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PROTECTED species across the globe including tigers, Asian elephants and chimpanzees have been given a boost, as the government announces £3.4 million for new projects from the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund. The government is also inviting new projects to apply for the next round of funding. International Environment Minister Lord Goldsmith commented: "Our fund is driving change to protect illegally...

A PLANNING permission has been given to Velocys plc's Altalto Immingham, the UK’s first commercial waste-to-jet-fuel plant, by North East Lincolnshire Council’s Planning Committee. Henrik Wareborn, CEO at Velocys, commented on the news: “It’s fantastic news that the Planning Committee has approved our waste-to-jet-fuel project, which will be a first for the UK. "Sustainable aviation fuels are essential for decarbonising this...

AS PART of leadership succession planning, Sembcorp Industries has announced that Andy Koss will succeed Nomi Ahmad as the new Head of its UK subsidiary, Sembcorp Energy UK. Mr Ahmad will relocate back to Singapore to take up an executive position within the Group. Prior to joining SEUK, Mr Koss has held a number of senior roles at the North Yorkshire-based...

NEW online hub will make useful energy data more accessible to businesses, academics and the voluntary sector. Presumed Open Data (POD) is an initiative that seeks a faster decarbonisation of the energy system and improved system infrastructure through maximising both the visibility and value of energy data. A Western Power Distribution project, the hub is being delivered by Centre of Sustainable...

AFTER a dip this year, new renewable capacity additions are expected to rebound in 2021, but policy certainty is critical to ensure investor confidence, according to International Energy Agency (IEA). The world is set to build fewer wind turbines, solar plants and other installations that produce renewable electricity this year because of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, marking the...

EIGHT weeks since the National Trust closed its properties to restrict the spread of coronavirus, wildlife seems to be enjoying its unusually empty gardens and estates. Rare sightings and uncharacteristic behaviours have been noted by staff at the Trust, who say the absence of visitors appears to have emboldened wildlife, with birds and mammals spotted venturing out of their usual...

A STUDY has found that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of microplastics could be blowing ashore on the sea breeze every year. While awareness of plastic pollution in the oceans has been growing in recent years it has been assumed until now that plastic which ends up in the sea stays there. Now a new study by the University of Strathclyde...

A NEW superamphiphobic material can 'bounce' water droplets from air and the new system could produce ultra-fog resistant car windows and faster drainage systems. The bumpy skin of a desert beetle has inspired the creation of a new device that can harvest fresh drinking water out of thin air. According to a paper recently published in Royal Society of Chemistry journal RSC...

OFGEM has confirmed its decision to cut the proposed cost of the Hinkley-Seabank project by £60m. The link, which is due to be completed in 2024, will connect the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station to the grid. In October, Ofgem set out the areas it deemed National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) costs to be too high. NGET wanted to spend £716m on...

A £30M investment in green energy production companies around the world has been agreed out of Swansea Council's £2.1bn pension fund. The fund has already taken major steps to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting the amount of cash invested in oil companies and other organisations with a high carbon density. Working with investment firm BlackRock, the fund is investing in...