GENI RSS - Global Energy Network Institute

Entrepreneurs for scaling up use of renewable energy

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:14:53 -0700

KATHMANDU, JAN 20 - Representatives from various alternative and renewable energy enterprises and concerned government authorities stressed the need to scale up the use of various forms of renewable energy technologies like solar, bio-gas, solar-thermal and micro-hydro projects, among others, to solve the problem of ongoing acute energy crisis in the country. Speaking at the roundtable discussion organised by the Kantipur Publications on Friday, Hira KC, president of Solar Electric Company Association of Nepalsaid though hydropower development is a sustainable mode and is necessary to meet the country energy demands, it is also important to work on the concept of mix-energy to meet the growing energy demands. Nepal has a huge potential ofsolar energy to meet the basic needs of energy consumption, he said.

25 Nuclear Power Plants Could Be Replaced By Geothermal In Japan

Jake Richardson — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:56:40 -0700

Stefan Larus Stefansson, Icelandâ€™s ambassador to Japan, recently gave a lecture in Tokyo about the very high geothermal potential in Japan. He said that if Japan were to invest in fully realizing its geothermal potential, the country could replace 25 nuclear reactors. He used his home country as an example of geothermal success because about two-thirds of the country's energy comes from this renewable, stable source. Japan has the world's third-highest geothermal potential but has not been pursuing its development nearly as much as it could be.

White Sands becomes US Army’s largest solar power system

Kizzi Nkwocha — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:43:22 -0700

The US Army today dedicated its largest solar photovoltaic system at White Sands Missile Range. The ceremony was led by Brigadier General Gwen Bingham, who was joined by the Honorable Katherine Hammack, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. The four megawatt White Sands Missile Range solar energy system has been developed by the US Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, Siemens Government Technologies, and Bostonia Bank. It is understood the solar system will generate approximately 10 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, and provide an estimated annual savings of $930,000.

FERC proposes reforms to fast-track small-scale PV interconnection

Julia Chan — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:30:14 -0700

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has proposed reforms which will enable certain small-scale power generation projects including solar to qualify for a faster interconnection process. The reforms relate to Order No.2006 which became effective in 2005 to establish national interconnection procedures applicable to generation projects that are 20MW or less in size. However, demand for solar energy has grown significantly since 2005 and, according to Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), certain aspects of the order have posed challenges to the interconnection process.

IRENA and Fraunhofer ISE sign MOU to increase renewable energy deployment

Kizzi Nkwocha — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:21:49 -0700

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing their cooperation while increasing the deployment of renewable energy systems worldwide. Speaking during the signing ceremony at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Professor Eicke R. Weber, Director of Fraunhofer ISE , said: "By joining forces we intend to create synergies and accelerate the deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions on a global level."

Energy Department announces US$12 million to bring solar technologies to market

Kizzi Nkwocha — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:13:40 -0700

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has today announced the availability of US$12 million to accelerate solar energy innovation that could help reduce manufacturing and installation costs for homes, businesses and utilities. The new funding opportunity, which is part of the DOE's SunShot Incubator Program, expands on previous Solar Incubator rounds to support both hardware efficiency and soft cost reduction goals.

Germany set to launch incentives for PV storage systems

Julia Chan — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:02:45 -0700

The German Federal Ministry of Environment (BMU) is expected to introduce incentives for PV energy storage systems in February 2013. A spokesperson from BSW-Solar, an association which represents the common commercial interests of businesses within the solar industry, revealed to PV-Tech that it expects the BMU to make an official announcement on the incentives in the next few weeks.

