skip to content skip to navigtion accessibility statement

 

Energy

These pages deal with the Royal Society's papers on the energy needed by our society in all its aspects, including sources of energy, and environmental effects. Globally, the world economy has been accompanied by ever-increasing demand for energy. Currently, a significant fraction of this energy comes from fossil fuels and we are seeing today changes in our biosphere as it absorbs the resulting emissions and waste.

Latest: a discussion group on energy matters: to subscribe go here (energy-talk is under Topics)

Papers from the Royal Society of New Zealand

Papers from New Zealand researchers

Links to other sites 

News 

Below are news headlines. Full articles are available from this site under the 'News, Events, Policy' heading for RSNZ members only. If you'd like to become a member or would like information on member benefits, click here.

27 June 2007:  Vector trials micro-turbines to generate power on the house roof - The award-winning Swift wind turbine from Scotland is capable of producing the equivalent of one third of total electricity requirements for the average NZ household

10 June 2007:  Japan to provide China new coal use technology - Coal liquefaction technology, for the production of petroleum fuels such as gasoline and kerosene

3 June 2007:  News release: NZ children being brainwashed about greenhouse - The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is misleading NZ children about human-cased climate change and its effects, according to NZ Climate Change Coalition

12 May 2007:  Govt targets for biofuels shouldn't be too rigid - Minister - IEA report on NZ says that though the country was on track to its target of 30 petajoules of energy from renewable sources by 2012, it was unlikely to meet its biofuels target of two petajoules by 2012
 
11 April 2007:  Dairy farmers could cut energy costs by as much as 20pc: study - A Massey University study has identified cost-effective methods to reduce energy consumption, both on farms and at a national level

5 April 2007: US Senate panel takes baby steps on climate change - Holds conference on climate change options for big energy users

6 March 2007:  Gas supplies from Huntly coalfield closer to reality - Waikato coal seams could be producing methane gas for commercial supply by 2008 - Solid Energy research

19 February 2007:  EU needs "same voice" for energy policy-draft paper - A highly anticipated paper lays out the groundwork for a common energy policy in the 25-nation bloc by listing priorities for discussion

2 February 2007: UK to make smart electricity meters obligatory - Smart meters could help cut household consumption by between three and 15 percent by encouraging users to switch lights and appliances off

2 January 2007:  Oslo to buy greenhouse quotas when bureaucrats fly - Norway wants to set an example

11 December 2006:  What the three energy-related papers released today say - Initiatives include mandatory labelling of fuel efficientcy, supporting the introduction of renewable fuel, and regulations to facilitate distributed generation of electricity

25 October 2006:  Australian govt set to announce major energy projects today - Pushing clean coal projects and solar power technology

19 October 2006:  Water scarcity seen dampening case for biofuel - Growing biofuel competes for scarce water.

29 September 2006:  Boeing says biofuels show some promise - Growing calls for fuel alternatives for military use, a process likely to feed civil applications as well

20 September 2006: Wind power has potential says report - Australia could be a global wind leader but the industry needs an integrated approach to succeed - Global Wind Energy Council

14 September 2006:  Despite PC drama, new battery tech still years away - Alternative power sources for portable devices like laptops, music players and cellphones could still be up to 10 years away

12 September 2006:  Nuclear power? no way, says energy minister - Says is more expensive, and against nuclear-free policy.

7 August 2006:  Hydrogen is answer to petrol woes, proposes Aust politician - New hydrogen-based technology developed by CSIRO scientists is being trialled in Perth buses.

1 August 2006: Britain, Calif. to study joint climate market links - Tony Blair and Arnold Schwarzenegger to discuss ways to boost alternative energy and to study the potential of markets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

24 July 2006: Commissioner wants new smart meters for all - Morgan Williams formally recommended to the Electricity Commission that it boost energy efficiency by accelerating the implementation of time-of-use billing for electricity

21 July 2006: Scientists sceptical of US government power plant rules - Bush administration plans to ease clean air rules for thousands of aging industrial plants might increase air pollution - National Academy of Sciences.

24 June 2006: Wind farm kills nine eagles in Norway - the white-tailed eagle - Europe's biggest eagle species - is being threatened by a windmill site at Smoela, a key breeding site for the birds.

24 June 2006:  Tidal energy in Cook Straight could power nation - brainchild of Christchurch scientists David Beach and Chris Bathurst.

