sustenergy press review – 11

——————————————————————————————————————
Portugal vai ser pioneiro a nível mundial no aproveitamento da energia das ondas

O primeiro parque de ondas pré-comercial do mundo foi inaugurado em Portugal a 23 de Setembro de 2008. Localizado ao largo da Aguçadora, Póvoa do Varzim, tem 3 máquinas Pelamis – desenvolvidas por uma empresa britânica. Parecem enormes cobras que oscilam ao sabor do mar.

http://static.publico.clix.pt/homepage/infografia/ambiente/pelamis/

——————————————————————————————-

Spain eases plan to slash subsidy for solar power

MADRID, Sept 23 (Reuters) – Spain has decided to ease proposed sharp cuts in a generous subsidy scheme to solar power producers in one of the world’s hottest markets, Energy Secretary Pedro Marin said on Tuesday.Marin said the proposed limit on total capacity of new solar power panels entitled to subsidies in 2009 will be 500 megawatts, which compares to an earlier draft proposal to set the cap at 300 MW.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7820055
——————————————————————————————-

EU lawmakers set to halt carbon curbs

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union lawmakers are set to slam the brakes on plans to curb carbon dioxide emissions from cars, easing the burden on the auto industry in the fight against climate change, documents circulated on Tuesday showed.
A draft European Parliament resolution would delay and soften the mandatory emissions limits proposed by the executive European Commission, reduce the fines for non-compliance and give carmakers a freer hand on how they achieve the cuts.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKTRE48MA1O20080923
——————————————————————————————-

Exclusive: The methane time bomb

Arctic scientists discover new global warming threat as melting permafrost releases millions of tons of a gas 20 times more damaging than carbon dioxide

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/exclusive-the-methane-time-bomb-938932.html

——————————————————————————————-

Solar Projects Draw New Opposition

WHAT’S not to like about solar power? Sunlight is clean, quiet and abundant. If enough of it were harnessed and turned into electricity, it could be the solution to the energy crisis. But surprisingly, solar power projects are running into mounting opposition — and not from hard-nosed, coal-fired naysayers, but from environmentalists

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/business/businessspecial2/24shrike.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

————————————————————————

Einstein fridge design can help global cooling

An early invention by Albert Einstein has been rebuilt by scientists at Oxford University who are trying to develop an environmentally friendly refrigerator that runs without electricity.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/sep/21/scienceofclimatechange.climatechange

——————————————————————————————

Two Nobelists Call for Forest Carbon Market

Two recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize with a passion for the environment have joined the push to include forest preservation in carbon-trading markets as a way to curb greenhouse gases and help poor rural communities in the ailing tropics. The laureates, former Vice President Al Gore and Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan leader of an African movement to curb poverty and advance women’s rights through tree planting, made their pitch at a Manhattan meeting on forest conservation, economic development and climate.

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/two-nobelists-call-for-forest-carbon-market/

————————————————————————————————————-

EU biofuel panic threatens planet – Brazil envoy

BRUSSELS, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Europe’s heated debate over biofuels risks weakening one of the world’s best tools to fight climate change and one of the developing world’s best hopes for economic growth, Brazil’s ambassador to the EU said on Friday.”What I fear is the debate over biofuels has taken on a very emotional character and we have somewhere got lost in this emotion,” said Maria Celina de Azevedo Rodrigues.”Once, biofuels were seen as the salvation, and all of a sudden they are the devil.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7811185

————————————————————————————————————-

Bill Gates Goes For Algae, Invests in Biofuel Maker Sapphire Energy

Cascades Investments LLC, Mr. Gates’ personal investment vehicle, is backing Sapphire Energy, a start up working towards a commercial-scale facility to produce oil from algae. And by all indications, he is not trying to save the world from its petroaddiction. He’s trying to make some money.
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/09/17/bill-gates-goes-for-algae-invests-in-biofuel-maker-sapphire-energy/

————————————————————————————————————-