News Elsewhere contains mainly articles we have permission to republish from Views of Scotland and Country Guardian. You can learn more about these organisations by visiting: http://www.countryguardian.net/ and http://www.viewsofscotland.org/. Occasionally we will also post news from elsewhere on the web.
A new best practice guide to seismic survey work aims to help oil, gas and offshore renewable energy project developers scope out potential sites without causing stress to whales and other marine species. http://www.energyvoice.com/2014/01/new-seismic-guide-aims-reduce-stress-whales-marine-species/
The gap in energy costs between Europe and its leading trading partners is widening, according to an official paper to be released by Brussels that shows industrial electricity prices in the region are more than double those in the US and 20 per cent higher than China’s. http://www.thegwpf.org/eu-energy-costs-widen-a-real-emergency-europe/
The high growth rates in offshore wind energy have led to an influx of new installation ships and new concepts being considered as turbine and park designs get bigger. http://www.farminguk.com/News/Navigating-the-future-of-offshore-wind-energy_27153.html
The battle against global warming is being put at risk by far-left extremists in the green movement who are resisting a moderate consensus on issues such as fracking, the government’s independent adviser on climate change has warned. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/20/fracking-lord-deben-climate-change
The remarkable discovery that a bat the size of a human thumb managed to fly from a village in the West Country all the way to the north of Holland could scupper future plans for vast off-shore wind farms, it was revealed yesterday. http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Tiny-bat-flies-Blagdon-Somerset-Friesland-Holland/story-20470452-detail/story.html
Plans for two 47-metre wind turbines directly facing Rothesay Bay are due to be considered by Argyll and Bute councillors this week. http://www.buteman.co.uk/news/community-news/toward-wind-turbine-plans-still-unacceptable-1-3274796
Renewable energy to power around half of Scotland could be harnessed from the tides in a single stretch of water off the north coast of the country, according to new research. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/environment/north-coast-tides-could-power-half-of-scotland-say-scientists.23212979
Germany’s economy minister wants to cut the support price paid for electricity from solar and wind power generators by about a third by 2015, according to a draft proposal for one of the most challenging economic reforms facing Chancellor Angela Merkel’s new government. http://www.theage.com.au/business/carbon-economy/germany-eyes-cuts-of-a-third-to-renewable-energy-support-by-2015-20140120-313bx.html