22 June 2006: Benson-Pope off to environment meeting in Sydney - will focus on climate change, waste management policy, water quality, air quality and chemicals.

21 June 2006: Metservice subsidiary Metra is Wellington's exporter of the year - Metra provides added value weather related products and services to customers around the world.

16 June 2006: Nuclear debate hots up after 4th accident at Lucas Heights - the Australian federal government's nuclear energy inquiry faces intense opposition after the operator of Australia's only nuclear reactor admitted to four accidents in the past week.

16 June 2006: UK private sector raises doubts on nuclear support - the private sector could not shoulder the full clean-up costs of new nuclear power plants in Britain, potential investors say, casting doubts on government claims this week that it would not subsidise new reactors.

10 June 2006:  Japan to provide China new coal liquefaction technology for the production of petroleum fuels such as gasoline and kerosene.

9 June 2006: Autumn 2006 wet in north, dry in south - NIWA summary.

4 June 2006:  NZ company building bus to be powered by metal-air fuel cell - Ashburton's Designline is using technology developed by NASA and JPL in its prototype electric commuter bus.

30 May 2006: At national lab, vehicle research focuses on alternatives to oil - projects underway at Argonne National Laboratory, one of the US Department of Energy's largest research centres.

22 May 2006: Scientists claim breakthrough in fusion energy - problem of containing the plasma now looks solvable.

21 May 2006:  Scientists claim breakthrough in fusion energy - problem of containing the plasma now looks solvable.

20 May 2006:  Australia may develop nuclear power - PM Howard.

23 February 2006:  Bermuda's utility company is proposing to use an underwater generator to harness ocean currents for electricity in this wealthy British territory.

22 February 2006:  Funding for renewable technologies has been restored after earlier cutbacks.  President George W Bush called on Tuesday for tapping renewable energy sources like wind and solar power to contend with surging energy costs but environmental groups questioned his commitment to easing US oil dependence.

21 February 2006:  San Francisco is looking into using dog waste as energy source.  City officials are hoping to harness the power of dog waste in this dog-friendly city where animal faeces make up nearly 4 percent of residential waste.

20 February 2006:  Saying the United States cannot be put in a situation where it is "held hostage" by foreign oil, President George W Bush on Monday outlined his plan to make the US more energy independent.

19 February 2006:  Bush and other officials are hitting the road to tout energy.  Record-high gasoline prices have dropped, yet there are fears another surge is around the corner. Larger heating bills this winter are still socking it to American wallets.

19 February 2006: European Union countries must "speak with the same voice" on energy issues, integrate gas and electricity grids, diversify fuel supplies and lead the world in energy savings, the EU's executive Commission will recommend.

18 February 2006: Investors are still shy of new clean energy technologies because of uncertainty over returns.  As the EU considers a united approach to boost domestic energy supply, investors are still shy of new clean energy technologies because of uncertainty over returns, funds and analysts say.

10 February 2006:  Technology that uses the sun's rays to create steam to power turbines is being revisited as a future energy source.  

13 January 2006:  Environmentalists called it an empty promise that will only benefit big business.  Six of the world's biggest polluters endorsed a voluntary plan Thursday that they claim will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2050, but environmentalists called it an empty promise that will only benefit big business.

12 January 2006:  Brief descriptions of some of those technologies.  Six nations led by the United States and Australia are meeting to combat global warming by promoting cleaner energy technologies. 

10 January 2006:  Key ministers from some of the world's worst polluters are headed to a major global warming conference Wednesday in Australia .  Key ministers from some of the world's worst polluters are headed to a major global warming conference Wednesday in Australia, which has just experienced its hottest year on record.

26 December 2005: A US researcher has designed a miniature windmill that - with a light breeze - could provide enough energy to power a wireless Internet sensor.  A US researcher has designed a miniature windmill that - with a light breeze - could provide enough energy to power a wireless Internet sensor. 

21 December 2005:  Compared the environmental impact, health risks, economic effects and social implications of the use of fossil fuels, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy, and nuclear power.  Nuclear power is a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option in Australia than has been previously thought, researchers say.

14 December 2005:  Norwegians, Dutch mix sea and river to make power, and have developed devices to harness power from energy unleashed when river water meets the ocean and changes its level of salt concentration.

News from 2005

 

© The Royal Society of New Zealand
MoST Content Management V3.0.3671