The United Kingdom has taken a significant step in advancing sustainable aviation by approving an increase in the co-processing blend limit for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from 5% to 30%. This decision, endorsed by the UK Ministry of Defence and incorporated into Defence Standard 91-091, aims to accelerate the production and adoption of SAF within the aviation sector.

Safety is paramount in aviation fuel standards. The updated Defence Standard 91-091 ensures that SAF produced through co-processing meets stringent aviation fuel specifications. This standard aligns with global benchmarks, such as ASTM D1655, guaranteeing that the fuel is compatible with existing aircraft engines and infrastructure. Industry stakeholders, including BP and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), have collaborated to achieve this milestone, emphasizing the fuel’s safety and performance.

Britain’s Leadership in Sustainable Aviation

It’s not just Virgin Atlantic or the hope for sustainable space travel: By increasing the co-processing blend limit, the UK positions itself as a leader in sustainable aviation. This move allows for the integration of renewable feedstocks, such as waste oils and fats, into existing refinery processes, facilitating a faster and more cost-effective path to SAF production. The approach reduces the need for constructing new facilities, thereby accelerating the availability of cleaner aviation fuels.

While the adoption of SAF represents a significant advancement in reducing aviation’s carbon footprint, it’s important to recognize that SAF is not a complete solution. The production and use of SAF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel, depending on the feedstock and production methods.

However, challenges remain, including feedstock availability, production scalability, and economic factors. Therefore, while SAF contributes to more sustainable air travel, achieving guilt-free flying will require a combination of technological advancements, policy support, and broader systemic changes in the aviation industry.

Looking for a green and principled investments in SAF? 

Several companies are actively involved in the research, development, and production of sustainable aviation fuels. Some prominent examples include:

1. Neste: A Finnish company known for its renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production. Neste is one of the largest producers of SAF globally and has partnerships with various airlines and airports.
2. Gevo is a NASDAQ-traded US-based company that focuses on developing bio-based alternatives to petroleum-based products. They are actively working on producing SAF from renewable feedstocks such as corn, wood waste, and other sustainable sources.
3. Velocys is a British company specializing in sustainable aviation fuels and renewable diesel. They use gasification and Fischer-Tropsch technology to convert waste biomass into fuels suitable for aviation.
4. World Energy: This company, formerly known as AltAir Fuels, is based in the United States and produces renewable diesel and SAF from various feedstocks, including waste fats, oils, and greases.
5. Shell: While primarily known as an oil and gas company, Shell has been investing in renewable energy and alternative fuels, including sustainable aviation fuels. They are involved in various projects and partnerships aimed at developing SAF technologies.
6. SkyNRG: A Dutch company dedicated to developing and supplying sustainable aviation fuels. They collaborate with airlines, airports, and other stakeholders to promote the adoption of SAF in the aviation industry.
7. The NASDAQ-traded XCF. XCF Global aims to be a leading producer of SAFs with an initial annual production capacity of 38 million gallons following the acquisition of New Rise Renewables, which owns a flagship plant and adjacent site in Reno, Nevada.XCF will be the only pure-play public SAF producer in the US market, with competition mainly coming from legacy crude oil providers.

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Overview of the Solar Energy Landscape in These Regions

In Kent, Essex, and London, the shift towards renewable energy is gaining remarkable momentum, with solar power at the forefront. Each region, with its unique characteristics, is contributing significantly to the UK’s solar energy adoption.

Kent, known as the “Garden of England,” offers ideal rural landscapes for solar installations, aligning with its commitment to natural beauty and clean energy. Essex, with its mix of countryside and urban centres, is embracing solar energy for environmental and economic benefits. Residential and large-scale solar farms are becoming increasingly common here.

London, despite its urban density, is actively participating in the solar revolution. Rooftops across the city are transforming into power-generating assets, contributing to the capital’s sustainability goals. Innovative community solar projects and government incentives are making solar energy feasible and attractive in the bustling metropolis.

This growing trend of solar panel installation across these areas reflects a broader national shift towards sustainable energy. Driven by environmental awareness, rising energy costs, and the desire for energy independence, solar energy is becoming a preferred choice for many in Kent, Essex, and London.

Understanding Solar Panel Technology and Its Benefits

How Solar Panels Work

Solar panels, or photovoltaic (PV) panels, are marvels of modern technology, capable of converting sunlight into electricity. They consist of many solar cells made from layers of silicon, phosphorus, and boron. When sunlight hits these cells, it generates an electric field, producing electricity. This process is entirely clean, harnessing the sun’s natural energy without emitting greenhouse gases.

