The Icon

DESPITE reports that global emissions of the potent greenhouse gas, HFC-23, were almost eliminated in 2017, an international team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, has found atmospheric levels growing at record values. Over the last two decades, scientists have been keeping a close eye on the atmospheric concentration of a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gas, known as HFC-23. This gas...

NEW 42 megawatt energy-from-waste facility in Leicestershire has reached financial close today. The Newhurst facility is a joined venture between Covanta Holding Corporation, Biffa plc and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG), with Covanta and GIG owning 50 percent together and Biffa owning the remaining half. Covanta CEO and President Stephen J. Jones commented on the plans: "The Newhurst facility will provide...

ENERGY being wasted every year by a few thousand office buildings across five UK cities could power over 100,000 homes and is costing businesses £60 million in unnecessary energy bills, says Green Alliance. The scale is largest in the capital, where wasted energy is equivalent to the amount used to power over 65,000 homes, similar to the housing stock of...

£1M funding has been awarded towards innovative technology to recycle waste aircraft oils and lubricants by the Defence and Security Accelerator. Defence and Security Accelerator – on behalf of the Royal Air Force – has awarded contracts to three universities and one engineering firm to develop the new technology to turn waste hydrocarbons into recyclable by-products such as water, organic...

SCOTLAND'S new National Transport Strategy for the next two decades was laid before Parliament last Wednesday. A collaborative approach has been taken to the development of the document, with more than 60 organisations and 6500 people making a contribution, with 1200 responses to the consultation last year. The Strategy sets out the actions that have to be taken to meet The...

ISLINGTON in inner London has become the first council in the UK to collect and publish air quality data at all primary and secondary schools in the borough. The data, displaying the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution levels, shows that air quality is improving in Islington, compared to previously projected levels but that there is still work to do. Councillor Rowena Champion,...

OFGEM is issuing Outfox the Market (Foxglove Energy Supply Ltd) with a provisional order to pay £602,930 in full for the Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) scheme by 12 February. The FIT scheme, which is administered by Ofgem, provides payments to owners of small-scale renewable generators and is funded through levies on suppliers. Any supplier who fails to pay its Levelisation Payment by...

INVEST Northern Ireland has offered £3.6million of support for Phase II of an industry-led sustainable energy research centre at Queen's University in Belfast. Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy also draws upon the research capabilities of Ulster University and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute. Making the announcement, Minister for the Economy, Diane Dodds, said: “Over the last six years, Centre for Advanced...

A CAMPAIGN to champion sustainable growth in North Lanarkshire has been launched ahead of a major global diplomatic conference in Glasgow later this year. ACT 2020 - Action on Climate Together, will see the council partnering with ENGIE to create a roadmap for councils, businesses and communities that aims to outline realistic action to curb climate change locally, driven by...

YORKSHIRE Water has announced today that it will not accept the final determination published by Ofwat on 16 December 2019 as part of its 2019 price review. Instead the company has asked Ofwat to refer its final determination to the Competition and Markets Authority for review. A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water stated: 'Significant work has been undertaken to establish the deliverability...