sexta-feira, 19 de abril de 2013

Um estádio do Dragão com estratégia verde (com VÍDEO)

Quando pensamos no Estádio do Dragão e, mais especificamente, no Futebol Clube do Porto, a primeira coisa que nos passa pela cabeça chega-nos em tons de azul. Mas se azul é a cor do clube, o verde tomou contas das suas infra-estruturas.

Kalasatama: o bairro finlandês que vai liderar a inteligência urbana

Retirado do site GreenSavers:

"Publicado em 25 de Março de 2013.

Está em marcha um projecto pioneiro na região de Kalasatama, em Helsínquia, Finlândia, para desenvolver uma nova zona da cidade. O objectivo é criar uma rede eléctrica inteligente, apoiada em normas industriais, que possa apoiar um sistema eléctrico estável, seguro, eficiente e sustentável do ponto de vista ambiental.

Esta rede vai garantir que o excesso de energia proveniente das próprias fontes renováveis na região – como painéis solares ou turbinas eólicas – possa ser introduzido na rede eléctrica. Assim, os clientes poderão interagir com o operador da rede e com o mercado da electricidade, reduzindo os picos de procura e aumentando a eficiência.


Aveiro apresenta boas práticas de mobilidade sustentável


Publicado a 28 Mar 2013

“Aveiro a Pé” foi um dos projectos que esteve em destaque na sessão de apresentação de boas práticas subordinada ao tema Mobilidade Sustentável, que decorreu em Aveiro na semana passada.

Durante a sessão, que contou com a participação de representantes das cidades parceiras que integram a Rede Cencyl – Aveiro, Ciudad Rodrigo, Coimbra, Figueira da Foz, Guarda, Salamanca e Viseu – foi destacado o projeto “Aveiro a Pé”, uma acção piloto implementada pelo município.

terça-feira, 9 de abril de 2013

"Before 2015 a household will profitably cover half of its consumption from the roof without feeding into the grid"

"March 25, 2013, 14:40 (CET)

Solarplaza interviews Ruggero Schleicher-Tappeser, a freelance renewable energy consultant and energy grid expert advising governments, industry associations, foundations, NGOs and single companies on strategies to enable the transation towards a fully renewable energy system.


Ruggero Schleicher-Tappeser is working as freelance consultant for renewable energies and sustainable strategies in Berlin since 2008. Born in 1952, he grew up in Italy. After his degree in physics at the University of Bern/Switzerland, he first worked as journalist and consultant on energy issues and was member of the board of directors of the Swiss Energy Foundation since 1976. Later, he turned to research on technology policy, regional development and European environmental and transport policies. For fifteen years he was founder and director of the EURES Institute for Regional Studies in Europe in Freiburg/Germany. More recently he served as Acting Secretary General of the Alpine Convention, an international treaty for the sustainable development of the Alpine area, with offices in Innsbruck, Bolzano and Chambéry. Back as consultant in the energy debate, today he mainly focuses on renewable energies and photovoltaics: foundation process of IRENA, European Alliance for 100% Renewable Energy, foundations, industry, associations.


Electric car drivers could overload power grid, admits French energy chief

Retirado do Daily Mail:

"Warning comes after Renault launched electric car with mass potential
Government has been encouraging technology with generous subsidies
French grid already sensitive to demand spikes due to electric heating

By LEON WATSON


France's under pressure power grid could struggle to cope if growing numbers of electric car owners all recharge their batteries when they sit down for dinner, the industry said today.

The warning comes after French car-maker Renault launched its long-awaited electric car Zoe this month at a price on a par with petrol models, making it the first electric vehicle with mass-market potential. 

Renewables are now a major contributor to UK energy

Retirado do site Renewable Energy Magazine:
"Robin Whitlock
Friday, 29 March 2013

Government figures reveal that 11.3 percent of UK electricity demand in 2012 was generated by renewable energyRenewables are now a major contributor to UK energy
Renewable energy generation in 2012 was up by 20 percent on the previous year according to government figures, thereby confirming the strong performance of renewables within the wider UK energy network. 11.3 percent of the country’s electricity supply was generated by renewables last year and 12.5 percent in the fourth quarter.

Much of the growth in the sector has been achieved by new on and offshore wind farms in spite of lower than average wind speeds over the course of the year. 2012 was also fairly dry which acted to reduce the output from hydro, however biomass generation increased by 17 percent, thanks largely to Tilbury’s conversion to biomass, while solar PV capacity increased by 70 percent to 1.7GW. The total UK renewable energy power capacity now stands at 15.5GW.

District heating company calls for an end to inefficient use of biomass in conventional power stations

Retirado do site Renewable Energy Magazine:
Friday, 29 March 2013

The Renewables Obligation (RO) is incentivising a wasteful use of biomass which squanders waste heat
District heating company calls for an end to inefficient use of biomass in conventional power stationsMark Whettall, a director of Hampshire district heating company CPV Ltd, has called for an end to the way in which the Renewables Obligation (RO) provides incentives for electricity producers to use biomass fuel in inefficient, conventional power stations.
“I of course acknowledge that using biomass is much better than simply burning fossil fuels  such as coal, but to do it at such a low level of efficiency - and furthermore provide financial incentives for doing so - really has to be brought into question” Mr Whettall said. “It's a finite resource and as such, we must make sure that we benefit from every milligram of the carbon saving inherent in the fuel, by utilising as much of the energy produced and not simply reject it into the atmosphere via a cooling tower.”