The UK, including Kent, Essex, and London, experiences sufficient daylight hours to make solar panels effective, even on overcast days. Modern solar technology has advanced to the point where it is efficient and productive, regardless of the weather variations these regions experience.

Environmental and Financial Benefits Specific to Kent, Essex, and London

The adoption of solar panels in Kent, Essex, and London offers significant environmental and financial benefits. Environmentally, they provide a clean, renewable source of energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This is crucial in tackling climate change and preserving the natural beauty of regions like Kent and Essex, as well as improving air quality in urban areas like London.

Financially, solar panels represent a smart investment. After the initial installation cost, the savings on electricity bills become evident. In Kent and Essex, homeowners with larger properties can generate significant energy, sometimes even selling excess back to the grid under schemes like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). In London, solar panels can help reduce the high cost of urban living, offering long-term financial benefits.

Solar panels not only contribute to a greener planet but also offer a practical solution to rising energy costs, making them an increasingly popular choice in these regions.

Navigating Solar Panel Installation: Process and Providers

The process of solar panel installation in Essex is straightforward, with a focus on maximising the potential of both rural and suburban settings. Homeowners and businesses need to select a reputable provider who can assess their specific energy needs and site conditions. The installation involves site evaluation, panel selection, and a professional setup. In Essex, the emphasis is on blending the panels with the natural and architectural aesthetics of the area.

When Installing solar panels in London you can face unique challenges due to urban density. However, the city’s innovative approach to solar energy includes solutions like shared solar for apartment buildings and solar installations on commercial properties. Providers in London are adept at navigating these challenges, ensuring that even in a bustling city, solar energy is a viable option.

For solar panel installation in Kent, the process mirrors that of Essex, with additional focus on protecting the county’s historical and natural beauty. Providers in Kent are experienced in installing solar panels in a variety of settings, ensuring efficiency and minimal visual impact.

In all three regions, choosing the right provider is crucial. They should offer comprehensive services from initial consultation to installation and aftercare. Reliable providers ensure compliance with all regulations and maximise the efficiency and longevity of the solar panels.

Government Incentives and Support for Solar Energy

In the UK, government incentives significantly enhance the appeal of solar panel installation, with specific benefits available in Kent, Essex, and London.

In Essex, Solar panel installation is supported by various local and national incentives. These include grants and subsidies that reduce the initial cost of installation, making solar energy more accessible to a wider audience. Homeowners and businesses in Essex can take advantage of these financial aids to offset the upfront investment and enjoy long-term savings.

Solar panel installations in London benefit from the city’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions. Urban solar projects often qualify for additional incentives, including tax benefits and enhanced feed-in tariffs. This governmental support is vital in making solar panel installations feasible and attractive in high-density areas like London, where environmental impact is a significant concern.

In Kent, Solar panel installation is also supported by government schemes. These incentives are designed not only to encourage solar adoption but also to preserve the county’s natural landscape. By offering financial benefits, the government aims to make solar panels an appealing option for both residential and commercial properties in Kent.

Across these regions, the government’s supportive stance, through subsidies and schemes like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), adds to the financial and ecological attractiveness of solar energy. These incentives play a pivotal role in the growing adoption of solar panels in Kent, Essex, and London.

Future Trends in Solar Energy

The trajectory of solar energy in Kent, Essex, and London is marked by promising technological innovations.

In Kent, the integration of solar technology with the region’s heritage is key. Emerging technologies like building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are set to blend with Kent’s historic landscapes.

Essex’s focus is on enhancing efficiency and accessibility of solar energy. Advancements in panel efficiency and residential battery storage will enable greater energy independence for its residents.

London’s urban solar future hinges on smart solar solutions. Innovations such as smart grids and community solar initiatives are poised to transform solar usage in densely populated areas, aligning with London’s sustainability goals.

These trends indicate a bright future for solar energy in these regions, driven by innovation, ecological awareness, and policy support. Solar energy is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of the energy mix in Kent, Essex, and London.

The post From Rooftops to Savings: The Solar Panel Journey in Kent, Essex, and London appeared first on Green Prophet.

Cycling, e-biking or walking can help tackle the climate crisis – even if you swap the car for active transport just one day a week – according to a new study led by researchers from the University of Oxford’s Transport Studies Unit.

