Western Europe

Wind turbine blades photographed at a site in Denmark. The issue of what to do with blades when they're no longer needed is a headache for the industry.Jonathanfilskov-photography | Istock | Getty ImagesSpanish energy firm Iberdrola has jointly established a company that will recycle components used in renewable energy installations, including wind turbine blades.In a statement last week Iberdrola said the company, known as EnergyLOOP, would develop a blade recycling facility in Navarre, northern Spain."The initial…

A hot cup of coffee is the perfect start to the day for millions of people around the world. But when taking that first sip, it's easy to forget how much work goes into bringing it to the table.From the farmers cultivating and harvesting coffee plants, to milling and roasting, many crucial and labor-intensive steps are involved in coffee production. Like all industrial processes, it often uses a lot of land, water and energy.This means there's an increasing amount of scrutiny surrounding the sustainability of the journey…

One of Toyota's Sora busess photographed in Japan on Nov. 5, 2021. Toyota started working on the development of fuel-cell vehicles back in 1992.Korekore | Istock Editorial | Getty ImagesToyota Motor Europe, CaetanoBus and Air Liquide have signed an agreement related to the development of hydrogen-based transport options, as the race to develop low and zero-emission vehicles heats up.In a statement Tuesday, Toyota said the deal would aim for what it called "closer cooperation in developing opportunities for hydrogen…

An image of the £4.6 million FastBlade facility. Scotland has a long association with North Sea oil and gas production, but in recent years it's also become a hub for companies and projects focused on tidal power and marine energy in general.Jeff J Mitchell | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesA £4.6 million ($5.64 million) facility that can test tidal turbine blades under strenuous conditions has been officially opened, with those behind it hoping it will accelerate the development of marine energy technology and lower…

According to Unilever, the industry standard for freezer temperatures in many markets stands at minus 18 degrees Celsius (around 0 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature of freezers in the trials will be minus 12 degrees Celsius.Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesUnilever — which owns brands including Ben & Jerry's, Magnum and Wall's — is set to trial increasing the temperature of its ice cream freezers in a bid to lower energy use.The consumer goods giant said the move could cut energy use and greenhouse gas…

In 2021, Volvo Cars said it planned to become a "fully electric car company" by the year 2030, a move which will require it to have a consistent and secure supply of batteries for its vehicles.Peerapon Boonyakiat /SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty ImagesThe new CEO and president of Volvo Cars has predicted that scarcity of battery supply will become a pressing issue for his sector, telling CNBC the firm has made investments that would help it gain a foothold in the market."Recently, we made a reasonably substantial…