With attendance free to all who can vouch for a professional or business interest in the conference, All-Energy ’09 is casting a wide net when it comes to potential suitors for their appeals.

Taking place on 20th and 21st of May 2009, at the Aberdeen Conference and Exhibition Centre, this year’s All-Energy ’09 Conference boasts a number of high profile speakers, and the conference is shaping up to be the largest All-Energy ’09 has seen; it is now in its ninth year.

Defining Objectives

As an introduction, the All-Energy ’09 conference will begin with discussion and debate from several government and ministerial bodies, including Ed Miliband, British Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), and the Scottish Government Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, Jim Mather.

In a conference that will look to discuss the challenges surrounding policy and implementation of clean and renewable energy, both Mather and Miliband are big names, and they will be joined in the opening day’s plenary session by notable personalities from non-British governments; helping to define the aims and outcomes of the conference will be Moon Sang Kwon, President of the Korea Institute of Marine Science Technology Promotion, and the Executive Chairman of the Qatar Science and Technology Park, Dr. Tidu Maini.

Key Discussion Areas

Over the two days speakers will discuss and assess the strengths and weaknesses of a number of alternative energy sources and harvesting techniques, including Wave and Tidal, Carbon Capture and Storage, Onshore and Offshore Wind, Biomass, and Nuclear Power.

Using case studies and key topical debates, speakers will inform audiences of the past successes and future potential of renewable energy, from the capability of wind power in Scotland itself, to the use of renewable energy in small communities.

The All-Energy ’09 conference will also entertain a number of theoretical and conceptual discussions on the future of power and energy in Britain and the world, with key discussions on subjects including ‘Planning for Marine Renewables – Environment. Friend or Foe?’, and Power Storage – ‘The Holy Grail ‘.

Presented and elaborated by key experts in these fields, such talks will look to raise awareness of the immense untapped potential in a number of renewable energy sources.

Practical Benefits

Fully aware of the dangers of conceptual discussion, though, the All-Energy ’09 conference has drafted a number of talks on implementation of renewable energy practices in communities at large.

On Thursday 21st May, for example, Dr. Elaine Booth will Chair a discussion titled ‘Especially for the Farming Community‘, which will look – with Dr. Booth alongside names such as Ian Cowe, Biomass Development Officer for Forestry Commission Scotland – at implementation of Biogas and Biomass on farmland, and financing of on-site Renewable Energy Projects.

A Conference Tipped for Success

With this year’s All-Energy ’09 Conference fielding a large number of experts from government, business and the academic community, the 2009 conference looks set for pertinent discussion of genuine opportunities for renewable energy and its subsidiaries.

It has already proven itself to be the biggest conference of its type yet; it seems that it might also prove to be the most successful.

If you wish to attend the All-Energy ’09 Conference, you will need to book tickets – you can do this at the All Energy conference 2009 website.

Posted under Environmental News, Events, Press Releases, Renewable Energy

CLIMATE CHANGE

The last few news items on EcoSwitch have been reporting on some issues connected to climate change and global warming. The growing consensus that ‘climate change is the common denominator of everything we do’ as WWF puts it, combined with December’s Copenhagen climate summit means that 2009 will be like 2008 only more pressing and desperate; climate change and credit crunch sharing the the golden slot of media ‘prime time’ -if there still is such a thing in a world of blogs and rewinded live television.

This issue is of course the most decisive ones in recent history -regardless of what one believes to be the truth about it- and Copenhagen will most probably deeply affect human activity for the coming years. If it is to become another Kyoto (by that meaning a relatively futile document despite the number of nations signing it) many experts and laymen alike will seriously doubt our possibilities to affect the course of events leading up to a cataclysmic shift of paradigm. Whether the science backing global warming scenarios is flawed or not -something that is increasingly hard to disprove and the attempts to do so often seem to lack solidity. The sceptics and deniers of global warming, complaining that the mainstream media, politicians and funding are turning away from ethically and environmentally dubious enterprises, are simply suffering from a logical change of sides due to the case made for global warming by convincing science, in-depth media coverage and finally our personal experience of climatic anomalies.

