It is also an "enabler" for renewable energy, providing a source of electricity that can step in to fill the gap when the wind is not blowing or the sun is not shining.

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Most of all, there is nothing as satisfying as those moments where you step out on a dark night, the wind blowing, the rain beating down, with a long journey ahead - and decide to catch the Tube instead.

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Speaking at the same press event, Mr. Van Rompuy said that the recent flare-up of the euro-zone crisis following botched bailout attempts in Cyprus highlighted the need for a European Union plan on how to wind down unviable banks, a crucial step in Europe's quest for a harmonized and shared system of dealing with ailing banks.

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The North African nation took a step towards supporting green efforts this past week with the deadline for construction bids linked to an unspecified number of solar and wind farms.

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