Energydesk
With varying estimates as to exactly how much water is required during the water-intensive process of fracking, Energydesk takes a closer look at what this could mean for the UK.
UK
UN ruling on wind farms not so bad says wind industry
A Renewable UK spokeswoman said she did not expect projects to be derailed due to yesterday's ruling by the UN which said the British government denied the public decision-making powers on wind farms. In response to the ruling she said "It appears [the ruling] is not that the government didn't consult [on the National Renewable Energy Action Plan], but that they didn't demonstrate they had taken into account all the evidence they received."
Oxford City to shun Canadian tar sands oil
In a near-unanimous vote, Oxford City Council will become the first city in Europe to shun oil from the Canadian tar sands. This comes in advance of the EU vote later this year on the Fuel Quality Directive, which would label oil according to the carbon intensity of its extraction.
Green investors deterred by political conflict
A new report by Green Alliance says green investors are deterred from coming to the UK due to a lack of political leadership which "threatens to undermine UK competitiveness" in low carbon markets.
Balcombe villagers 'fed up'
Some villagers are calling for anti-fracking protesters to leave, as they are 'fed up' with the disruption they have caused.
World
Student-founded co-op seeks to buy Berlin's energy grid
Two
Berlin students have built a movement aimed at putting the city grid
under citizens' control when the system goes on sale next year. While
fundraising has a way to go, it's an idea with momentum as activists in
Hamburg and other cities have launched similar campaigns to regain
control of their local grid.
Fracking blamed for widespread death of Kentucky fish
A
joint-study by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service has found that leaked fracking fluid is responsible for
the widespread death or distress of aquatic species in Kentucky’s Acorn
Fork.
Fracking success in Ukraine
British
exploration company JKX Oil & Gas says nine out of 10 of its
fracturing operations have been successful. TheUkrainian government
believes there may be enough shale gas reserve areas to meet the
country's needs without imports.Arkansas homeowns settle shale suit
After suing two oil companies claiming wastewater disposal wells from fracking caused earthquakes that damaged their homes, five Arkansas homeowners have settled for an undisclosed amount. The suit started after scientists found that shale disposal wells in Greenbrier, Arkansas, likely caused more than 1,000 quakes in 2010 and 2011.
Japan nuclear watchdog casts doubt on Tepco
Japan's
nuclear regulator says last week's Fukushima storage tank spill may
have been overestimated as the estimated 300 tons spilled was based on
an assumption that the tank had been full before the leak. With leaks
from the plant up to 400 tons per day, the uncertainty of the situation
continues to grow.
Chinese solar receiving illegal subsidies
Brussels
has warned China that is has evidence of the country's solar industry
receiving illegal subsidies. However, with fears of re-opening the
recent trade spat with China over renewable energy policies, the EU is
unlikely to take immediate action.
