Quick Dips
Curated topical articles on the Blue Economy

Cop26: ‘World conflict and chaos’ could be the result of a summit failure

• Fiona Harvey, The Guardian • Energy Solutions

Top climate official issues strong warning on effect of unchecked greenhouse gases ahead of summit.

Read more → (4 minute read)


The energy transition needs metals. But it needs social awareness too

• El-Shahat, S. et al., World Economic Forum • Energy Solutions

Increased interest in ESG investing means metals extraction must take into account its social risks.

Read more → (5 minute read)


Students’ solar-powered camper van turns heads on 1,800-mile road trip

• Weronika Strzyżyńska, The Guardian • Energy Solutions

Dutch team designed and built two-person van with kitchen, bed, shower, loo and range of up to 450 miles a day.

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‘False choice’: is deep-sea mining required for an electric vehicle revolution?

• Karen McVeigh, The Guardian • Energy Solutions

Deep sea mining firms claim their rare metals are necessary to power clean tech – but with even major electric car firms now backing a moratorium, critics say there is an alternative.

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What are blue carbon credits and how to maximise their impact

• Whitney Johnston, World Economic Forum • Energy Solutions • Fisheries & Aquaculture

As demand grows for blue carbon credits, the businesses driving this growth have a responsibility to ensure returns are net positive for nature and people.

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Blue Carbon: A new frontier for ocean conservation

• Dan Crockett, Blue Marine Foundation • Energy Solutions

In June this year, immediately ahead of the G7, Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) held a one-day Blue Carbon Conference.

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The world’s biggest carbon-sucking machine is switching on in Iceland

• Tim McDonnell, Quartz/WEF • Energy Solutions

We have to start removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to have any chance of averting the worst impacts of global warming, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said last month.

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3 steps towards making aviation and marine fuel cleaner

• Anjan Ray, World Economic Forum • Energy Solutions • Shipping & Ports

On the current trajectory, sustainable fuels will only supply a small percentage of aviation and shipping needs. Favourable government policies are needed to increase production and adoption of sustainable fuels in both sectors.

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Floating wind turbines could open up vast ocean tracts for renewable power

• Paola Rosa-Aquino, The Guardian • Energy Solutions

Technology could help power a clean energy transition if it can overcome hurdles of cost, design and opposition from fishing.

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Energy at sea: the future of blue power

• World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group • Energy Solutions

Power generated at sea has enormous potential to help decarbonise the world’s energy systems, but the sector needs to scale up fast.

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Blue hydrogen – what is it, and should it replace natural gas?

• Tom Baxter, The Conversation • Energy Solutions

Blue hydrogen is often touted as a low-carbon fuel for generating electricity and storing energy, powering cars, trucks and trains and heating buildings.

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Key takeaways from the U.N. climate panel's report

• Andrea Januta, Reuters • Energy Solutions

The U.N. climate panel has released its most comprehensive assessment of climate change yet. Here are some of the report's main conclusions.

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Monday’s IPCC report is a really big deal for climate change. So what is it? And why should we trust it?

• David Karoly, The Conversation • Energy Solutions

On Monday, an extremely important report on the physical science of climate change will be released to the world.

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World’s most powerful tidal turbine pumps out greener electricity in Scotland

• Sean Fleming, World Economic Forum • Energy Solutions

The world’s most powerful tidal energy turbine is in operation in Orkney, off the northern shores of mainland Scotland.

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Is deep-sea mining in the Arctic a good idea?

• Anita Parlow, World Ocean Initiative • Energy Solutions • Shipping & Ports

A guest blog by Anita Parlow, expert on Arctic shipping, energy and infrastructure.

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Deep-Sea Mining Not Necessary for Renewable Energy Transition, Experts Argue

• Olivia Rosane, EcoWatch • Energy Solutions

Do we really need to put ocean ecosystems at risk in order to transition to a renewable-energy economy?

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Creating zero-emission aviation with hydrogen and electric power

• Timothy Reuter & David Hyde, World Economic Forum • Energy Solutions • Tourism

The path to zero emissions for the aviation sector by 2050 requires a combination of solutions where new propulsion and fuel technologies will play a major role.

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Offshore wind turbines could number 30,000 by 2030 – new ideas in ocean engineering are needed to install them

• Susan Gourvenec & Rebecca Sykes, The Conversation • Energy Solutions

Green energy developers hope to exploit the faster winds that blow offshore and allow larger turbines to generate more electricity than their onshore equivalents.

Read more → (5 minute read)


‘I can see the industry disappearing’: US fishermen sound alarm at plans for offshore wind

• Maddie Stone, The Guardian • Energy Solutions • Fisheries & Aquaculture

Fishermen say their concerns, from safety issues to how offshore wind will alter the ocean environment, aren’t being meaningfully considered by regulators

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Net zero goals need revival of 'forgotten giant' hydropower, IEA says

• Nora Buli, Reuters • Energy Solutions

Low-carbon hydropower capacity is vital for a faster integration of wind and solar power, but its growth is set to slow by 23% this decade without a sweeping policy and investment push, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday.

Read more → (2 minute read)