Today in Hamburg in the north of Germany I stepped onto a Hybrid fuel cell bus for the first time. I didn’t actually know it was a “0 emissions” bus until I spotted the  screens depicting the real – time vehicle energy cycle and remaining battery charge.

My short 15 minute journey was completely silent and vibration free. I was fascinated by how this technology has already reached European public transport systems.

After researching the topic I realised that these busses have been in service in Hamburg since Summer 2011. They boast technologies such as energy recovery and storage in lithium ion batteries and wheel hub motors offering a continuous output of 120kW.

The bus holds 35 kilograms of hydrogen in total and has a range of about 250km. The fuel cells are designed for an extended service life of 6 years or 12,000 hours.

Today, Roma Capitale , Enel Green Power (EGP) and ENEA signed a memorandum of understanding at the Campidoglio for the testing and  development of new technologies for generating zero-CO2-emissions electricity from renewable sources.

Trebios is a small-scale, modular, polygeneration concentrated solar power plant that will ensure the continuous production of electricity (1-5 MWe) and process steam, as well as integrate and, thus, enhance the renewable resources of sunlight and biomass that are widely available in the municipal area. This biomass will initially be treated with the process steam generated by the plant itself, to separate its components, firstly lignin, which can also be used in gaseous form in the auxiliary molten salts heater to support electricity generation in the absence of sunlight  (for example on overcast days), providing about 40% of the total, then the cellulosic components, which are subjected to a fermentation process that produces ethanol, a fuel that can be used in internal combustion engines, contributing to sustainable public transport.

The plant will therefore be capable of generating electricity 24 hours a day , at night and on overcast days, with zero-CO2-emissions, from renewable sources only, including the prunings from the city’s trees, which will be transformed into both electricity and biofuel for use in public transport vehicles.

The Interconnector is essential strategic economic infrastructure linking Ireland to the much larger energy markets of Britain and Europe.

With most of the underground cables now laid, the cable-laying ship the Nostag 10 anchored itself at North Beach, Rush Co. Dublin (the scene of last years protests against this project) to lay the marine cables of the €600 million project partly funded by the European Union.

As the cable laying got underway, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD was present to observe this key milestone for the project with just one year to completion when trading will commence on this interconnector.

Commenting on the project, Minister Rabbitte said, “The interconnector will improve security of supply, as well as increasing competition and assisting in achieving our ambitious renewable targets. I am delighted that EirGrid are on track to complete the project within budget and on time, by the end of next year.”

Enertrag has constructed a power plant which provides around the clock energy with virtually no carbon footprint.The power plant was launched in 2010 and what’s more, to add to the project, they will be opening the worlds first “CO2-neutral” filling station in the centre of Berlin towards the end of this year.

So, how does this “hybrid power plant” work? Its a relatively simple idea which incorporates various electricity and heat generation technologies. The process begins with wind energy.

The energy within the wind is harnessed through regular wind turbines. The electricity produced during this process is sent directly to the electricity network, as it is in any other wind farm. As we all know, electricity demand and wind do not always go hand in hand.

On this particular windfarm, excess electricity from the wind turbines is sent to a hydrogen generator which separates hydrogen from water and sends it to storage tanks.

This stored hydrogen is sent through mixing valves where it mixes with biogas (produced naturally through fermentation of biomass materials) and the product is burned in a combined heat and power station. The electricity produced in this station goes into the electricity grid at times of low wind and the heat is delivered to the local residential district.

Hydrogen which is not sent to the mixing valves, is distributed to the filling station in Berlin.

This project is a testament to what is possible in our world today and is a good example of what Ireland can do with its large amounts of wind energy.

There is now a huge push to install “pay as you go” meters into the homes of those who are most affected. The ESB expect to have the capacity to install 200 of these meters per month by next year.

Around 240,000 householders have had to agree on payment plans with the ESB to tackle debt. The semi-state company said that around 108,000 of these customers were 60 days or more in arrears according to the Irish Independent.

Some 103,000 gas and electricity customers of Bord Gais are 60 days or more in arrears with their payments.

EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said: “Today is an important milestone in the development of the internal market. The new trading rules will contribute to fair energy prices. Moreover, by improving market transparency and integrity, we also build confidence of all market participants in the good functioning of the internal market. This will foster competition and ensure that consumers will always get the best deal.”