12 h. ago After Spain's blackout, questions about renewable energy are back

The massive power outage that hit the Iberian peninsula last month has reignited a debate in Spain over the country’s plan to phase out its nuclear reactors and generate more power with renewable energy

Politics

52 h. ago Greece and Egypt reaffirm their commitment to an undersea power cable

Greece and Egypt have reaffirmed their commitment to a major undersea electricity interconnection to deliver renewable energy from North Africa to Europe

Politics

52 h. ago US renewable energy has tripled in a decade – but Trump cancels almost $8bn in projects

Political uncertainty under Trump has dampened the market, even as red states see a boom in renewable energyRenewable energy in the US has surged to unprecedented levels, with the combined power generated by solar, wind and geothermal more than tripling over the past decade, according to a new report by a network of state environmental groups.The growth has slashed harmful greenhouse gas emissions, made the nation’s energy system more resilient and prevented thousands of premature deaths from power plant pollution, according to the report by Environment America.The amount of solar energy produced in 2024 – enough to power 28m homes – was nearly eight times higher than a decade earlier. Solar power production increased 27% from 2023 to 2024.Wind produced even more energy – enough to power 42m homes in 2024. The amount of power from wind has more than doubled over the past decade.Wind, solar and geothermal energy accounted for 19% of all retail sales of electricity last year, accordin...

Politics

52 h. ago US renewable energy has tripled in a decade – but Trump cuts almost $8bn in projects

Political uncertainty under Trump has dampened the market, even as red states see a boom in renewable energyRenewable energy in the US has surged to unprecedented levels, with the combined power generated by solar, wind and geothermal more than tripling over the past decade, according to a new report by a network of state environmental groups.The growth has slashed harmful greenhouse gas emissions, made the nation’s energy system more resilient and prevented thousands of premature deaths from power plant pollution, according to the report by Environment America.The amount of solar energy produced in 2024 – enough to power 28m homes – was nearly eight times higher than a decade earlier. Solar power production increased 27% from 2023 to 2024.Wind produced even more energy – enough to power 42m homes in 2024. The amount of power from wind has more than doubled over the past decade.Wind, solar and geothermal energy accounted for 19% of all retail sales of electricity last year, accordin...

Politics

52 h. ago US renewable energy has tripled in a decade – but almost $8bn in projects now face cuts

Political uncertainty under Trump has dampened the market, even as red states see a boom in renewable energyRenewable energy in the US has surged to unprecedented levels, with the combined power generated by solar, wind and geothermal more than tripling over the past decade, according to a new report by a network of state environmental groups.The growth has slashed harmful greenhouse gas emissions, made the nation’s energy system more resilient and prevented thousands of premature deaths from power plant pollution, according to the report by Environment America.The amount of solar energy produced in 2024 – enough to power 28m homes – was nearly eight times higher than a decade earlier. Solar power production increased 27% from 2023 to 2024.Wind produced even more energy – enough to power 42m homes in 2024. The amount of power from wind has more than doubled over the past decade.Wind, solar and geothermal energy accounted for 19% of all retail sales of electricity last year, accordin...

Politics

8 d. ago Luminous Energy secures three year £5.5m development finance facility with Novuna Business Finance

Luminous Energy, a leading UK-based renewable energy and battery storage developer, has successfully signed a three year £5.5m development finance facility with Novuna Business Finance. This strategic financial arrangement will support the company's global development pipeline and wider corporate overheads as it transitions from a pure play developer to an independent power producer (IPP).

Economics

8 d. ago Why unlimited green energy is closer than people think – video

Most countries have no fossil fuel reserves, but no country in the world is without renewable energy resources. For a country such as Iceland, the world leader in renewables, this statement is clear to see. The island nation has made good use of its volcanoes and glaciers, which help provide 100% of its electricity and almost all its heat energy. But what about other countries that don't have Iceland's unique geology to rely on. Josh Toussaint-Strauss finds out how the world has managed to reach the impressive milestone of more than 40% of global electricity demand coming from clean power sources, and how other countries such as the UK are making this energy transition happen, despite a distinct lack of volcanoesClean energy powered 40% of global electricity in 2024, report finds Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Minister warns against blaming Spain’s blackout on renewable energy

Spain’s environment minister, Sara Aagesen, promises ‘complete audit’ into causes of power outageEurope live – latest updatesSpain’s environment minister has warned against attempts to blame Monday’s unprecedented blackout across the Iberian peninsula on the increasing use of renewable energy, defending the reliability of the national grid and promising a “complete audit” to establish the causes of the outage.Speaking on Wednesday afternoon as a specially designated committee prepared to meet to investigate the blackout, Sara Aagesen pushed back at opposition parties’ claims that the socialist-led government’s drive to embrace renewable energy had compromised the grid’s stability. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Interactive map shows all 1,300 major renewable energy developments across Scottish Highlands

There are more than 1,300 records of applications on the Highland map.

