Day: 10 January 2026

Europe’s Grids Package marks a positive shift to coordinated, EU-wide infrastructure planning and permitting

Stuart Mitchell

Today, the European Commission unveiled the European Grids Package. As one of the core deliverables under the Clean Industrial Deal and the Action Plan for Affordable Energy, the Grids Package is a response to the urgent need for more coordinated and forward-looking grid governance, planning, and permitting, reflecting several of the key principles emphasised by CATF. Key areas of the package Union-level integrated network planning The Commission is moving to a more integrated model for infrastructure planning, with stronger EU-level direction and better coordination across Member States. Updates to the…

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BRE establishes industry network with the aim of making solar PV systems safer

Stuart Mitchell

BRE has announced the creation of the PV Fire Intelligence Network (PV-FIN) – a steering group of leading organisations to analyse the fire safety of solar PV (photovoltaic) systems. A group of solar PV and component manufacturers, fire experts, and solar safety solution providers will form the network, chaired by BRE. The following organisations will contribute to the project: MCS Company, Fire Industry Association, CGM Group UK, Enphase Energy, IMO Precision Controls, PVStop, SolarEdge Technologies, ArcBox (division of Viridian Solar) and Solar Energy UK. At present, there is a lack…

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Fairtrade boosts support for cocoa farmers amid continuing market uncertainty

Stuart Mitchell

Fairtrade cocoa farmers and cooperatives are set to benefit from increased premiums and a new safety net as they navigate the ‘perfect storm’ of challenges, including climate change, volatile markets, and rising costs, according to an announcement made today by Fairtrade International.   The new Fairtrade Minimum Price increases the safety net by 45% dependent on country of production, with additional hikes in the Fairtrade Premium paid to farmers and the differential to organic producers. The new payments, which will go into effect in 2026, come after higher minimum prices for most cocoa-producing countries were announced earlier this year. Special arrangements were also put in place for Côte d’Ivoire and…

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Octopus Energy and Rightmove power up greener living

Stuart Mitchell

The UK’s largest energy supplier and largest property platform have joined forces to make it easier for millions of home-movers to find greener homes. Green technology is becoming a bigger selling point in the housing market. Rightmove data shows a 46% increase in mentions of heat pumps and a 37% rise in references to solar panels in property listings year-on-year. Homeowners are also warming to cleaner tech. Research from Octopus Energy found that nine in ten homeowners with heat pumps are glad they made the switch, with 94% saying their…

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BNP Paribas Foundation unveils the 11 awardees of its “Climate & Biodiversity Initiative” call for projects dedicated to the Ocean and coastal ecosystems

Stuart Mitchell

For its 6th edition, the BNP Paribas Foundation is dedicating its “Climate & Biodiversity Initiative” program to the Ocean and coastal ecosystems, thanks to the “Ocean Decade” label awarded by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Submissions were open from January 21 to May 4, 2025. Among the candidates, a selection of 11 projects carried out by scientific teams working to preserve the climate and marine biodiversity were chosen. The BNP Paribas Foundation continues its commitment to scientific research and the protection of the Ocean, supporting more than 46 international teams since…

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