Japan plans world's largest wind farm

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:41:47 -0700

TOKYO, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Japan is moving away from reliance on nuclear power plants after the Fukushima disaster, and plans to plans to build the world's largest offshore wind farm. Officials say the proposal calls for construction of 143 wind turbines on platforms 10 miles off the coast of Fukushima, where the Daiichi nuclear power plant was damaged in the March, 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

1st Part of Offshore Wind Power Line Moves Ahead

Matthew L. Waid — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:25:40 -0700

WASHINGTON — An audacious plan to lay a multibillion-dollar wind power transmission spine under the seabed from southern Virginia to the New York City area will take a step forward on Tuesday with an announcement of plans for the first leg, a 189-mile segment running from Jersey City to a spot south of Atlantic City. The proposed backbone, first outlined publicly in October 2010, is intended to link future wind farms far offshore, sparing them the expense and regulatory problems of bringing power lines all the way to shore individually, and to move power to land-based sources. The project’s backers, which include Google and other prominent investors, argue that the buried offshore spine, impervious to storms, could also come in handy in an emergency, providing a backup for hospitals and police stations and restarting power plants in blacked-out areas.

Solution to Renewable Energy's Intermittency Problem: More Renewable Energy

Nathanael Massey — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:05:03 -0700

A mix of offshore and onshore wind, along with contributions from solar power, could provide reliable and cost-effective power flow during all but a handful of days in a hypothetical four-year period under study. By 2030, scaled-up green power could meet the demands of a large grid 99.9 percent of the time, according to new research from the University of Delaware.

Jordan Adopts Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariffs--and Shelves Nuclear

Paul Gipe — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:48:25 -0700

While North American regulators continue debating the merits of feed-in tariffs, another developing country has adopted the policy renowned for rapidly developing renewable energy in the developed world. This week Jordan's Electricity Regulatory Commission introduced tariffs that will be paid for generation from various renewable technologies. The move was in response to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Law (REEL) passed in April that requires the national electric utility to purchase generation from renewable generators.

In India, Solar Ambitions Are Suddenly Outsize

David Ferris — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:35:12 -0700

After years of lagging behind China and the West in the adoption of solar power, some states in India are proposing to build solar farms at a galloping pace that leaves them at risk of falling short of electricity (a familiar problem here) or of paying higher prices for it. In just the last five months, five Indian states have announced plans to bring giant amounts of solar power online within five years, including 1,000 megawatts in Andhra Pradesh, 350 megawatts in Rajasthan, 800 megawatts in Madhya Pradesh, 1,000 megawatts in Chhatisgarh and a whopping 3,000 megawatts in Tamil Nadu.

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Clinton calls for rebuilding U.S. electric grid to carry more wind and solar power

Daniel Cusick — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:25:02 -0700

CHICAGO -- Former President Clinton supports extending the production tax credit (PTC) for wind energy as part of a plan to build a national electricity grid that could move hundreds of thousands of megawatts of trapped wind and solar power from sparsely populated states to urban markets. Clinton told a gathering of wind energy industry officials here last night that such networks are critical to building a 21st-century economy that relies heavily on the unimpeded flow of goods, services and knowledge across states, regions and nations.

World's Longest UHV power line operational in China

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:05:13 -0700

The State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC), the country's biggest power supplier, said China is setting records by putting an ultra-high voltage (UHV) oiwer transmission line into commercial operation on Wednesday.

On Our Radar: A Global Coal Boom

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:23:10 -0700

Coal will come close to surpassing oil as the world’s top energy source by 2017, the International Energy Agency predicts. Demand for coal will increase in every region of the world except the United States, where the fuel is being pushed out by natural gas, the agency says. [International Energy Agency] The Environmental Protection Agency’s inspector general says it will investigate whether the agency uses separate internal e-mail accounts to conduct government affairs and if so, whether its actions comply with federal laws. [The Hill]

Carbon Taxes make Ireland even greener

Elisabeth Rosenthal — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:28:15 -0700

DUBLIN — Over the last three years, with its economy in tatters, Ireland embraced a novel strategy to help reduce its staggering deficit: charging households and businesses for the environmental damage they cause. The government imposed taxes on most of the fossil fuels used by homes, offices, vehicles and farms, based on each fuel’s carbon dioxide emissions, a move that immediately drove up prices for oil, natural gas and kerosene. Household trash is weighed at the curb, and residents are billed for anything that is not being recycled.

Crowd-sourced solar investment allows 'mass production' in clean-tech financing

Ben Willis — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:28:01 -0700

A new online marketplace that crowd-sources investment for solar schemes in the US has sold out four projects in less than 24 hours. The scheme's archtiects, California-based Mosaic, said the model offered the promise of mass public participation in the financing of renewable energy projects.

