South America's 2nd largest subway system in terms of length is Chile's Metro de Santiago and in a few years it will receive 42% energy from solar power and 18% from wind. Chile's decision on renewables highlights its commitment to clean energy that does not harm the environment. Chile plans to make the switch to renewables in 2018 when the solar and wind plants are operational.
SMR (small modular reactor) development is proceeding in Western countries with a lot of private investment. The involvement of these new investors indicates a profound shift taking place from government-led and funded nuclear R&D to that led by the private sector and people with strong entrepreneurial goals, often linked to a social purpose. That purpose is often deployment of affordable clean energy, without carbon dioxide emissions. If this new technology is developed Australia would be a major beneficiary given its known uranium resources are the world's largest at 31% of the world total.
http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-power-reactors/small-nuclear-p
SolarWindow is working on transparent veneers that can be placed on windows to turn them into electricity-generating solar cells. They're aiming to provide these veneers to the skyscraper market, which consumes 40% of the electricity generated in the US, and cut their energy expenditure in half. www.solarwindow.com
