An experimental jumbo-jet sized plane powered by solar energy left Switzerland Thursday for its first transcontinental flight. After stopping in Spain, the pilot hopes to arrive in Morocco next week.
Finding a truly renewable energy source is a task scientists the world over are faced with. Transforming plants into "biofuels" was once a great hope, but the process requires energy and so may actually contribute to global warming. This week we explore whether a new generation of biofuels could succeed where the previous one failed.
The German government plans to decommission its nuclear plants by 2022 and to obtain 80% of all energy from renewables by 2050. Today, renewable energy sources already account for nearly a fifth of Germany's electricity, but the construction and transfer of wind energy from offshore farms is not making as much headway as had been expected.
The future of nuclear power is in question once again. Power plants around the world are being subjected to strict safety checks. Europe is somewhat divided on the issue. France is traditionally nuclear power's biggest cheerleader, but a new deal between the Socialists and the Green party means this could be about to change.
The future of nuclear power is in question once again. Power plants around the world are being subjected to strict safety checks. Europe is somewhat divided on the issue. France is traditionally nuclear power's biggest cheerleader, but a new deal between the Socialists and the Green party means this could be about to change.
Germany is debating how to generate its electricity in the coming decades. After the Fukushima disaster, German voters made it clear they wanted to close the country's nuclear reactors. However, this means coming up with a substitute for nuclear power fast, since Germany currently relies on nuclear power for nearly a quarter of its electricity needs. Now, it seems, they may just have found the answer.
France is trying to become a wind energy powerhouse, investing 10 billion euros to build new turbines. The country is trying to catch up with other European nations, but will the investment be enough? In this edition of Beyond Business we look at what’s become a booming wind market.
Are renewable sources really the answer to Germany's nuclear U-turn, a decision that has left a gaping hole in the energy landscape? This week’s show asks how the world will cope if nuclear continues to fall out of favour.
Spain has become one of the leading producers of renewable energy in the space of a few years. France 24 takes you behind the scenes of this Spanish success story.