We have indeed no valid reason not to take some kind of environmental action if it would mean that we as a society begin to live in a more sustainable way. The concerns raised by developing countries and multi-national corporations alike, that environmental action will slow growth and the assertion that prosperity is good for the environment are powerful arguments as extreme poverty But, it neglects that continuous growth on a finite planet is an impossibility and that wealth, especially in the poorest nations, is difficult if not impossible to distribute fairly. For the sake of argument, if the US bail-out package of $700bn had been equally distributed to each person of the world’s population, we would each have $104million and in a single blow, no one would be going hungry or default on their loans. But since we are human, some of us would soon have bought guns for a part of that money in order to gather more by force. Or, as the laws of scarcity go out of play, we would be bying bread by the wheel-barrel once again. In short, just as a humanity with access to free, unlimited and clean energy would very probably entail a worse environmental disaster than our fossil fuel economy of today, a world population of instant multi-millionaires would be a society in total disintegration within weeks. Probably. This does not mean we should not pursue clean energy or equality. It simply means that

If you have knowledge of anything that would contribute to a constructive discussion, this website can offer you a platform to share that knowledge and have it read by thousands. Each day, an average of 9,000 visits to EcoSwitch make for a large audience, interested in what you have to say. As a collective effort, the dissemination of information and the following discussion is an eco-activity in its own right. EcoSwitch hereby invites everyone to write articles and news items related to environmental issues by registering for an account. You can do this by clicking here.

Posted under Environmental News, Press Releases

UNITED KINGDOM

This Wednesday, the 25th of February, The Economist Magazine is hosting the 2009 Sustainability Summit at The Dorchester, London. What is it about? The Syntao.com website for Corporate Responsibility in Business and Investment sums it up neatly as follows:

The 2009 Sustainability Summit: A new climate change. Responsible and effective carbon-footprint across borders is the best way of accessing the leaders in sustainability, exploring the measures they’ve taken, and learning from their successes. Are you fully aware of new legislation on corporate social responsibility? Would you like to cut costs while improving quality with refined and effective sustainable practices? Are you using your PR effectively to gain competitive edge in the global business landscape? Economist Conferences’ Sustainability Summit 2009 has the answers to these questions and more. *

Leading decision-makers and those of influence are congregating at the Dorchester in London this Wednesday 25th February to attend the latest Sustainability Summit, organised by Economist Conferences. The summit will teach companies how to save money and be green at the same time. The current economic climate and environmental urgencies make it a singularly relevant event to attend for the targeted audience. It will cover topics including:

• Global warming and its implications for corporate strategy
• New legislation on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
• Ways to cut costs while improving quality with refined sustainable practices
• Using your PR to gain a competitive-edge in the global business landscape-’being seen to be green’
• Gain access to the latest thought, insight and strategies gathered from a survey of 500 senior corporate executives – conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
• How to apply these insights and strategies immediately within your own environment.
• Network with expert strategists and meet peers across industry and commerce.
• Join the global network of leaders and be at the forefront implementing effective business practices.

Leaders within the business community will be out in full force and a number of them will also be speaking. Some of those that are expected to attend include:

Jat Sahota Head of Corporate Responsibility, J Sainsbury
Mike Barry Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Marks & Spencer
Peter Brabeck-Letmathe Chairman, Nestlé
David North Community and Government Director, Tesco
Peter Clarke Executive Director, The British Land Corporation
Chris Burgess Director of Corporate Responsibility, Vodafone
David Nussbaum Chief Executive, WWF UK
Leigh Hudson Environment Manager, British Airways
James Whittingham Group Environment Manager, TUI Travel
Philippe Maso y Guell Rivet Chief Executive, AXA
Mark Williamson Director of Innovations, The Carbon Trust
James Smith Chairman, Shell UK
Jos Delbeke Director General, European Commission
Richard Sharman Partner Head of Carbon Advisory Group, KPMG
Jonson Cox Group Chief Executive, Anglian Water Group
Colin Matthews Chief Executive Officer, BAA
Alan Barclay Governance Director, Diageo
Neil Carson Chief Executive, Johnson Matthey
Ian Cheshire Chief Executive, Kingfisher
Alexander Nicoll Director of Corporate Responsibility, Liberty International
Anders Linde Director External Environmental Affairs, Rexam
Professor Stephen Hopper Director, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Peter Maier Senior Vice-president, Industry & Suite Solution Marketing, SAP
Noel Morrin Senior Vice-president Sustainability, Skanska
Ignacio Campino Sustainability and Climate Change Board of Management, Deutsche Telekom
Paul Edwards Head of Sustainability, Hammerson
James Watson Senior Editor, Economist Intelligence Unit

The 2009 Sustainability Summit is this Wednesday and is a must for any business serious about implementing the latest green strategies, cutting costs and fighting climate change.

