Energy World December 2015

Renewable energy use is growing, but fossil fuels are still a key part of the energy system – we include features on both this issue.

First we look at the continuing use of coal for power generation across large parts of Europe – which countries are still heavily reliant on coal, why, and whether that reliance is loosening. Then, an article from the IEA Clean Coal Centre summarises a couple of its recent reports, one of which questions whether switching from coal to gas really does reduce carbon emissions.

Our renewables feature includes three articles on wind power, covering the rather uneven development of wind power in China; the scope for refurbishing and repowering first generation wind turbines; and how operators of offshore wind farms manage their assets. Or take a look at how a school in Leicestershire now buys its heat from a new community energy enterprise that generates heat from locally sourced biomass.

Finally, Marc Height concludes his two article series on climate change this issue. After last issue’s run-through of the science, this one covers the history of international efforts to negotiate cuts in carbon emissions as a background to the Paris summit.