UK cleantech news: 31 July 2009
UK universities need to set carbon targets
UK universities should commmit to reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, according to a joint consultation between the Higher Education Funding Council for Education, Universities UK and GuildHE.
Doosan Babcock launches world’s largest OxyCoal™ firing demonstration
Doosan Babcock today announced a major step towards making full-scale carbon dioxide capture and storage a reality with the opening of the world’s largest OxyCoal™ Clean Combustion Test Facility at Renfrew, by Joan Ruddock MP, the Minister of State for the Department of Energy & Climate Change.
Engineers accused of taking ‘tidal reef’ idea in Severn estuary competition
The Guardian reports, “The government and two of Britain’s biggest engineering companies have been accused of taking the idea of a leading marine engineer who came up with a novel plan to harness vast amounts of tidal energy from the Severn estuary while causing only minimal ecological damage.”
British Gas and the Welsh Assembly Government today announced that the UK’s first dedicated Green Skills Training Centre will be opened in Tredegar in the South Wales Valleys later this year.
Mayor announces £4million plans to kick-start eco-innovation fund
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today announced proposals for a multi-million pound ‘London Green Fund’ to boost London’s low carbon economy, create jobs and tackle climate change.
Update on the situation at Vestas’ blade factory on the Isle of Wight, UK
Since the occupation by employees began on Monday 20 July, Vestas has made several attempts to encourage the employees participating in the occupation to discontinue their participation. It has now decided to dismiss the 11 employees, who the company has positively identified as the employees currently participating in the occupation of the factory.