Emission targets are unlikely to be met without a significant move away from motorised transport, according to the researchers, and shifting to active transport could save as much as a quarter of personal CO₂ emissions from transport.

Published in the journal Global Environmental Change, this is the first study of the carbon-reducing impact of city-based lifestyle changes and it reveals that increases in active mobility significantly lower carbon footprints, even in urban European contexts with a high incidence of walking and cycling.

‘By following nearly 2,000 urban dwellers over time, we found that those who switch just one trip per day from car driving to cycling reduce their carbon footprint by about 0.5 tonnes over a year, representing a substantial share of average per capita CO2 emissions,’ says the lead researcher, Oxford’s Dr Christian Brand. ‘If just 10% of the population were to change travel behaviour, the emissions savings would be around 4% of lifecycle CO₂ emissions from all car travel.’

Dr Brand says, ‘Our findings suggest that, even if not all car trips could be substituted by bicycle trips, the potential for decreasing emissions is huge.’

Researchers found active travel substitutes for motorised travel – and increases in cycling, e-biking or walking over time independently lowers mobility-related lifecycle CO₂ emissions. And swapping the car for a bike or e-bike for just one day a week – or going from ‘not cycling’ to ‘cycling’ – drastically lowers mobility-related lifecycle CO₂.

The analysis comes as UK, and the world, enters the 2020s – what needs to be a ‘decade of action’, if global goals to limit rising temperatures are to be met. Ahead of this November’s COP26 UN climate summit in Glasgow, countries are expected to submit enhanced pledges to tackle emissions.

To put this into context, for the cities in this study, average per capita CO₂ emissions from transport (excl. international aviation and shipping) ranged between 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ per person per year in the UK to 2.7 tonnes of CO₂ per person per year in Austria. According to the Global Carbon Atlas, average per capita CO2 emissions from all activities were eight tonnes per year in the UK (on a consumption basis).

The largest benefits from shifts from car to active travel are for business travel, followed by social and leisure trips, and commuting to work or place of study. The finding that those who already cycled had 84% lower CO₂ emissions from all daily travel than non-cyclists further shows the population benefits of travelling actively that already exist.

The study collected primary data on daily travel behaviour, journey purpose, as well as personal and geospatial characteristics in seven European cities and derived mobility-related lifecycle CO₂ emissions over time and space.

Statistical modelling of longitudinal panel data of 1,849 study participants was performed to assess how changes in active mobility, the ‘main mode’ of daily travel, and cycling frequency influenced changes in mobility-related lifecycle CO₂ emissions.

Dr Brand says, ‘A typical response to the climate crisis is to ‘do something’, such as planting more trees, or switching to electric vehicles. While these are important and effective, they are neither sufficient nor fast enough to meet our ambitious climate targets.

 ‘Doing more of a good thing combined with doing less of a bad thing – and doing it now is much more compliant with a ‘net zero’ pathway and preserving our ‘perfect planet’s’ and our own futures.

‘Switching from car to active mobility is one thing to do, which would make a real difference, and we show here how good this can be in cities. Not just for the climate but also for reducing social inequalities and improving public health and quality of urban life in a post-COVID-19 world.’

Cities across the world will need to increase investment in high-quality infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists and incorporate policy and planning concepts that require a fairly radical rethink of our cities and is likely to reduce inequalities because the concepts involve mixing different population groups rather than maintaining the model of residential zoning by socioeconomic status currently used.

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Plants sealed inside a large glass jug a half century ago are self-sustained inside a perfect ecosystem. Is there a message in this bottle for the parched Middle East?

In 1960, a heyday for macramé, bell bottoms and terrariums, amateur gardener David Latimer planted four seedlings in a 10 gallon carboy – an enormous glass jug from the pre-plastics era used in chemical manufacturing. He couldn’t imagine that 50 years later the plants would still be growing, with zero input from the outside world except sun and a small water in 1972.

“Bottle gardens were a bit of a craze and I wanted to see what happened if you bunged (corked) the thing up,” he told The Daily Mail.

He popped plants into a soil base, added a splash of water, and tightly closed the top with a greased stopper.  Then he waited a dozen years before giving it another drink.  The last time Latimer watered the garden was in 1972: Nixon was in the White House and Elvis was still recording.

His garden created its own miniature ecosystem, but only one of the original four species survived.

