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Belgium, Renewables, Energy
Powering the future: could Europe go dark?
Powering the future: could Europe go dark?
February’s blackout in Brussels left neighbourhoods in darkness, streets lit only by headlights and torches. You may be left thinking it was the symptom of a sick system.
Assessing wind resources in our cities
Assessing wind resources in our cities
The 43-story Strata tower in London was one of the first buildings in the world to incorporate wind turbines into its structure. It has three small turbines – each with a rated capacity of 19 kilowatt hours – built into its roof.
Gauging public opinion on small wind turbines
Gauging public opinion on small wind turbines
Recent studies suggest that around 70 to 80 percent of people in Europe support wind farms, although there are still concerns around noise and aesthetics.
Gone with the wind farms – Six of the world’s top offshore arrays in pictures
Gone with the wind farms – Six of the world’s top offshore arrays in pictures
United Kingdom - London Array With a peak rated power of 630 megawatts, London Array is the largest wind farm in Europe by capacity, and also the largest offshore plant in the world.
How to measure the quality of life in smart cities?
How to measure the quality of life in smart cities?
From pollution levels and the number of traffic accidents to safer public spaces and more efficient heating in buildings:  to what extent can the smartness of a city be quantified?  And  is it possible to measure the quality of life  for an urban area through numerical parameters? It’s all about collecting data that is reliable and making sense of the numbers afterwards.
Smart grid: A grid suitable for renewable energy
Smart grid: A grid suitable for renewable energy
Traditionally our electricity grids were designed to move power from large nuclear and fossil fuel power plants to consumers, but renewable energy will see changes to allow smaller power generation from wind and solar to be hooked up to the grid.
When public buildings get smart: new technologies and tailor-made solutions for users
When public buildings get smart: new technologies and tailor-made solutions for users
Cooling and heating public buildings remains an expensive and a mostly unresolved issue in Europe. According to the not-for-profit think-tank Buildings Performance Institute Europe , Spain has about 11.
Modular facades for tailored retrofitting
Modular facades for tailored retrofitting
Innovative solutions are required to improve the energy efficiency of the existing residential building stock in Europe. But combining such innovation with better management and new business models creates unique retrofitting opportunities .
Energy efficient building in the public eye
Energy efficient building in the public eye
The heating and cooling of buildings take a large share in the energy consumption in Europe . The average energy consumption in the non-residential sector, such as public and industrial buildings, is estimated to be at least 40% greater than in the residential sector.
Air conditioning control goes wireless
Air conditioning control goes wireless
The quest for energy efficiency has become a modern mantra. But developing new energy sources and production methods is not sufficient.
Circularity in the building sector: What to learn from Apollo 13 and The Truman Show
Circularity in the building sector: What to learn from Apollo 13 and The Truman Show
You might have watched “The Truman Show”, been excited by space missions, and replaced your bed light without noticing it, but the movie with Jim Carrey, Apollo 13, and lightbulbs all have something in common with circularity.
Too much demand for the existing infrastructure. The renewables communities’ paradox in the energy crisis era
Too much demand for the existing infrastructure. The renewables communities’ paradox in the energy crisis era
“ At the end of last year, we were so overwhelmed that we had to start rejecting new membership demands .” Dirk Vansintjan is a board member of EcoPower , a Belgian renewable energy cooperative, founded in 1991.
Refusing to fold: can paper manufacturers face down energy challenges?
Refusing to fold: can paper manufacturers face down energy challenges?
The world of online digital media marches forward relentlessly, but many of us still prefer the feel and enjoyment of a good book in our hands, or a newspaper to while away a quiet moment.
Joining forces to finance renewables: the investment platform model
Joining forces to finance renewables: the investment platform model
Santa Casa da Misericordia de Serpa is a well-established Portuguese social institution that runs hospitals, nursing homes and housing projects for elderly.
From 100% renewable energy to greenwashing: 50 shades of green
From 100% renewable energy to greenwashing: 50 shades of green
Francesco is an Italian lawyer. He lives in Rome and is now about to move into a new apartment. “It’s a way to get closer to my office,” he says. “I don’t have a car, I just ride bicycle.
How battery systems can integrate renewable energy in smart grids
How battery systems can integrate renewable energy in smart grids
Wind and solar energy is not constant and therefore a renewables-based society requires smart grids to transport this power from areas where electricity generation is currently high to those where it is low in order to meet demand.
How supergrids can support the integration of renewable energy
How supergrids can support the integration of renewable energy
In the past, most electricity grids were mainly based on centrally produced power, in relatively few plants, within national borders.
Households poised to become energy dealers
Households poised to become energy dealers
Households and small businesses using independent power systems, or microgrids, still find it hard to cope without their national electricity grids.
Creating Europe’s new backbone for efficient power distribution
Creating Europe’s new backbone for efficient power distribution
Over the last few decades the energy landscape has been changing drastically in Europe. An increasing amount of electricity is now generated from renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy.