/ The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive has been recast, raising renewables targets and establishing a clear regulatory framework on self-consumption. Importantly, it has clarified the definition of biomass, previously drawing criticism for being too simplistic. We review the key changes to the directive and the concerns about biomass in particular.

We also take a look at the potential of renewables to transform energy systems across the African continent and profile the most promising new energy markets in the region, and consider the implications of India’s recent decision to impose a safeguard duty on solar cells and modules imported from China and Malaysia for the next two years. Also in solar, we round up the world’s biggest solar power plants by installed capacity.

Plus, we check in with Siemens’ pilot project for ammonia-based energy storage, take a look at ABB and Imperial University London’s carbon capture plant, find out how energy usage and demand is set to change as a result of global warming, and consider the risks faced by paramedics working on remote offshore windfarms. /

Read on for all this and more, and join the conversation on Twitter. 

Katie Woodward, editor