Around The Web

BNEF: Turnbull’s NEG akin to joining gym and not lifting weights

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-23 13:47
BNEF says NEG under current targets would achieve little, and be akin to finally signing up to a gym, and then refusing to lift any weights.
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CEFC targets energy hungry shopping centres, with $200m finance deal

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-23 13:45
CEFC tips $200m debt finance into QIC’s Global Real Estate flagship Shopping Centre Fund, in deal expected to deliver energy savings of between 30-40% using solar and energy efficiency.
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Alinta dives back into coal with purchase of Loy Yang B

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-23 13:33
Alinta dives back into coal, paying top dollar for Loy Yang B generator, suggesting it expects high prices and limp climate policies to continue.
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Australia facing climate disaster on its doorstep, government's white paper warns

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-23 12:44

Foreign policy paper says climate-related conflict and migration could put Australia’s economic interests under pressure

Climate change is creating a disaster on Australia’s doorstep, with environmental degradation and the demand for sustainable sources of food undermining stability in some countries, especially “fragile states”, according to the Australian government’s first foreign policy white paper in more than a decade.

The new white paper, released on Thursday, contains warnings over the disruptive effects of climate change in Australia’s immediate region, noting that many small island states will be “severely affected in the long term”, and the coming decade will see increased need for disaster relief.

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First Australian corporate bulk-buy to deliver new 80MW wind farm

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-23 12:32
An 80MW wind farm to be built near Ararat after first-of-kind contract with powerful consortium of 14 universities, corporations and Councils.
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Why the nights are getting brighter – but not in a good way

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-23 12:16

Spread of light pollution is bad for the environment, animal life and humans, five-year study concludes

The world’s nights are getting alarmingly brighter – bad news for all sorts of creatures, humans included – as light pollution encroaches on darkness almost everywhere.

Satellite observations made by researchers during five consecutive Octobers show Earth’s artificially lit outdoor area grew by 2% a year from 2012 to 2016. So did nighttime brightness.

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Is NEG just an elaborate plan to fund Turnbull’s vanity project?

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-23 11:00
Latest advice from Energy Security board makes it clear that on current policy settings the NEG will not reduce emissions, cut costs or invite new wind and solar investment. But there may be something else afoot - Malcolm Turnbull's vanity project.
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Three cups of coffee a day 'may have health benefits'

BBC - Thu, 2017-11-23 10:32
But there is no reason to start drinking coffee for health reasons, the BMJ study found.
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1414 plans two “gigawatt hour” silicon storage plants in S.A.

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-23 09:54
South Australian company opens new manufacturing facility and says it plans to build two grid scale 1GWh silicon storage systems in the state.
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Tesla big battery on track to be “energised” in coming days

RenewEconomy - Thu, 2017-11-23 09:49
Tesla big battery fully installed and on time in South Australia, and about to be "energised" and tested by regulators and market operators.
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EU ban on bird imports sees 'massive' cuts in global trade

BBC - Thu, 2017-11-23 09:43
There's been a 90% drop in the trade in wild birds around the globe mainly due to an EU ban, say researchers.
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How we are losing the night

BBC - Thu, 2017-11-23 09:05
Satellite images show that artificially-lit areas are expanding around the world.
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High-energy 'ghost particles' absorbed by Earth

BBC - Thu, 2017-11-23 05:15
Neutrinos are famous for travelling through solid objects, but they don't go through everything, a study shows.
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New research suggests common herbicides are linked to antibiotic resistance

The Conversation - Thu, 2017-11-23 05:08
Improper use of antibiotics is one reason for the rise in antibiotic resistance, but new research shows that ingredients in common weed killers can also cause bacteria to become less susceptible. Jack Heinemann, Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Canterbury Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.
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Light pollution: Night being lost in many countries

BBC - Thu, 2017-11-23 05:00
Much of the world is "losing the night" as artificial light becomes brighter and more widespread, say scientists.
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Treasury backs electric cars but makes limited moves on diesel

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-23 03:30

Funds set aside for national charging network and tech research, but lack of scrappage scheme disappoints

Electric cars have received a funding boost with the government earmarking £340m for a national charging network and subsidies for vehicle purchases.

However, further budget backing for greener vehicles was limited to a small rise in vehicle excise duty for new diesel cars that fail to meet rigorous emissions standards – disappointing campaigners who had hoped for a rise in fuel duty or a diesel scrappage scheme.

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Plague reached Europe by Stone Age

BBC - Thu, 2017-11-23 03:11
Plague was present in Europe during the late Stone Age, according to a study of ancient remains.
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No subsidies for green power projects before 2025, says UK Treasury

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-23 02:48

Government accused of ‘turning their back on renewables’ after saying there will be no more money for new low-carbon levies

Companies hoping to build new windfarms, solar plants and tidal lagoons, have been dealt a blow after the government said there would be no new subsidies for clean power projects until 2025 at the earliest.

The Treasury said it had taken the decision to “protect” consumers, because households and businesses were facing an annual cost of about £9bn on their energy bills to pay for wind, solar and nuclear subsidies to which it had already committed.

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Record numbers of rare migrant dragonflies spotted in the UK

The Guardian - Thu, 2017-11-23 02:36

Conservationists believe global warming could be partly responsible for the influx of species such as the scarlet darter that have been seen this year

Record numbers of rare migrant dragonflies have been spotted in the UK this year, according to an analysis by volunteers from the Migrant Dragonfly Project.

The study recorded the first confirmed UK sighting of the scarlet darter for 13 years, at Longham Lakes in Dorset. It is only the eighth time this species has been spotted in Britain.

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Research money central to Budget

BBC - Thu, 2017-11-23 02:06
The Chancellor Philip Hammond has made investment in research the centrepiece of his budget.
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