The spiderworts seedling, or tradescantia, filled the jar with foliage despite being cut off from fresh air and added moisture. Because the plant absorbs light, it can photosynthesize, recycling nutrients and converting sunlight into all the energy needed for growth.

Photosynthesis creates oxygen and water. It’s the opposite of cellular respiration that occurs in other organisms, including humans, where energy-containing carbohydrates react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water and release chemical energy.

This ecosystem uses cellular respiration too.  Bacteria in the soil breaks down dead leaves and absorbs the plant’s waste oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide which the growing plant can reuse. Water absorbed by roots is released into the air during transpiration.  It condenses – effectively “raining” down into the potting mixture, and the cycle begins again.

The bottle stands beneath the stairs in his front hallway.

“It’s 6 feet from a window so gets a bit of sunlight. It grows towards the light and gets turned round every so often so it grows evenly,” the 80-year old Englishman said, “It’s the definition of low-maintenance. I’ve never pruned it; it just seems to have grown to the limits of the bottle.”

Latimer sent a photo in to a gardening program inquiring if his special garden held “scientific or horticultural interest”. Are there lessons to learn, specific to growing in water-starved regions?  Perhaps some insight to advance xeriscaping for decorative planting or crops?

You can’t smell, touch or eat this garden, but it fascinates.

The new Wardian Case?

The New York Botanical Garden blogged a bit of history behind this story:

“Latimer’s amazing bottle garden is phenomenal, and it has a rich heritage. The Wardian case, precursor to today’s terrarium, was invented in 1829 by Dr. Nathaniel Ward. Originally created to provide a habitat for moths, the Wardian case became a worldwide phenomenon and one of the keys to bringing new plant species home from explorations in far off lands.

Wardian cases, bottle gardens, and terrariums are very easy to create, and even easier to care for. Need some tips? We have those. They make a lovely alternative to flower bouquets for your plant-loving sweetie.”

Doubt I could score a carboy here in Jaffa, where I live today but there are plastic bottles everywhere I turn.  I’m tempted to try growing one in an old juice bottle. But because I was in love with the idea of a vivarium, I created one on my rooftop, then my backyard on a bigger scale, using hydroponic tools. I desired to live inside my own terrarium, to be the life inside my terrarium, and then I had to find out I was working inside a vivarium. See the pictures below. But I guess you could also call it a greenhouse.

Terrarium and vivarium, what’s the difference?

Both words use the Latin arium meaning “container”, but the different prefixes tell us what they’re designed to contain; terra contains “earth” and vivere means “life”.

In my vivarium I was the life that my biodome contained, along with my hydroponically grown plants. Normal people make mini-tropical rainforests in their vivariums and add spiders and lizards. I had spiders in mine, along with me.

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England’s historic city of Cambridge, with its world-famous university and idyllic countryside, will soon count a mosque amidst its stunning skyline of spires. But this isn’t just any old mosque. In fact it is the first-purpose built mosque in the city which also happens to be environmentally-friendly!

After years of dealing with overcrowding at various small sites across the city, the growing Muslim community decided that it was time to take action. By the summer of 2008, a strip of land and an old warehouse has been purchased and plans for the new mosque were underway. However rather than simply building a mosque as quickly as possible, it was decided from the very start that the mosque would follow environmental sustainability principles.

Europe’s first Eco-Mosque

“Islamic civilization has been based on the rejection of waste as an under-estimation of God’s blessing and so in the construction of the new mosque here in Cambridge, we were very much in the forefront of the local environmental movement in that we are using the latest heat pumps, conservation technology and green roofs so that we’ll have an almost zero carbon footprint,” commented Chairman of the Trust, Tim Winter who is also known as Abdul Hakim Murad.

Winters also added that they intended to build Europe’s first truly ecologically-responsible mosque and encourage Muslims world-wide to take up their environmental responsibilities.

It is stated in the Qur’an that God has made believers the stewards and protectors of the earth and so to harmonize this important environmental ethic with the most important place of worship in Islam makes perfect sense.

It is also hoped that such initiative will encourage Muslims in the Middle East to take an active interest in the environment and preserve precious resources both at home and in the mosque.

Designed by the award-winning architect Marks Barfield, who were behind stunning projects such as the London Eye and Kew Treetop Walkway, the mosque is based on the premise of creating an oasis of calm and sustainability in an urban jungle. Winter adds, “This building will be truly inclusive, sustainable, safe, secure and respectful of the neighbourhood.”