If you wish to attend, the standard cost is £971.75 (including VAT) per delegate however if a team of two book at the same time, the cost is circa £805. There is also a saving of up to 15% off the full standard delegate fee for Economist subscribers who quote ‘ECON’ in all correspondence.

To register you can do so online at www.thesustainabilitysummit.com or telephone +44 (0) 20 7576 8118 for further information or click here to read more and register.

EcoSwitch will attend the event, sending CEO William Worthington and reporter Trisha Gukhool.

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* Read full post on Syntao.com here.

Posted under Companies, Corporate, Environmental News, Events, How To's & Guides, Press Releases

Collaboration between the EcoSwitch.com website and the EcoWarriors of the Hewett School in Norwich [UK] is being set up. The EcoWarriors are a group of students which in different ways -from practical intervention to fundraising- is committed to making their school more sustainable.The coming week we will start publishing the first articles by pupils from the school. Age range 11to18, the students will get an arena for expressing their views and ideas as well as for researching topics that touch upon the broad theme of sustainability – for example producing guides on how to live in a more eco-friendly way, reviews, opinions, visions and articles.

At present the section will be published in the normal article format but potentially develop into a more dedicated space on the site.

We are very excited about this and hope for a big turnout, both in terms of passionate writers and curious readers.

Welcome to EcoSwitch, warriors.

Posted under Environmental News, Press Releases

If you will go to the Geneva Car Salon in March this year you just might attend the presentation of the first electric Lotus. Nothing is 100% confirmed and few concrete facts are released but it is expected to be a range extended EV. This is the same power train working principle on which the Chevy Volt is based. In practice it means it is has a smaller and lighter battery pack to provide some plug-in range and an internal combustion engine to stretch the driving distance, in the case of the Lotus this will probably add up to something like 300-400 miles. That would put Lotus in direct competition with the other top notch EVs -already out there or in the pipeline- like the Fisker Karma and the Tesla Roadster.

Sports cars. To make financial sense for any company, due to expensive components such as the batteries, high end models from exclusive car companies are not surprisingly among the first longer range EVs. The label clean car that we are using here does not completely apply to any car really (unfortunately, calling it Relatively Clean Cars lacks the punch.) Clean Cars is even less correct when it comes to speed monsters partly using fossil fuel propulsion, electric motor or not. But, since we live in a world that will contain rich people that want to be at least a little bit environmentally friendly while maintaining individuality and flair, the competition this end of the electric car range is not unwelcome. And as so often, it is when someone is pushing the limits that we later on down the line get mainstream, affordable products and solutions.

Interestingly, with this announcement it appears that the trickle down effect works inside the company as well. The engineering division of Lotus has spent over a decade working on electric vehicle technology(notably on Ecotricity founder Dale Vince’s private project) and now the production side finally looks ready to take advantage of it. Having worked extensively on the Tesla Roadster and also on the Dodge Viper EV, Lotus is probably well prepared to bring out a top of the line speedster.

Best of luck and may the best Lotus win.

Leif Ahnland leif ahnland

Posted under Cars & Transport, Companies, Environmental News, Gas & Electricity, Press Releases

Pretty much like its homoacronym BP (for British Petroleum), BP (for Better Place) is mainly into providing energy for transport. But within that spectrum, the difference could hardly be greater. Better Place ‘builds electric-vehicle networks powered by renewable energy to give consumers an affordable, sustainable alternative for personal mobility.’ The key here is of course renewable energy. The old BP is heading there as well but the bulk of its operations will likely remain fossil fuel derivatives until that market crumbles. The new BP on the other hand started out, as the name implies, to promote change in how our society functions and in doing so help save the environment.  Better Place, in a press release (read excerpts and/or entire text below), announced on the 15th of January that they will be partnering with the government of Ontario, Canada, that is hoped to ‘create a model for the adoption of electric cars in Canada.’

Shai Agassi, founder and CEO of Better Place, says:

With today’s announcement, Ontario is taking a system-wide approach to retooling its economy for growth and environmental leadership. Our partnership will move Ontario toward a new era in personal transportation – from the current Car 1.0 model centered on the internal combustion engine to a Car 2.0 model of electric cars powered by renewable energy. Today’s announcement is the all-important first step in an expected electric car charging network rollout for Canada, and we look forward to working in partnership with the Ontario government on it.

