Other News

Chemicals giant DuPont has reported strong fourth-quarter results. The company swung to a fourth-quarter profit though sales slipped as it attempts to solidify its merger with Dow Chemical. The company earned $265 million ( €246m), or 30 cents per share, compared with a loss last year. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 51 cents per share, which easily surpassed Wall…
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European biomass associations have come together and signed a new guideline for the development of “bioenergy in Europe towards 2030”. The pledge is called ‘Declaration of Graz’ and was unveiled at the 5th Central European Biomass Conference in Graz, Austria. The declaration has four parameters and five key measures. Key parameters Halving the use of fossil fuels by…
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MEPs have voted in favour of a 70% recycling and reuse target for 2030. The European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) voted yesterday (24 January) on a raft of amendments tabled by MEP Simona Bonafè, after a two-day discussion on the legislative aspects of the package. This proposal ups the goal proposed by the European Commission (EC) in its Circular Economy…
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In response to the London smog alert, the Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF) is calling on the UK government to abolish all support for diesel engines and wood-burners which are posing a growing threat to the health of urban populations. Unusually high amount of domestic wood burning, some of which are subsidised under the Renewable Heat Incentive, has been partly blamed for the latest smog…
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Oman has tremendous potential to be a leading exporter of energy based on renewable sources, an industry expert has said. David Rooney, director of sustainable energy research at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast spoke at an event on renewable energy and biofuels organised by the Independent Learning Centre at SQU, according to…
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Green organisations have welcomed the UK government’s Business Industrial Strategy. UK Prime Minister Theresa May launched new proposals for a new industrial strategy yesterday (23 January, 2017), which included a focus on “affordable energy and clean growth”. The green paper also set out technologies where Britain has strengths in research and development which could be…
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UK Prime Minister Theresa May has launched new proposals for a new industrial strategy, which includes a focus on ‘affordable energy and clean growth’. Launching the green paper, Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said: “This is an important step in building a modern, dynamic industrial strategy that will improve living standards and drive economic growth across the whole…
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A UK sustainable energy company is the first ever to have successfully converted actual landfill gas into usable diesel fuel with no fossil fuel additives, during recent trials. Renovare Fuels, which has its headquarters in London, claims to have developed technology to produce middle distillate hydrocarbons with a selectivity of 55%.  The bi-products of flue gas and water not used to…
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More than 800,000 new jobs could be created across the EU if MEPs in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee vote for both an ambitious recycling target and to strongly support the refurbishing and reusing sectors on Tuesday (24 January), said the European Environmental Bureau (EEB). Ambitious and intensive support from MEPs for European recycling, reusing and repairing industries…
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Scotland’s Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, has urged the UK government to ensure that renewable energy investment is a key priority in its forthcoming Industrial Strategy. Renewable energy resources have grown to become a major industrial sector in Scotland, with 14,000 people, among a total of 43,500 in low carbon sectors, in highly skilled jobs across the…
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A public inquiry into Northern Ireland's renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme scandal will leave no hiding places, Stormont's finance minister announced. According to the Belfast Telegraph, Mairtin O Muilleoir will meet members of political parties today to discuss the investigation, and will make a statement to MLAs tomorrow (24 January, 2017). The renewable heat incentive (RHI) is predicted to…
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UK-based Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) has secured funding of £896,000 (€1m) for state of the art equipment to be installed within the industrial biotechnology and biorefinery facilities at Wilton, UK.  The targeted investment of £538K from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is matched with £358K of UK Catapult funding to stimulate regional economic…
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Chinese and Cuban firms have teamed up to sign agreements in order to strengthen renewable energy ties. The agreements were inked at a three-day renewable energy forum, which took place in Cuba. According to Xinhua.com, the form analysed cooperation strategies to expand the development of renewable energy in Cuba. Both countries are interested in developing the renewable energy industry as it is…
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Ukraine’s bioenergy association, UABio, has appealed to its Minister of Energy and Coal Industry to significantly improve Ukraine’s draft energy strategy. The document entitled, Energy Strategy of Ukraine through 2035: Security and Competitiveness outlines the country’s long-term energy development priorities and how these will be achieved. The strategy aims for the Ukraine…
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