Chilean environmental authority approves 3.1GW of PV projects

Julia Chan — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:16:41 -0700

Chile has 3.1GW worth of approved PV projects in the pipeline, according to a report published by Centro de Energías Renovables, the country's renewable energy body. The report reveals that there are a further 908MW worth of PV projects currently under consideration for approval by Chilean environmental authority Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (SEA).

Solar powered prisons helps cut costs in no time

Kizzi Nkwocha — Tue, 07 May 2013 18:00:49 -0700

Officials in Merced County, California, recently celebrated the launch of a 1.4 megawatt solar complex that will generate enough electricity to power two full-size correctional facilities. Two arrays consisting of 6,272 solar panels were installed on 4.5 acres of land near the John Latorraca Correctional Facility and the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex. Designed by Siemens, the installation is expected to provide approximately 70 percent of the facilities’ peak electricity consumption.

McCoy Solar Energy Project seeks approval from Obama Administration

Julia Chan — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:52:58 -0700

The US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has revealed that the final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed 750MW McCory Solar Energy Project has been submitted to President Obama’s Administration for approval. The 750MW project will represent one of the largest PV projects on public lands in the Californian desert and will be developed, owned and operated by McCoy Solar, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, on 1,780 hectares of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Riverside County.

Kuwait University joins imec’s silicon solar cell industrial affiliation program

Mark Osborne — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:39:06 -0700

Continuing Kuwait government efforts to build-out a renewable energy mix for the future, Kuwait University (KU) has teamed with European R&D centre, imec on its silicon solar cell industrial affiliation program. Ludo Deferm, Executive Vice-President Business Development at imec said, “The need and importance of renewable energy is dominantly present in the Middle East region. With this collaboration we feel that Kuwait is taking a new and strategic step in establishing a key position in the field of silicon solar cell technology in the region.”

Friday Focus: Is South Africa a solar hotspot or long-shot?

Julia Chan — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:20:47 -0700

South Africa’s solar market has had a relatively successful year in 2012. Currently, South Africa’s installed PV market is made up of a few small-scale projects. In terms of large-scale projects, the market has only really just begun. With more large-scale projects announced than completed this year, South Africa has clearly solidified its position as a top solar hotspot-in-waiting. In order to further strengthen its position as a true emerging market, these projects need to come to fruition. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for the projects or are they simply just ‘announced’ projects?

Gov. John Kitzhaber releases 10-year energy action plan

Yuxing Zheng — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:38:11 -0700

Gov. John Kitzhaber today released his 10-year energy action plan that focuses on improving energy efficiency and conservation, improving the state's clean-energy infrastructure and accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation options. The plan falls short of setting a price on carbon, a concept Kitzhaber endorsed last month in a joint statement with the Washington and California governors and the British Columbia premier.

Germany’s $123 Million Power Line Aids Nuclear Exit, Merkel Says

Stefan Nicola — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:36:19 -0700

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said a $123 million electricity line that took a decade to develop will improve supply security, transmitting renewable energy from north to south and helping the nation phase out nuclear power. The line, stretching 88 kilometers (55 miles) across two states from Kruemmel near Hamburg to Schwerin, will ensure more efficient distribution of power from wind farms in the north, Erwin Sellering, governor of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state, said today at the line’s opening in Schwerin. “On windy days, turbines won’t have to be shut off any more,” he said.

Africa's largest solar power plant to be built in Ghana

Adam Vaughan — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:37:23 -0700

The largest solar power plant in Africa will be built in Ghana, the British company behind the plan said on Tuesday.

Source of much of the world's cocoa and an increasingly significant oil producer, Ghana's new drive to exploit the sun's energy is predicted to create hundreds of jobs and increase the country's electricity capacity by 6%, as well as cutting emissions.

Chief Of US Pacific Forces Calls Climate Biggest Worry

Bryan Bender — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:29:28 -0700

Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III met privately with security and foreign policy specialists at Harvard and Tufts universities Thursday and Friday.

