Whitepaper

To limit global warming as much as possible, organisations and governments are committed to various CO2 reduction objectives. These objectives are to be reached through different levers: new regulations and carbon taxation systems, energy efficiency technologies, consumption reduction targets, and the use of more sustainable energy sources. However, due to the high carbon concentrations level already reached (414 ppm in May 2019), these measures will not be enough to stay under a maximum of +2°C increase target. Carbon will also need to be removed from the atmosphere…

When you think about wind energy, you might think of those large wind farms you’ve passed while driving along highways, on your train rides, or perhaps you think about those huge offshore installations near the coast. Large scale wind turbines are skyrocketing, becoming more and more efficient with today’s ever-evolving technology. The current tallest wind turbine is only a few dozens of meters short of being the same size as the Eiffel Tower…

After being used, some nuclear substances remain highly radioactive for thousands of years and their management and disposal is therefore essential for our safety. Among nuclear waste producers, the power industry is one of the main contributors as it generates around 1/3 of total nuclear waste. Reducing radioactive waste implies quitting nuclear power. As part of a series of articles about nuclear power [2], this one will seek to draw a clear picture of nuclear waste production and management, and enlighten the reader about the main challenges at stake with this sector.

In 2006, only 0.03% of the worldwide CO2 emissions were compensated for. But since then, the number of companies adopting offsetting practices has been growing. Accordingly, offsetting has also been criticized quite a bit, being called an excuse for avoiding changing a company’s polluting processes and practices that would be compensated through an investment elsewhere. This Whitepaper sheds light on the ways in which companies offset today and how they can take advantages of this practice. It ultimately gives food for thought to companies about taking part in a recent type of offsetting called insetting, which could be an answer to the potential abuses of offsetting.

Save lives. This is the motto of pharmaceutical companies. They develop and produce drugs to cure diseases. They engage in years-long research to find the new combination of molecules that is going to enhance the population’s health. Still, the environmental impact of the industry must also be considered. Indeed, don’t we ever hear how big this industry’s impact is on our planet? Don’t we sometimes read in the media that some pharmaceutical-producing company was not able to control its water effluents and released some strongly-polluting substance?

This paper highlights the overall impact of VGs on typical wind farms from a technical point of view. First, we begin with an introduction on the need for VGs and the working principle, then we delve into some factors to consider in terms of maximizing VG efficiency. Subsequently, the estimated impact on Annual Energy Production (AEP), the environment and the turbines are analysed before we offer our conclusion.

Greenfish explains the ins and outs of the history of biofuel development in Europe. Below, we give you details about the different types of biofuels and their growth over the years. We then delve into the scientific reasons behind the main criticisms of biofuels, and we conclude with a summary of the current state of European legislations, opening the discussion on the appropriate decarbonization options for Member States.

Two underlying concepts determine our perception of nuclear energy and how safe it is: its enormous energetic content and its poisonous potential due to ionizing radiation. This paper aims to shed light on the underlying disagreements in the academic and political discussions surrounding human safety in nuclear power in order to challenge our beliefs and emotions. It is part of a series of White Papers on the subject of the different elements of the nuclear energy debate, previously presented by Greenfish in this paper.

The development of advanced energy storage technologies is a critical factor in the success of the decarbonisation of modern economies. Over the last few years, they have played a major role in the growth and evolution of the energy, automotive and electronic appliances sectors. While multiple technologies exist encompassing pump-hydro, compressed air, flywheels and batteries; Li-ion technologies have provided the energy and power requirements to meet the technical demands of these three sectors.

How much do you think does road congestion cost to the EU? 130 billion euros per year. That is close to 1% of the EU’s GDP according to the European Urban Mobility report of the EU Commission published in 2017. This same year, London was the first most congested city in Europe (7th worldwide), followed by Paris (12th). Compared to 2016, cities such as Brussels have improved: the Belgian capital jumped from the 71st to the 101st place in 2017. But it still does not mean that its mobility situation is ideal.