Green Options

Siemens Energy, a subsidiary of global engineering company Siemens AG, is going to acquire a 28% stake in the Italian solar company Archimede Solar Energy SpA. Archimede is currently the only manufacturer of solar receiver tubes that use, under license from ENEA, molten salt as the heat-transfer fluid for application in parabolic-trough power plants.

We’re at the beginning of June and it’s still raining. Despite this unmerciful weather, summer season is coming and Italian coasts are preparing to host bunch of tourists from around the world. Such as every year, a list of best beaches is revealed by the Blue Flag Programme, responsible for monitoring popular public beaches, resorts and marinas throughout the world. Criteria such as water quality, amenities and general safety, as well as nearby cultural attractions are all taken into account before a “Blue Flag” is awarded.

This year the Blue Flag programme, owned and run by the independent non-profit organization Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), has declared Italy’s nicest beaches can be found in the Tuscany and Marche regions, with each region boasting 15 awards. Overall, 215 beaches in 104 Italian communities received a “Blue flag”, eight more than last year and 14 more than in 2006. While last year many southern Italian beaches failed to gain the coveted symbol because of problems with waste disposal, this year they have had greater success.