On March 2023 a road at Penrith NSW become the first in Australia to include recycled coffee cups, the result of a project between State Asphalt Services and Closed Loop, the operator of the Simply Cups recycling program.Closed Loop said the paper cups were a beneficial additive, and the roads had improved pavement durability and crack resistance, as well as wet weather skid resistance, a 24 per cent lower carbon footprint, and reduced noise levels.https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/recycled-coffee-cups-in-penrith-roads-an-australian-first

Not a new idea - to charge households for their excess solar-generated electricity - but controversial. The Sun tax concept is getting closer, but not much clearer, as networks outline their plans.Ausgrid will introduce opt-in export pricing for households in July 2024 including both a charge component and reward component, depending on the time of day.Essential Energy's solar tariff is a combination of its existing Sun Soaker tariff plus an export price and rebate.Endeavour is proposing a similar scheme but stretched out to 2029.The good news - all the schemes will encourage batteries installation.https://reneweconomy.com.au/sun-tax-gets-closer-but-not-much-clearer-as-networks-outline-solar-export-tariff-plans/

Parking lots across France will soon be covered with solar canopies under a new law passed earlier this month, prompting calls for

The Ukraine war has pressured fossil fuel pricing, created shortages and encouraged more use of coal in the short term. However, it has also accelerated the green transition.Warm weather and greater energy efficiency means Europe has used 6-8% less electricity this winter. And around the world, capital is being mobilised to make economies more frugal. Last year governments, households and firms together spent $560bn on energy efficiency. Much of this was spent on electric vehicles and heat pumps, with almost doubled sales in both 2021 and 2022. Reason for hope?https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/02/13/war-and-subsidies-have-turbocharged-the-green-transition?Also see Energy Transition Web

Based on the methods of Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, and refined by Indian engineer Shubhendu Sharma, Tiny Forests are a small-scale regeneration method with a big impact. By densely planting a mix of native species at four different levels (shrubs, sub-tree, tree and tall canopy) tiny forests can grow 10 times faster than lineal, single species forests and provide 100 times greater biodiversity. Since 2015, when the Netherlands established their first Tiny Forest, there are now over 100 in existence. With the Tiny Forest and Miyawaki movements picking up all over the world.

Natural seawater as an “almost infinite” feedstock for green hydrogen - that's the promise - following just-released research led by scientists at the University of Adelaide. Undertaken with Universities also in China and America, Associate Professor Yao Zheng said “Our work provides a solution to directly utilise seawater without pre-treatment systems and alkali addition, which shows similar performance as that of existing metal-based mature pure water electrolyser.”See article below and also hear Idea Spies Energy Editor Kylie Hargreaves speak about this Tuesday 7th Feb 6pm via Climate & Peace webinar: www.climateandpeace.com.auhttps://www.innovationa