Renewable energy | The Guardian

Britons will be able to buy ‘balcony’ systems they can install themselves from 27 August thanks to rule change Despite this summer bringing hours of sunshine, many Britons have been unable to cash in on free electricity generated by the sun. Rooftop solar panels are usually out of the question if you live in a flat or rent your home, and the cost has made them prohibitive to many more households.…

Report says ‘solar bonds’ could fund wider access to clean energy, reducing household bills Solar panels could be cheaper for people on lower incomes if the government stepped in to reduce the cost of loans, a report argues. Solar panel installations can save households hundreds of pounds a year in energy bills, but at an initial cost of about £5,000 to £10,000 they are beyond the reach of many h…

It said that was what I was due after I submitted a claim for £300 for energy exported through my solar panels British Gas paid me more than £38,000 by mistake, then had no idea how to reclaim it. I receive quarterly feed-in tariff (Fit) payments for energy exported by my solar panels. In May, I submitted a claim for £300, based on my meter reading, and I received an email stating that I was due …

Rio Tinto makes power supply deal with federal and NSW government to cut emissions and decarbonise, preventing potential closure Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Resources giant Rio Tinto says Australia’s largest aluminium smelter will run entirely on renewable energy by 2033 after it struck a $2.5bn subsidy deal w…

Event expected to curtail solar power just as summer’s fifth heatwave increases use of air conditioning and fans Great Britain is braced to pay millions for backup electricity supplies to prevent a shortfall on Wednesday evening as the near-total solar eclipse is expected to wipe out solar power generation. The government’s electricity grid operator is expected to make multimillion-pound payments…

Modelling finds AI-driven productivity gains in coal, oil and gas enable more emissions than applications in renewables avoid AI-driven productivity gains enable more planet-heating pollution from fossil fuels than they avoid from renewables, a study has found. Researchers modelled the technical potential for AI to boost clean power generation along with projections for how it can help produce co…

Firm urges customers to avoid running washing machines and dishwashers between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday Where in the UK will get the best view of the solar eclipse? Great Britain’s biggest household energy supplier is calling on its customers to use less electricity this week during the deepest solar eclipse in almost 30 years. Octopus Energy has urged customers to avoid running washing machines …

Move to raise levy on goods made with polysilicon aims to protect domestic US supply chains from China, the major producer Donald Trump has ordered a new 15% tariff on imported products made of polysilicon, an important ingredient in microchip manufacturing that is primarily produced by China. The new tariff, which will take effect on 4 December, is aimed at supporting US chip and solar panel sup…

Union says that as a top-rated ethical company, UK’s largest energy firm should welcome its involvement GMB is pushing for union recognition at the UK’s largest energy company, Octopus Energy, known as a progressive organisation with a focus on renewable energy. The union is planning to submit a formal proposal for voluntary recognition at the London-based company and says Octopus, as a top rated…

Energy minister says Australian households and energy reliability will be protected by new federal legislation Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The energy minister, Chris Bowen, says the federal government will override state governments that oppose new national rules on datacentres, with commonwealth legislation f…

Despite most Australians supporting clean technology, the campaign against wind and solar infrastructure has proven to be effective, striking a chord with many of those living in remote and rural areas. So how do we bring everyone along on the transition to a renewable energy-focused future? And who’s putting up roadblocks? The Guardian’s environment and climate correspondent Graham Readfearn joi…

One expert described Nationals leader Matt Canavan’s claim of land used for clean energy as ‘plain wrong and plain silly’ Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates It was all incredibly matey as Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan strode into cattle saleyards near Rockhampton to meet Karl Stefanovic for…

We would like to hear from people who have recently installed renewable energy sources in their home, or considered doing so Great Britain has recorded more new solar power installations in the first half of this year than in any six-month period since 2011, with most of the new panels going onto household rooftops rather than large-scale solar farms. The government’s data also shows a rise in ho…

Boom in solar farms and home installations in first half of 2026 began shortly after start of US-Israel war against Iran Great Britain has recorded more new solar power installations in the first half of this year than in any six-month period since 2011, as households turn to rooftop panels to help cut their energy bills. An analysis of the government’s official figures shows that Great Britain a…

Clean Energy Council calls for a national, legislated scheme to funnel benefits of hosting renewables projects back to local councils Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Organised campaigns against wind and solar energy have proved “extremely effective” in undermining community support for r…

Federal-state stoush comes as rating agency warns that electricity bills could skyrocket Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Queensland and the Northern Territory have rejected the federal government’s plans to mandate that AI datacentres use renewable power, rubbishing Anthony Albanese’s proposals to regulate the boo…

Tories, Reform, fossil fuel industry and some in his party lined up against decarbonisation target as energy secretary “Whenever the Labour party feels a bit sad,” according to one close observer of the current government, speaking some months ago, “they wheel out Ed Miliband to talk about rooftop solar .” It might not have been literally true, but it often felt during Keir Starmer’s premiership …