Vauxhall Ampera Charging (Image: OLEV)

The Coming Electrification of Everything

At Obvious Ventures, we believe stored electricity, increasingly derived from renewable sources, will entirely replace fossil fuels as the preferred method to power everything in our lives. From cars to scooters to boats to locomotives to industrial equipment, we are in the midst of a transition that will electrify everything previously driven by combustion. There

Two pictures of Beijing taken 24 hours apart show the Chinese capital engulfed by smog earlier this month (Image: Rex)

Climate change is the challenge of our generation

Consumers and businesses will have to be more energy-efficient and switch to alternatives to fossil fuels [From 4 December} The Paris climate change summit will conclude at the end of next week. It aims to reach an international agreement on limiting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are contributing to global warming.

Renault electric vehicles propelled by wind power into the Outer Hebrides

10 Renault electric vehicles available to hire in the Outer Hebrides EVs powered by renewable energy generated by the islands’ wind turbines 100% electric ZOE supermini and Kangoo Van Z.E. ideal for rural and urban areas Vehicles available to hire on an hourly or daily basis New six turbine wind farm to power Outer Hebrides

Electricity supply sources Q2 2015 (Image: UK gov)

Renewables beat coal in UK electricity mix

Some good news on renewables – despite government policy. Often when we talk about countries breaking renewable energy records, we focus on momentary spikes caused by exceptionally sunny or windy days. While these records are, in and of themselves, important—they still leave a bigger question hanging: How does the electricity grid cope when the sun

Turbines tower over corn fields in Iowa (Image: D. Graham)

Technical advances making wind power viable everywhere

An interesting and detailed discussion of the technology behind wind power and how it’s changing Wind power is often described as relying on “mature technology” and, in many contexts, that’s correct. Today, well-sited wind farms in the US and EU generate electricity at a lower cost than coal. But numerous difficulties remain with the way