Survey: global electricity system could be 70% renewable by 2050
It is achievable for the global electricity system to be 70% powered by renewables by mid-century, according to a survey of energy sector participants. The survey, conducted by DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts, asked for the views of over 1,600 people working within the energy sector from more than 70 countries. Eight out of ten respondents believe that the electricity system can by 70% renewable by 2050. Furthermore, almost half believe this figure could be achieved in just 15 years, signalling that the energy revolution could soon gather pace. The accompanying report, Beyond Integration, argues that a smarter approach is needed for the transition to renewable energy, driven by new economic metrics, new rules and new entrepreneurial models. (Blue & Green Tomorrow)
Corporate Reputation
BP drops out of conservative ALEC policy group
Oil company BP says it has stopped supporting conservative political group ALEC, becoming the latest corporation to end its membership. Companies have come under pressure from environmental and civic groups, who say that ALEC, a coalition of state lawmakers and corporations, works to deny the existence of climate change, defund public services and limit workers’ protections. “We have determined that we can effectively pursue policy matters of current interest to BP without renewing our membership in ALEC,” a BP spokesman said. BP is the second large oil company to drop support of the group after Occidental Petroleum cut ties last year, alongside tech companies including Ebay and Google. At the time, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt said his company wanted out because ALEC was “literally lying” about climate change. (Fortune)
Technology & Innovation
Copenhagen ‘Big Data’ marketplace set to spur sustainability innovation
Global IT firm Hitachi Consulting has been selected to construct a first-of-its-kind Big Data platform for Denmark’s capital Copenhagen to help achieve its sustainability goals. To develop the platform, the firm will work with the City of Copenhagen, Capital Region, the Danish cluster organization, CLEAN and a consortium of partners. The Copenhagen Big Data project will enable advanced analytics to support city functions such as green infrastructure planning, traffic management and energy usage. The integrated platform will establish a city ‘data marketplace’ for the sale and purchase of data between businesses — and is one of the first times public data and private data volunteered by businesses and citizens will be combined. A report released last year found that smart city technology revenue will grow from $8.8 billion annually worldwide in 2014 to $27.5 billion in 2023. (Sustainable Brands)
Water
Coca-Cola Hellenic slashes 1.1 million cubic metres from water usage
The second largest Coca-Cola bottler in the world has released its latest integrated report, revealing notable gains in water-efficiency, energy use and recycling. The headline figure for a drinks company is its water use, which the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC) reduced by 4% year-on-year. The company invested more than €5.8 million in water saving projects across 20 countries in 2014, including water treatment plant upgrades, reuse of backwashed water, and a rigorous leak-repair programme. In total these efforts saved more than 1.1 million cubic metres of water. Meanwhile, Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions fell by 7.8% year-on-year, partially thanks to increases in energy efficiency. Since 2004, Coca-Cola HBC has seen a 40% reduction in energy use per litre of beverage produced, while overall waste per litre of beverage produced fell by 2.2%. (Edie)
Responsible Investment
Fossil fuels: Scientists draw up investment principles
Climate scientists at leading universities are joining forces to discuss the basis of a set of principles governing investment in fossil fuels. They include academics at Oxford, Imperial CollegeLondon and Harvard. Prof Myles Allen, of Oxford University, said the move was similar to principles governing investment in South Africa under apartheid in the 1980s. “This is a challenging question being put to universities… We have the opportunity here to think about the most constructive approach to the divestment issue,” he said. Last week, students at Oxford University called on its governing body to decide whether to join nearly 200 institutions around the world in cutting investments in fossil fuels. But it deferred the decision, saying the matter would be discussed in May. (BBC News)
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