:00
Walking home past Trafalgar Square last night, I was greeted with a display of silver BMW Series 7s gleaming in the evening sunlight. These were no ordinary Series 7s. These were ‘Hydrogen 7s’ equipped with an internal combustion engine capable of running on petrol or hydrogen. When using the latter, the only emission at the tailpipe is water vapour. The BMWs were part of a display of alternative fuel vehicles to mark the start of the Revolve Brighton to London Eco Car Rally. Prince Charles also joined in the fun by road testing a Saab Bio-Power 9-3 Convertible and a Honda Civic Hybrid (in the more sedate surroundings of Hampton Court). The Eco Rally ends today in Trafalgar Square to mark World Environment Day. Events like this will do a great deal to promote the awareness of alternative fuel vehicles. But there is a long way to go before the motoring public can make an informed choice about which vehicles will really help to reduce emissions. Let’s take that BMW H...
More About: Cars , Drogen

Carbon labelling in the UK
2007-06-05 17:34:00
Peter Madden, chairman of the UK’s ‘Forum for the Future’ has an excellent column about the complexities of introducing meaningful carbon labelling in our supermarkets. Many favour labelling ‘embedded carbon’ - the amount of CO2 emitted before the product reaches the shops. But that does not take into account the CO2 footprint of products while they are in use, rendering the label useless for washing machines, light bulbs and all other electrical applicances. Madden also raises the interesting question of what such labelling is designed to achieve: are we really saying to consumers that they are making a meaningful contribution to tackling climate change by picking the packet of crisps with the lower CO2 footprint? Getting the right message to consumers on carbon labelling is likely to be fiendishly difficult: When the final version of the label starts appearing in our shops, we will also have to get the communication right. Shoppers are likely to be...
More About: Carbon , The U , Abel , Carb