Coal fired electricity:

Anything imported on the BritNed link is almost certain to be coal fired or co-fired. The power stations are right next to the link station and feed it directly. I used to look down the coast from Kijkduin (which you could translate as lookout dune) on the outskirts of Den Haag to the tall chimneys of the Maasvlakte powerstations at the mouth of Rotterdam Harbour.

This satellite view shows the Uniper coal fired power station adjacent to the BritNed switchyard and rectifier houses, and the large coal yard to the South that feeds the Engie power station.

AK
Certainly exotic plumage and strutting will be seen in many locations, not just in Madrid.

Sustainable renewable clean energy as a competitive advantage. Fine, show me. Not the plans, the actual thing working. Who has done it? Shall we let South Australia prove it first?

SITD. I believe there is Lek mating ritual happening today in Madrid,.

"Putting sustainable finance at the top of the agenda"

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-5868_en.htm

"To meet our Paris targets, the EU needs around €180 billion in extra investment every year until 2030 in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transport. In March, the Commission presented its Sustainable Finance Action Plan consisting of ten ambitious legislative and non-legislative measures to mobilise finance for sustainable investments and sustainable growth. The first legal proposals were put on table in May, including a proposal to agree on an EU-wide classification system — or 'taxonomy' — which will lead to common definitions for what is green and what is not. This would help investors easily recognize and fund climate-friendly activities. The taxonomy will also enable the development of EU labels for green financial products, green bonds and funds. More and more people want their savings to be invested in environment-friendly projects, but face difficulties in finding an easy and trustworthy offer. The EU's financial sector – and capital markets in particular – have the potential to become global leaders in this ambitious agenda, inspiring others to follow suit. The low carbon transition is not only inevitable, it can also create new opportunities: already in 2014, private investments in EU circular economy sectors were estimated at €120 billion, which is equivalent to 0.8% GDP, an increase of 58% since 2008."

Mark Hodgson
If the peat bogs in Scotland and Ireland are drying out then the climate is returning to Bronze Age or Pre Bronze Age conditions. Bog Oak is found at the bottom of almost all blanket bog in both countries. I don't think going back to that climate is anything but beneficial.

Black Grouse Leks take place in the same place every spring, some people (I won't call them experts) think that this is where clearings in the woodland that existed until the climate got wetter and the bog took over.

"Brussels loses one of its superpowers
The EU uses state aid to tackle big cases like Apple’s tax affairs in Ireland, but the Commission is running into legal troubles."

https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-loses-one-of-its-superpowers-state-aid-control-subsidies-tax-breaks/

That coal-free fortnight that BEIS is boasting about - during that period 11.8% of electricity came through via imports. So stewgreen is right. I'd bet some of that imported electricity was generated by a coal-fired power station somewhere. If so, can we launch a private prosecution against the BEIS minister responsible for propagating falsehoods, aka misconduct in a public office, apparently?

"The bog swarming with scientists and artists"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48471579

A largely good article about an amazing part of northern Scotland. Unfortunately when it talks about the possible damage to bogs and peatlands it concentrates on drying out due to warming (have they actually visited northern Scotland?) and the effect of tax breaks for forests which might damage the peat and the existing equilibrium. Shame they don't mention the effect of putting huge wind turbine parks in peat areas in the wilds of Scotland, which has been common practice to date.

stewgreen, thanks for the clarifications.