Category Archives: Renewables

One thing we have learnt this week – new types of solar cells

I read a very interesting article in the Guardian this week that got me thinking about  types of solar cells.  The main article was that silicon solar cost reductions were falling away and this opened the door for new types … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – solar power in Nepal

I heard a very interesting report on solar power in Nepal this week on the radio.  Solar power is not the first thing that you think of when you think of Nepal.  The first thing you think of is hydropower. … Continue reading

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Offshore wind

Did you know the UK built over half of Europe’s offshore wind capacity in 2017?  Nor was it a trivial amount of offshore wind capacity either, at over 3GWp.  This as the USA has yet to install one offshore wind … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – is solar killing gas?

Is solar killing gas?  The government is struggling to get energy companies to build new plant despite the contracts for difference paying gas fired plants record amounts of money it turns out this week.  So is gas going to go … Continue reading

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UK electricity use continues to fall

UK electricity use is continuing to fall and no one is sure why.  The electricity use in the EU is rising.   Last year the decline was 2% and there has been a 9% fall since 2010.  Up until now declining … Continue reading

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Problems with solar PV

Problems with solar PV are few and far between but I’ve had a few issues recently.  The first is an ongoing problem with grey squirrels nesting under one module on the main roof.  Obviously there is an issue with them … Continue reading

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Are Solar Panels still a good investment in the UK?

Are Solar Panels still a good investment in the UK?  I have been putting some of my FIT income in a spreadsheet.  I’ve read a bit about this recently and the answer to the the question “are Solar Panels still … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – windpower may decrease

Windpower may decrease.  That’s the message this week in Nature.  We know that climate change will affect the weather.  A group this week have predicted it will lower wind speeds in most places. Using the same climate models from the … Continue reading

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One thing we have learnt this week – problems with hydropower

Who would have thought that there could be any environmental problems with hydropower?  This form of energy is clean, does base load and can be relatively unobtrusive.  Dams behind reservoirs can be beautiful as I have seen myself many times. … Continue reading

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Big data energy bill

Big data energy bill.  The amount of energy the internet is responsible for is increasing.  This is a hidden amount of energy that we do not think about.  In 2009 someone claimed that each google search produced 7g of CO2.  … Continue reading

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