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Herschel runs out of coolant

Herschel's finished its mission Credit: ESA and SPIRE & PACS consortia, Ph. André (CEA Saclay) for Gould’s Belt Key Programme Consortia

Scientists say a Cardiff instrument on Europe's Herschel Space Observatory has finished its operations and the spacecraft has exhausted its supply of liquid helium coolant.

Cardiff University astronomers led the international team that designed, built and operated the SPIRE instrument.

The University says using SPIRE data, astronomers have already made ground-breaking discoveries.

The European Space Agency says on Sunday it starts a long series of technology tests that will last into June.

And there's still far more to come from its huge archive of data.

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Welsh firm are game for Nintendo

Dakko Dakko is working on a new game for Nintendo and aiming for international sales.

Cardiff based Dakko Dakko has been awarded official games developer status for Nintendo.

The company specialises in creating videogame for game consoles and this latest project follows fast on the heels of two games the company released for Sony PlayStation.

The team say they were keen to create a challenging game exclusively for Nintendo when it launched its new platform – Wii U.

The Welsh Government gave the company £50,000 in grants from its Digital Development Fund to help ensure the project is developed and brings new talent to Wales.

The government says it wants to boost the console game sector in the region.

Dakko Dakko say the support ensures all the development work will take place in their studio in Cardiff Business Technology Centre.

Fracking protest held outside Senedd

This afternoon's protest is the latest in a series of rallies against fracking in Wales.

Around 35 campaigners have demonstrated outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay this afternoon, to oppose fracking in Wales.

The event was organised by Frack-Free Wales, after the Chancellor George Osborne signalled his support for the controversial method of extracting shale gas in last month's Budget.

Chancellor's Budget support for fracking

Frack-Free Wales' plans for today's demonstration began after the Chancellor signalled the UK Government's support for fracking in last month's Budget.

I also want Britain to tap into new sources of low cost energy like shale gas.

So I am introducing a generous new tax regime, including a shale gas field allowance, to promote early investment.

And by the summer, new planning guidance will be available alongside specific proposals to allow local communities to benefit.

Shale gas is part of the future. And we will make it happen.

– George Osborne, Chancellor, in his Budget speech

Watch: Fightback after Chancellor signals support for fracking

Senedd protest against fracking in Wales

Fracking has proven controversial both here in Wales, and around the rest of the UK. Credit: PA

Around 200 campaigners are expected to protest outside the Senedd later against so-called 'fracking' in Wales.

Hydraulic fracturing involves pumping high pressure fluids into shale rock to recover gas and oil.

Campaigners 'Frack-Free Wales' say they have "grave environmental concerns" that the methods "are unsafe to our future generations."

They are planning to hand in a letter, addressed to the First Minister Carwyn Jones.

It is thought there is a substantial amount of gas under parts of South Wales.

The most controversial fracking issue here has centred around an application to test drill for shale gas at Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan.

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Controversial Carmarthenshire wind farm approved

Local people have opposed plans to build a wind farm on the edge of the Brechfa Forest for years.

The UK Government has granted approval for the building of a controversial wind farm in Carmarthenshire.

The Brechfa Forest West Wind Farm will consist of 28 turbines up to 145 metres tall. It will have a capacity of between 56 and 84 megawatts.

Local people have opposed the RWE npower development, saying it will ruin the area's ecology and landscape.

Undersea cables to feed electricity from Ireland to Wales

Electricity to power Welsh homes could be imported from Irish windfarms, as work begins to lay cables under the Irish Sea.

The power would be fed into the UK energy grid via points at Bangor and Pembroke.

One Assembly Member is warning that the project could leave Wales dependent on Ireland in order to keep the lights on.

Owain Phillips reports.

AM: 'Useful opportunity' to share energy between Ireland and Wales

"It would be an illusion to think that we should be absolved from actually delivering our own energy needs in as far as we can" says Liberal Democrat AM William Powell.

"It is useful - in the context of a community that works together for mutual benefit - that we have the opportunity to share the energy generation".

Electricity from Irish wind energy could be transported to Wales

by Owain Phillips
The proposed scheme would be completed by 2017 Credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Protestors unhappy with the Irish Government's handling of the Emerald Isle's economy were vocal at the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Letterkenny, Donegal. Delegates were told selling electricity from Irish wind turbines to the UK could help them exit their economic troubles.

Plans are afoot to lay two cables from the Irish Republic to Wales - one connecting to the grid in Prestatyn, the other in Pembrokeshire.

Liberal Democrat William Powell AM welcomed the move, but said it should not be a way for Wales to abscond its renewable targets.

Conservative Darren Millar told ITV News it was clear we'd still have to rely on fossil fuels in the short and medium turn and said we are already "over-dependent" on wind as a power source.

The scheme is due to be completed by 2017, and could mean power from Welsh sources - such as Wylfa going the other way.

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