Furthermore, the partnership stipulates preparatory studies and realisation of practical on behalf of both parties showing that organisations/companies and authorities can work closely and equally towards a mutually rewarding relationship and end result. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment also has invited Better Place and major Japanese car makers to participate in a major electric car project there. From the press release this relationship is descibed as follows:

[The Province of Ontario] has committed to conducting a comprehensive study, which will look at ways to speed up the introduction and adoption of electric vehicles. The study is scheduled for release in May 2009. At the same time, Better Place will be developing an electric car charging network plan and timeline. This announcement maintains the province’s traditional strength in automotive production while incorporating the forward thinking technology of battery operated vehicles. Embracing this technology in its early stages will provide the province with the stimulus needed for enhanced job creation and economic growth.

On more general note, what makes Better Place a truly interesting initiative is how it intends to address both distribution and production of electricty issues that haunt the electric car as a realistic means of transportation for the masses. Tom Heintzman, President of Bullfrog Power which is the only 100% green energy retailer in Canada, ‘Better Place is leading a bold and compelling movement, and we are excited to provide 100% clean, renewable electricity for its network and cars powered by it. For truly emissions-free transportation, it is crucial that we not simply transfer the problem from the tailpipe to the generator. Better Place is taking a firm stance by committing to fueling electric vehicles with renewable power.’ Let us all hope that Bullfrog’s involvement will make Ontario a Better Place.

FULL PRESS RELEASE: Better Place Partners with Ontario to Bring ‘Car 2.0′ Electric Car Infrastructure to Canada TORONTO (Jan 15, 2009) — Better Place, the world’s leading mobility operator, today announced a partnership with the government of Ontario to help bring an electric car network to the province and create a model for the adoption of electric cars in Canada. Ontario, which is one of North America’s largest car producing regions, seeks to transition its auto manufacturing sector for future growth from electric vehicle production while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“With today’s announcement, Ontario is taking a system-wide approach to retooling its economy for growth and environmental leadership,” said Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO, Better Place. “Our partnership will move Ontario toward a new era in personal transportation – from the current Car 1.0 model centered on the internal combustion engine to a Car 2.0 model of electric cars powered by renewable energy. Today’s announcement is the all-important first step in an expected electric car charging network rollout for Canada, and we look forward to working in partnership with the Ontario government on it.”

In conjunction with today’s news, the company appointed Lawrence Seeff as Head of Americas Business Development. Mr. Seeff brings more than 20 years of global real estate and financial experience from leading and growing a privately-held, multi-billion-dollar firm.

Better Place will establish its Canadian head office in Ontario, and build an electric vehicle demonstration and education centre in Toronto to lay the groundwork to help get electric vehicles running on Ontario roads.

The province has committed to conducting a comprehensive study, which will look at ways to speed up the introduction and adoption of electric vehicles. The study is scheduled for release in May 2009. At the same time, Better Place will be developing an electric car charging network plan and timeline.

This announcement maintains the province’s traditional strength in automotive production while incorporating the forward thinking technology of battery operated vehicles. Embracing this technology in its early stages will provide the province with the stimulus needed for enhanced job creation and economic growth.

Under the Better Place model, the company plans and installs a network of charge spots and battery exchange stations, giving drivers the same convenience to “top off” as they enjoy today with gasoline stations. Much like the mobile phone model, Better Place installs and operates the network of charging infrastructure, while leading auto manufacturers produce electric cars for the Better Place network. Better Place sources renewable energy to power the network, creating a zero emission solution from generation to grid to transportation.

For consumers, it means they’re able to subscribe to a sustainable transportation service. Better Place provides the batteries to make owning an electric car affordable and convenient. Better Place will install charge spots in parking spaces at home, at work, and at retail locations, which enable the network to automatically top off the electric car.

For distances longer than what most people drive in a given day, drivers will pull into battery exchange stations to swap a depleted battery for a fresh one in less time than it takes to fill a car with gasoline.

Better Place is partnering with Bullfrog Power, Canada’s only retailer of 100 percent green electricity, and Macquarie Group, a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services, and is continuing to build other relationships both locally and around the world. In Ontario, Bullfrog Power will provide all of the renewable energy needed to power the Better Place network.

