By Julian Singer Hydrogen is often considered as a means for storing electricity, using electrolysers to make the hydrogen and fuel cells to convert it back to electricity. However, there are two downsides to using hydrogen for storage: it has very low density, so that in practice you either need a large underground cavern or, [...]
By Julian Singer The desperate need to store electricity has stimulated the development of some surprising techniques. One of these is based on the rusting of iron. The basic principle is that electrons are produced when iron rusts in the presence of water and oxygen. Conversely, if an electrical current is applied to rust the [...]
By Julian Singer Greenbarrel last examined the performance of AIM-listed renewable energy stocks in April 2022. Since then, we have had the continuing disruption of the war in Ukraine with its effect on energy prices, at the same time as much of the world is facing high inflation and higher interest rates. Closer to home [...]
By Julian Singer Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS) has had a rocky history in the UK. Ten years ago the coalition government offered to provide £1bn to support the winner of a competition between two proposed projects, but this was later cancelled. The Energy White Paper of December 2020 then committed to spend £1bn [...]
By Julian Singer Nuclear power plants currently generate about 15 per cent of the UK’s electricity supply. The government’s Energy White Paper, published in December 2020, predicted that nuclear would supply between 16 and 23 per cent of the total by 2050. In the same year the Climate Change Committee, an independent public body, predicted [...]
By Julian Singer The large second quarter profits generated by Shell and BP again raise concerns that too little investment is being made in renewable energy compared to oil and gas. A quick look at the FTSE listings highlights the concern: of the 145 companies listed in the Energy sector (Main Market and AIM), only [...]
By Julian Singer On 26 September Atome Energy issued a trading update for the six months to 30 June 2022, the first such announcement since it listed on AIM in December 2021. Atome claims to be the only pure international green hydrogen and ammonia production company on the LSE. This may well be true, although [...]
By Julian Singer Simec Atlantis Energy had a tough year in 2021. The company is mainly known for its tidal stream turbines located in the Pentland Firth in the north of Scotland, but in recent years it has tried to diversify into other renewables. In 2017 the company purchased the closed Uskmouth coal-fired power station [...]
By Julian Singer Geothermal energy is heat from the earth’s core that had arrived near the surface where it can be exploited. Proponents point to the very large amount of heat available, whereas pessimists point to the cost of exploiting all but the easiest sources, and sometimes query whether it is truly sustainable. Nevertheless, based [...]
By Julian Singer Verditek was formed in 2016 to identify business opportunities in the clean technology sector. It initially invested in three companies, one making flexible solar panels and two making different types of air filter. The company now focusses on solar panels manufactured at its factory in Milan with only a minor interest in [...]