Energy Consulting Services

A new government directive will allow trustees of pension funds to push for green investment of trust money. The managers of the money invested in Britain’s workplace pension schemes, the total of which sits at around £1.5 trillion, will be able to drop shares in oil, gas and coal companies as part of the new initiative. Instead of these investments in traditional energy sources, the managers will be given powers to invest long-term in green and social impact opportunities. The proposals from the government are specifically designed in order to enable trustees to divest from any companies that are environmentally damaging and to redirect their cash into green alternatives. Up until this point, trustees have felt like their hands have been tied by their fiduciary duties. This duty requires trustees to seek the best returns possible for their beneficiaries, regardless of the ethics of the prospective investment opportunity. Although these new rules are complex for the laym...

The climate crisis is currently one of the most pressing issues on earth. Every day, scientists are researching new technologies and advancing their understanding of energy in order to further the fight against climate change. However, not all countries are equally invested in moving forward with regards to renewable energy. There are some that seem disinterested, while others are spearheading what is being referred to as the renewable revolution . It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that our planet is suffering. The polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate, the temperature is hotter than ever before, and natural disasters seem to be occurring with far more frequency than in previous eras. If we don’t act now, there may be precious little left for our children and grandchildren to inherit. Right now, these are the five countries doing the most to further the renewable revolution. Sweden Scandinavia has always been particularly impressive when it comes ...

The electric car sphere look set to heat up over the next couple of years. At lest six new models are expected to be on the market in that time period – each of which promises a range of a minimum of 200 miles. Until recently only Tesla was capable of getting an electric car that far off a single charge. In this list you will see a mixture of affordable electric cars with a 200-mile range and long range battery electric cars from high-end luxury brands. Let’s take a look at what we know so far about six exciting new electric car models due to come to life in the next 2 years. 2018 Nissan Leaf The Nissan Leaf, along with the Tesla Model 3 and the Chevrolet Bolt, is one of the only affordable electric cars with a range of 200 miles or more. It is expected to go into production this year but it has big boots to fill. Its predecessor was a key figure in the first wave of modern electric cars and was also the best-selling electric vehicle ever. Expect the Nissan Leaf to be unv...

There is no doubt that smart climate change policies will make a huge impact on both a nation and the world. But, did you know that a smart climate policy in the US could save the country tens of trillions of dollars? A recent internal memo in the White House showed the President’s dismal stance on climate change. Faced with strong evidence indicating both the existence and level of damage caused by climate change, the memo suggested three options for dealing with these reports. The first was to debate the findings, the second to cast doubt on the conclusions and the third was simply to ignore the findings altogether. Nowhere in the memo is there an option of accepting the reports and acting upon the findings. Yet, more and more evidence is being pushed out into the public sphere showing how global warming is going to cost more than just the environment. A paper published in Nature showed that if the global warming limit was capped at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industria...

Pedro Parente, CEO of Petrobras, the state-controlled Brazilian oil producer, resigned on June 1 st . His announcement came after trucker strikes across the country compelled the government to drop the price of diesel. The strike was due to last three days and was headed by unions who made their demands clear. They wanted Pedro Parente to step down and they wanted the policy allowing the market to set the price of fuel to end. The company, whose full name is Petroleo Brasileiro, saw its shares plunge over 20% by midday, following news of Parente’s resignation. Shares in Sao Paulo were even suspended in the wake of the announcement. In a response to the news, Petrobras’ board said it will choose and interim CEO immediately and that all of the remaining executives will retain their positions. Yet, despite the strikes and criticisms, Parente left the company with his head held high. He wrote in his resignation letter that he had “delivered what he promised” when he originally ...

Renewable energy is a hot topic at the moment and is taking up a lot of time in governmental debate halls around the world. Next week, the UK government plans to reject a tidal power lagoon project in Swansea Bay that would total £1.3 billion in construction costs. The proposal for the tidal plant came from Tidal Lagoon Power. The project already had provisional backing from various financial institutions, led by Prudential, of £200 million. It would consist of a horse shoe shaped wall, lining the sea and kitted with underwater turbines. These turbines would generate energy from tidal movements. It was hoped by the company that this project would be the first of many around the country. It was also thought that the technology underpinning the project would be exported overseas. It seemed to be a good alternative to fossil fuels. However, it has all been a short-lived dream due to the level of subsidy Tidal Lagoon Power has demanded from the British taxpayer. This cos...

We live in an age where more and more people are migrating to live and work in cities and this means that buildings in cities are under pressure to operate as efficiently as possible. Smart buildings that wholly embrace the Internet of Things (IoT) look like the way forward in order to achieve this goal. The Internet of Things can have huge implications in both the construction process of the building and the operation of the building once it is complete. It can save energy, re-engage workforces, boost investment and improve sustainability. But, how does it all work and how can we use it in our buildings? Formerly, the most important thing for a business headquarters was location. Nowadays, this priority is competing with operational efficiency for the top spot. Investors, government and the urban population all want to see buildings comply with environment regulations as well as going above and beyond to be efficient. It is clear that smart buildings are the way forward. ...