Politics

9 d. ago Cabinet minister admits Tony Blair’s net zero criticisms are ‘valid and important’

But environment secretary Steve Reed doubles down on the Labour push to move off fossil fuel energy for renewable alternatives

Politics

1 week ago Did Spain’s push for renewable energy have any impact on its mass power blackout?

Spain is one of Europe's biggest producers of solar and wind power

Politics

1 week ago Could renewable energy be to blame for huge Spain blackout? How outage struck days after country's grid ran entirely on green power for the first time

The shocking blackouts have impacted millions of people with almost all of Spain and Portugal affected, along with parts of France and Belgium, according to the most recent reports

Politics

2 w. ago Voices: ‘The system is broken’: Independent readers divided over plans for ‘postcode lottery’ energy pricing

Our community share their views on ‘zonal pricing’ for electricity – from concerns about a ‘postcode lottery’ and higher bills in the South, to the potential benefits for Scotland's renewable energy sector

Politics

2 w. ago Warma UK secures important solar installation contract with Crown Estate Scotland

Renewable energy specialists Warma UK has been awarded a new contract by Crown Estate Scotland to install solar energy systems across its rural estate as part of the Solar North Phase 1 programme.

Events

2 w. ago ‘Spiral of silence’: climate action is very popular, so why don’t people realise it?

Researchers find 89% of people around the world want more to be done, but mistakenly assume their peers do notActivate climate’s ‘silent majority’ to supercharge action, experts sayThe Guardian is joining forces with dozens of newsrooms around the world to launch the 89 Percent Project—and highlight the fact that the vast majority of the world’s population wants climate action. Read moreHow much of a $450 (£339) pot would you give to a charity that cuts carbon emissions by investing in renewable energy, and how much would you keep for yourself? That was the question posed in a recent academic experiment. The answers mattered: real money was handed out as a result to some randomly chosen participants.The average person gave away about half the money and kept the rest. But what if you had been told beforehand that the vast majority of other people think climate action is really important? Might you have given more to the charity? Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump halts construction of big wind farm off New York coast: ‘reckless and overreaching’

Wind power developer eyes legal remedies to order that blocks renewable energy projects and eliminates green job opportunitiesThis story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.The buildout of renewable energy projects in downstate New York – the region that includes the Hudson valley and below – is often complicated. The space for these projects is limited, particularly in New York City, and they’re often expensive. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump halts construction of big wind farm off New York coast

Wind power developer eyes legal remedies to order that blocks renewable energy projects and eliminates green job opportunitiesThis story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.The buildout of renewable energy projects in downstate New York – the region that includes the Hudson valley and below – is often complicated. The space for these projects is limited, particularly in New York City, and they’re often expensive. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago What is sustainable investing and how can my money support green issues?

Environmental reasons, fair trade industries and renewable energy can all be ways to use your money in a green way

Economics

last month Palau president delivers barb at Peter Dutton over ‘water lapping your door’ hot mic joke

Surangel Whipps Jr also strongly backs Australia’s bid to host a UN climate conferenceElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcastThe president of Palau has delivered a pointed barb at Peter Dutton while strongly backing an Australian bid to host a UN climate conference on behalf of the Pacific, arguing that it would boost regional solidarity and he would be “deeply disappointed” if the attempt was abandoned under the Coalition.Speaking at a renewable energy conference in Sydney on Wednesday, Surangel Whipps Jr described seeing two-thirds of an island in his archipelago country disappear under water in his lifetime. “For those of us in the Pacific who have lived through storm surges, rising ocean levels and increasingly high tides, the phrase ‘water lapping at our door’ is not a metaphor or a punchline. It’s our fear and reality,” he said.Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newslette...

Politics