Back to the Eco Basics

Stunning skylights mean that the mosque will be naturally lit throughout the year, the building is well insulated and temperature will be carefully optimized by heating or cooling using energy efficient technologies and locally generated energy from ground source heat pumps.

The overall design will enlarge the existing community garden, create a new permeable green edge around the structure with trees as well as providing bicycle racks at street level and car parking in the basement. The £13 million project building, which will accommodate up to 1,000 men and women, will also include a cafe, a teaching area and meeting rooms for use by the local Muslim and non-Muslim communities.

“The new mosque will be a real neighbourhood as well as a spiritual centre, easily accessible by public transport and on foot, with facilities for formal and informal community group meetings as well as a leisure destination,” said Winters.

A reminder of the mosque’s humble roots

Whilst building an eco-Mosque may seem like a modern invention, it not only helps strengthen and demonstrate Islam’s eco principles but also takes Muslims back to the simpler and ecologically sound construction of the first mosque built for the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Mud bricks were used for the walls, a palm trunk for the minbar as well as the pillars and waste was minimal- a humble reminder of the mosque’s true green roots.

Similar projects have been carried out in the UK such as a £3.5m partially eco-friendly mosque in Levenshulme, Manchester in 2008. It installed solar panels and was built using wood from renewable sources- however energy was not entirely from renewable sources and they outsourced some construction materials from India.

Read more on eco-Islam:
A Halal’s Day Work at the Community Garden
“Inspired by Muhammad” Is Islam’s Green Message to Break Terrorism
Prince Charles on Islam and the Environment
Water Conservation Values in Islam
The Muslim World Wants to Green Hajj
Breast Feed Baby in Hijab

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Whereas Colombian planner Oscar Diaz (who we interviewed here) was practical and sited specific planning examples at the anniversary conference at the Technion-Israel’s Institute of Technology,  England’s planner Mr. Robert Upton’s speech was more philosophical.  This seasoned response from the fourth Royal Town Planning Institute Secretary-General (and the only one to make it out alive, Upton jokes), asked of Israel’s planning audience to think reflectively about the challenges of their profession.

He began by recalling the history of England’s Royal Town Planning Institute,  a relatively brief history that began in 1914.  But he said that early on the profession became “cluttered” with “no shortage of bodies who claim to be specialists.”  And the public was skeptical.

In a personal interview with Green Prophet he was careful to clarify that in the context of WWII, there was a tremendous need for England to rebuild itself and planners such as Thomas Sharp took on the challenge.  Sharp later became “disillusioned” according to Upton, as the public became increasingly dissatisfied.

The profession also suffers from a sort of existential dilemma.  It is never clear whether planners are designers or technical, whether the field falls under the parlay of social science, or if it is a hybrid.

Israelis such as architect Amos Brandeis and government planner Shamay Asif, who provided commentary after Upton’s presentation, also identified with this dilemma.

Another shared conflict in England and Israel is that between architects and planners.  What role should design play in the planning process?

Architects believe that they should play an important role in the planning process, but planners think they are redundant. Upton says that it is important that planners “dont’ take the design out of the plan – design creates understanding.”

However, he also quoted English author Samuel Johnson, who said approximately that it isn’t necessary to know how to make a good chair in order to be able to recognize one.  The fire rages on.

Upton summarized his discussion with the question “how do we want to live?”  This is the question that all planning institutes should answer, for which Upton agreed with me that there is no blanket answer.  The answer depends on the following variables: “what are our options? Our values?  What are the facts?  What are the rules? The power of relations?  Who benefits, and who is not represented?”  The answers will be different in every community.

Alexandra Frackelton from The Arava Institute raised the question of public participation.  It was agreed that public participation in Israel is neglected, and that the process of encouraging it needs to be streamlined.

As a legal problem, it is currently being addressed.  Meanwhile, going forward, Upton believes it is important to find a “shared ethic.”

While Mr. Upton’s presentation raised more questions than provided answers, John Simone believed that framing the right questions is the key to wisdom.  Israeli planners are faced with a rapidly growing population, diminishing natural resources, and imminent climate change:  their greatest challenge will be to find questions that will produce the best solutions for the greatest number of people.

More on Planning from The Middle East:

Jordanian Sustainable Building Conference
Ecoweek
Rawabi, the First Planned Palestinian City

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