Climate Change Action

Here are a few interesting stories via the World Business Council on Sustainable Development.

1. Wave power development pushes ahead in Oregon. Wave power is still in its infancy but the steakes are high.

Energy experts claim that harnessing just 0.2 percent of the ocean's
untapped energy would meet the entire planet's power needs.

2. Tuft's University study makes the economic case for action on climate change.

Based on the assumption that average global temperatures would rise by 4°C
above pre-industrial levels by 2100, the researchers predict that annual
economic damages could reach US$20 trillion by 2100, or "6 to 8% of global
economic output at that time".

3. Climate deal vital for carbon markets.

The call came at "Make markets work for climate", an international
conference hosted by the Dutch environment ministry in Amsterdam ending on
Tuesday. Participants stressed that investment in greener technologies is also
at stake.

4. EU Comission looks to reduce energy usage by 20% between 20o6 and 2020.

On 19 October, Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs presented his action plan
to cut Europe's energy consumption by 20% in the next 14 years. If succesful,
the EU could save more than 100 billion euro per year.

5. Spain brings online Europes largest solar thermal station. This plant will be the first of many, a total of eight are planned by 2010 with a combined capacity of 302MW.

The first reactor covers some 70 hectares and comprises 624 moveable
mirrors. Each has a 121-square-metre surface and is stuck on the end of a
metal pillar, enabling the sun's rays to be concentrated on a focal point
situated at the top of a tower. There, a boiler is installed to allow a
temperature to be reached of between 600 and 1,000 degrees Celsius in order to
heat up fluid and produce the vapour that activates a system of turbines and
alternators, thereby generating electricity.
There is no need for silicon, a chemical element indispensable for the fabrication of more expensive photovoltaic cells, and there are no CO2 emissions either, those being the key cause of the so-called Greenhouse Effect of global warming.
What is required is space, at least two hectares per MW of production, and sun -- an annual 1,900 KWh per square metre.

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Labels: business, energy and efficiency