UK Climate Change Minister Greg Barker visits Torrs Hydro in the Peak District and calls on more communities to harness the power of their rivers and streams to generate both green electricity and money. “When it comes to the UK’s performance on renewables there’s much more to do and hydropower is currently a missed opportunity. There is more to renewable energy than just large wind turbines”, he said. Source: DECC

The UK is becoming a global front-runner in innovation and development of low carbon power technology, with experts citing wave power technology and marine power turbines as key elements in this green industrial revolution which will produce a new global market for Britain. Source: Reuters UK

Following confirmation that the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) subsidy will go ahead in 2011, Chris Huhne, UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, visited Surrey University to see one of the many sites that local business LC Energy supplies with renewable and low carbon energy. The RHI scheme will be key to meeting the UK’s target of 15% of energy being renewable by 2020, thus saving carbon, improving energy security and creating green jobs. Source: DECC

The townsfolk of Italy’s Tocco da Casauria are proud of their medieval heritage, but have decided to look to the future for survival. They are now using wind turbines and solar panels for generating renewable energy that makes a profit as it benefits the environment. Source: Reuters

A new liquid biofuel for heating and cooking could cut carbon emissions from the 1.8 million homes in Britain still reliant on oil for heating, say the organisers of a successful field trial. Source: Reuters

The Thanet offshore wind farm has started producing electricity. The 100 turbines comprise the largest offshore wind farm in the world, which will generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of over 200,000 British households. Source: ITN

Major European power companies are investing in Romania to create the region’s largest wind farms, bringing welcome investment and jobs. Source: Bloomberg

A novel design of solar-powered refrigerator is giving rural communities without electricity access to vaccines and medicines. The fridge stores power within ice packs, which maintain temperatures overnight. Source: Reuters

The UK Government has overturned the ban on local councils selling renewable electricity. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has announced that councils across Britain will from 18th August be allowed to sell renewable electricity to the grid and should assume their rightful place leading a local power revolution. At present only 0.01% of electricity in England is generated by local authority-owned renewables, despite the scope that exists to install projects on their land and buildings. In Germany the equivalent figure is 100 times higher. Source: DECC

UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne announces the launch of the first Annual Energy Statement. He commented: “Our actions must be informed by the best information about the future. That is why I am publishing our work on 2050 energy pathways, which has been worked up in consultation with industry, scientists, engineers and economists. We are making the data and analysis available and we are inviting comments over the summer. We want to start a grown-up debate about what a low-carbon future will look like and the best way of achieving it”. Source: DECC