German energy shift faces headwinds

Tense engineers have their eyes peeled on complex colour-coded diagrams on a wall-sized screen that makes their control room look like the inside of a spaceship.

• Keep the lights on with solar batteries
• German solar power production booming
• Solar boosts German renewable energy

UK shale gas firm plans summer drilling

UK shale gas company Cuadrilla Resources plans to undertake four months of exploration drilling work this summer at a site to the south of London.

• UK says 'fracking' should resume
• UK tremors blamed on shale fracking
• Britain weighing fracking tax breaks

World's energy a dirty business

Progress towards the use of cleaner fuel technology has stalled, with production of the world's energy as "dirty" now as it was two decades ago, the International Energy Agency says.

• Renewable energy target in doubt
• DA asks UN watchdog to help with probe
• 1st world atlas on renewable energy

Foreign wind farms cause uproar in Mexico

Foreign energy firms have flocked to a narrow region of southern Mexico, known as one of the world's windiest places, but some projects have angered and torn indigenous villages.

• Storm Carlotta near hurricane strength
• Millions left without power in US, Mexico
• Wind power growth to slow - report

A new way to store energy

Canadian researchers have developed a ground-breaking method, which may ultimately enable excess energy created by wind turbines and solar panels to be stored for later use.

• Nobel for stem cell pioneers?
• Weird worm points to biodiversity burst
• Researchers discover Parkinson's clue

Scottish wind farm infuriates Trump

Eleven giant wind turbines are to be built off the east coast of Scotland, a move that has infuriated Donald Trump who says they will spoil his view.

• Palin, Trump turning off voters - poll
• Scots protest Trump degree
• Ireland to build 'giant' wind turbines

China, Russia eye energy, investment deals

Talks between China's new leader Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin focused on a raft of energy and investment accords.

• Eurozone in reverse, China speeds up
• Chinese firms urged to invest in Africa
• China targets 15% of satellite market

Safety concerns cloud S Korea nuke plan

South Korea has plans to become a major nuclear energy player, but they have unfolded at a time when the global industry is under intense scrutiny after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

• S Korea to send reactor coolant to Japan
• 'Screwdriver' shut down nuclear plant
• S Korean schools shut over radiation fears

Zimbabwe to blend biofuel

Zimbabwe has passed new rules forcing fuel wholesalers to blend petrol with locally-produced ethanol in order to cut the country's fuel import bill.

• Zimbabwe energy minister granted bail
• Outspoken critic of Malawi's leader jailed
• E5 biofuel could cost refineries billions

Biofuels boom waits on paperwork

Seven years after a government feasibility study has showed a biofuels industry in SA could create tens of thousands of new jobs, the paperwork needed to establish it remains outstanding.

• Biofuels cause pollution - not so green
• New biofuel project launched
• Rautenbach gets Zim farm

Rains bring relief to Brazil power sector

Rains have brought some relief to depleted reservoirs of Brazil's hydroelectric plants.

• Judge suspends Amazon dam project
• Activists occupy Brazil dam site
• Heavy rains kill 5 in Brazil

1st world atlas on renewable energy

The International Renewable Energy Agency has launched the world's first atlas on clean energy, which will offer open-access information on countries' renewable energy potential.

• SA joins renewable energy body
• US roasts to hottest year on record
• Rising sea temps drive sharks to beaches

Biofuels cause pollution - not so green

Green schemes to fight climate change by producing more bio-fuels could actually worsen a little-known type of air pollution and cause almost premature deaths.

• Biofuel jet trip ups clean travel hopes
• Foreign farms in Africa face controversy
• SAA: 50% biofuels by 2020

Solar boosts German renewable energy

Germany's 2012 renewable energy production is forecast to be 15% above last year's rate.

US defends 'enormous' climate efforts

The has US defended its track record on fighting climate change at UN talks, saying it's making "enormous" efforts to slow global warming and help the poor nations most affected by it.

• UN climate change talks open in Doha
• Clock is ticking fast, UN climate talks told

US to overtake Saudi as top oil producer

The United States will overtake Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world's top oil producer by 2017, according to the West's energy agency.

• More oil finds worry Nigeria
• SA steers clear of Iranian oil
• Engen buying crude from Saudi

CSIR to assess Mossel Bay facility

An environmental impact assessment will be conducted on a proposed liquefied gas facility in Mossel Bay, PetroSA says.

• PetroSA denies Mossel Bay oil pollution
• DA welcomes protector Oilgate review
• PetroSA to hunt for oil, gas on Cape coast

Government delays green energy

South Africa's independent power procurement programme for renewable energy is experiencing delays.

• Australia's largest solar farm opens
• Shale gas a 'transition' energy source
• Wind industry advert sparks anger

Planes could fly on sawdust or straw

Passenger jets could be chomping straw or flying on fuel extracted from sawdust in coming years as the search widens for cleaner alternatives to kerosene.

• Air Canada makes biofuel flight
• SAA: 50% biofuels by 2020
• Qantas makes 1st biofuel flight in Aus

No energy coordination, parliament hears

One of the biggest problems around energy efficiency is a lack of government coordination, parliament's portfolio committee on energy has heard.

• Eskom asks for more time on tariffs
• Breather for Eskom
• MPs lash energy dept

No end in sight for Pakistan's energy crisis

India may claim the world's biggest blackout, but in neighbouring Pakistan an endemic energy crisis blamed on years of mismanagement cripples the economy and makes millions of lives a daily misery.

• Energy-starved Pakistan sees light on solar power

WWF - Croatia, Bosnia hydro power warning

Conservation group WWF has warned Croatia and Bosnia they risked harming wildlife and farm output by building planned hydropower schemes in their southern regions.

• UN highlights future of clean energy
• Largest hydroelectric dam opens
• 'Hydro-diplomacy' to avert water wars

5 events in the parenting olympics

How do you fare in all of the major parenting events?

SA electricity cheap, income a problem

Electricity pricing in South Africa is cheap, compared to other countries, but household income is not growing to keep pace with price increases, environmentalists have said.

• Greenpeace challenges Eskom over Kusile
• Japan electric cars in image crisis
• Eskom pushing maintenance programmes