/  Ireland is set to miss its 2020 goal of a 20% reduction in CO₂ emissions, potentially leading to penalties as high as €600m. While progress has been slow, there are an increasing number of incentives on the table, including a €4m grant for innovative energy research projects available to businesses, universities and public sector bodies. But is it too little too late?

We also profile solar power in Africa, consider how wildfires affect energy infrastructure, take a closer look at miniaturised solar cells that can be embedded into clothes, and show the rise and fall of UK nuclear power plants over the decades.

Plus, we explore Hungary’s ambitious coal phase-out plans and the opportunity this brings for renewable energy developers in the country, speak to ENCS managing director Anjos Nijk about the fundamentals of smart grid cyber security, and look at why algae biofuels have struggled and how they have advanced.  /

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

Molly Lempriere, editor