“Better Place is leading a bold and compelling movement, and we are excited to provide 100% clean, renewable electricity for its network and cars powered by it,” said Tom Heintzman, President, Bullfrog Power. “For truly emissions-free transportation, it is crucial that we not simply transfer the problem from the tailpipe to the generator. Better Place is taking a firm stance by committing to fueling electric vehicles with renewable power.”

Macquarie will partner with Better Place as financial advisor on developing a network rollout plan and investment timeline for Ontario. Michael Bernstein, Senior Managing Director of Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd., said, “The Better Place business model is an exciting opportunity for the domestic auto industry, the clean energy industry and the public sector to assist in the development of a sustainable transportation market in Canada. Macquarie is pleased to deploy its expertise in assisting Better Place and Ontario to develop a new electric vehicle network in Ontario.”

The Better Place network of electric car charging infrastructure is built on open standards. One goal of the growing Better Place ecosystem, which includes The Renault-Nissan Alliance, is giving consumers a wide range of choices when it comes to vehicle make and model. The Japanese Ministry of the Environment also has invited Better Place and major Japanese carmakers to participate in a major electric car project there.

About Better Place: Better Place is a mobility operator that aims to reduce oil dependence by delivering personal transportation as a sustainable service. Launched in 2007 with $200 million of venture funding, the company builds electric-vehicle networks powered by renewable energy to give consumers an affordable, sustainable alternative for personal mobility. Better Place is working with partners to build its first standards-based networks in Israel, Denmark, Australia, California and Hawaii. Better Place will activate networks on a country-by-country basis with initial deployments beginning in 2010.

Leif Ahnland leif ahnland

Posted under Cars & Transport, Companies, Environmental News, Press Releases

On the first page of the latest edition (published Dec 5th 2008) of Building Design, Good Homes Alliance [GHA] are quoted stating that the Green Guide is ‘so flawed that it will undermine good building design… [And] will very likely worsen the overall environmental impact.’ Now, what is the Green Guide and why the controversy? It is produced by British Research Establishment [BRE], starting in 1996 with a small scale in-house publication. Since then, it has become a comprehensive listing of building materials and components, evaluated and graded from A to E. The rating is based on, among other things, Embodied CO2e (Ec), i.e. the impact of extraction, manufacture, production and assembly of the materials and components of a project.

The 2008 edition is referenced in the Governmental Code for Sustainable Housing [CSH]* which of course gives it much more weight and now architects around the country are voicing criticism. Good Homes Alliance is by no means the only ones but, in a report due next week, they will call for an immediate review of the Green Guide, making them perhaps its most zealous detractors. There are doubts about the ratings for specific materials or products, for example that PVC-u windows with steel reinforcement gets an A. GHA complains that PVC, one of the blacker sheep among the black sheep of plastics, is given ‘far higher eco-credentials than [it] deserves for embodied impact of building materials’ and that the guide offers no insight into how that rating was assessed. A sort of disclaimer can be found on the BRE website:

The founder of ZED factory (read our article featuring them) Bill Dunster backs the BRE and their guide, saying ‘[it] is not perfect but it is a stab in the right direction… [And] it is very naïve to devaluate something that is extremely useful to the industry.’

As things stand, anything that has to do with sustainability often becomes a maze of opinions, research and proposals that contradict one another; perhaps especially so when it comes to complex multi-lateral issues such as the built environment. It will be interesting to read the GHA report.

* Click here to read Cara Naden’s article on CSH on Green Building Magazine’s website.

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Good news for the built environment – Total makeover of our Eco Build section

With the upcoming revision of the Eco Build section at EcoSwitch.com, that will include a growing directory of architects, projects and construction firms with a clearly defined green agenda, we will also try and disentangle somewhat the different approaches to what sustainable building is about. Also, with time, a listing of materials and products considered – by whom you will now ask, correctly – to be eco friendly. This means that we, as it is a mammoth project all by itself, encourage any suggestions for articles and listings.

Or, write your own review and have it read by thousands of people. Shortly we will publish the guidelines for contributions to the Eco Build section. If you have any ideas about how such a directory could be set up for maximum efficiency, e-mail me at leif@ecoswitch.com or post a comment to relevant posts, starting with this one.

Posted under Building Services & Suppliers, Eco Build, Environmental News, Press Releases