Editor's view: all in the science

All in the science
The conclusion of Sir Muir Russell’s inquiry into the hacked emails of climate scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) will help lift confidence in the green business sector. The review criticised the scientists for displaying a lack of openness, but crucially cleared them of "withholding data". While its conclusions will do little to change the hardened views of climate sceptics, it should repair some of the damage done by the scandal, dubbed 'Climategate’. It broke just before crucial UN talks in Copenhagen in December to negotiate a new international climate treaty – and while it had only some bearing on their failure to deliver, its effect on public and business confidence in climate science has been the most felt. The review’s findings will restore some of the faith that has been lost over the past months in the fight against climate change.

Doing away with fossil fuels
The news that Germany could become 100 per cent renewable by 2050 will be viewed with interest by its neighbouring countries, not least the UK. Where Germany goes on green energy, the UK seems to follow – although at a much slower pace. So the prediction by Germany’s Federal Environment Agency that the country could become the first major industrial power in the world to do away completely with fossil fuels, is likely to spur investment in green energy, but will also increase demand for renewable technologies and skills – something the UK needs to prepare for.

Renewable ambitions
The UK coalition Government this week claimed it was going to be even more ambitious on renewables than the previous one. Wind and bioenergy will be the key technologies deployed and anaerobic digestion was the subject of a round table discussion hosted by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on Tuesday. The meeting was well received by the renewables industry, but it’s action rather than words the industry needs now. Without a clear financial framework in place shortly, business confidence will soon wane.

Community microgeneration
Bioenergy looks set to play a big part in the development of microgeneration at community level and a story broken this week by GreenWise demonstrates the part the supermarkets are increasingly going to play in this market. Waitrose is seeking planning permission to build a biomass plant to power a new store it is building in East Cowes, Isle of Wight. The scheme would provide all the electricity, heating and cooling needs for the 18,000 square foot store plus some surrounding developments. Not only will it enable the retail outlet to go 'off grid’ but it will as Waitrose puts it, provide "income and employment for local producers" of wood chip, which will be sourced entirely from managed woodlands on the island. Expect to see more of this type of renewable project going forward.