To help you keep up to date with this week’s events we’ve gathered together some of the top energy related news stories. You can follow us on Twitter too.

Huhne promises green energy speed up

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has promised that Britain will increase the amount of renewably sourced energy over the next decade, outstripping the rest of Europe. This comes as oil prices this week hit their highest in over two years. 

To see just how well the ‘greenest government ever’ is doing, take a look at The Guardians green-o-meter.

Wind Power provides push to hit EU renewable energy targets

The EU is on track to supersede its 2020 target of 20% of generated energy to come from renewable sources, according to a report from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) published this week. A great way to start 2011, we now need to raise the bar even higher so we can be 100% renewable by 2050. 

Solar gold rush begins for Cornwall

Cornwall Council has approved a 5MW solar farm on the Lanhydrock Estate near Bodmin. This comes at a time when Feed-in Tariff payments are under threat for larger solar projects. The solar farm is to supply the neighboring water treatment works, and the developer, Cornwall Power, expects to have it generating electricity by the autumn 2011.



Marine renewables could create 5000 South West jobs

A report issued by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) has predicted 5000 jobs could be created within the marine renewable sector. This will be led by offshore wind turbines and is likely to offer a £4.8 billion boost to the economy.

Good Energy’s pathway to a 100% renewable future for the UK sees offshore wind playing an increasingly large role, and this forecast highlights the economic importance of continuing investment into the renewable industry.

Scotland to power ahead with renewables says WWF

The WWF Scotland suggests the country should be aiming high and heading for 100% renewably sourced energy by 2020. This is ahead of the UK as a whole which is obliged to meet 15% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020 under EU Renewable Energy Directive, a bold ambition in line with Good Energy’s 100% renewable by 2050 pathway, and one we applaud.

And finally …

One of the world’s most iconic buildings, the Empire State Building in New York, has signed a deal to purchase more than 100 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of wind energy over the next two years – more than twice as much as any other commercial building in the city. We’d like to see other iconic buildings around the world following suit … from St. Paul’s Cathedral to the Sydney Opera House.