CAMBRIDGE — America’s top military officer in charge of monitoring hostile actions by North Korea, escalating tensions between China and Japan, and a spike in computer attacks traced to China provides an unexpected answer when asked what is the biggest long-term security threat in the Pacific region: climate change.

Japan reaches 1.4GW of PV installed capacity

Nilima Choudhury — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:27:55 -0700

Japan’s renewable energy capacity has reached a total of 1.443GW, according to figures released by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

The Japanese residential sector is the most developed with 1.027GW while the non-residential sector installed 371MW.

Indianapolis: First US City to Require Electric Vehicles

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:14:41 -0700

Indianapolis is the first city in the US to mandate the conversion of its fleet to clean vehicles.

Mayor Greg Ballard issued an executive order that says any new vehicles purchased for its municipal fleet must electric or plug-in hybrids.

Greenpower Capital and Wirsol Solar create JV for large-scale Japanese PV projects

Julia Chan — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:14:36 -0700

US renewable energy firm Greenpower Capital and Wirsol Solar, an international PV developer based in Germany, have established a joint venture which focuses on financing and building solar projects in Japan which have a capacity of 10MW or more.

The venture will draw upon GreenPower’s development and funding experience as well as Wirsol’s EPC and financing experience to build an extensive pipeline of 10MW-plus projects in Japan.

Friday Focus: Has Desertec had its day in the sun?

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:03:40 -0700

Kenya Steps Up Geothermal Power

Geoffrey Kamadi — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:56:58 -0800

NAIVASHA, Kenya (AlertNet) – Kenya has inaugurated Africa’s biggest geothermal power project in a bid to meet its growing need for electricity and lower its consumption of nonrenewable energy.

The 280 megawatt (MW) Olkaria Geothermal Project was commissioned by Kenya’s president, Mwai Kibaki, in July. It is being built at a cost of 82.5 billion Kenyan shillings ($980 million) and is due for completion in June 2014.

India announces draft strategy for Phase II of Solar Mission

Nilima Choudhury — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:03:16 -0800

India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a draft solar policy for Phase II of the country’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), outlining its strategy to install 10GW by 2017 through mostly utility-scale projects.

NREL updates US solar radiation database

Syanne Olson — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:01:35 -0800

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released an updated 20-year version of its US National Solar Radiation Database.

SunPower inks Chinese JV agreement

Julia Chan — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:01:03 -0800

US PV manufacturer SunPower has entered into a definitive joint venture agreement with three of its partners based in Mongolia and China.

Orix and Kyudenko Corporation plan 8.5MW PV plant at former Japanese airfield

Julia Chan — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 16:00:31 -0800

Orix Corporation, a financial services company based in Tokyo, Japan, has entered into a strategic partnership with Kyudenko Corporation to jointly launch a â€œmega-solarâ€ power generation business on the Japanese island of Kyushu.

Orix begins developing 82MW of PV capacity across 17 Japanese sites

Julia Chan — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:59:45 -0800

Orix Corporation, a Japanese financial services group, has announced it will begin developing 81.6MW worth of â€œmega-solarâ€ PV plants at 17 sites across Japan.

Aberdeen streets to get Wi-Fi bins powered by solar

Julia Chan — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:58:54 -0800

From 2013, solar-powered litter bins offering wireless internet will be placed on the streets around the city of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Geoscientists Cite 'Critical Need' for Basic Research to Unleash Promising Energy Resources

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:57:06 -0800

ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2012) — Developers of renewable energy and shale gas must overcome fundamental geological and environmental challenges if these promising energy sources are to reach their full potential, according to a trio of leading geoscientists.

Megastorms Could Drown Massive Portions of California - Nov 30, 2012

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:56:03 -0800

Huge flows of vapor in the atmosphere, dubbed "atmospheric rivers," have unleashed massive floods every 200 years, and climate change could bring more of them

Grid parity within reach in Europe, says consortium

Kizzi Nkwocha — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:55:08 -0800

Grid parity for residential and commercial consumers is within reach in many European countries, according to the PV Parity project consortium.

Costa Rica inaugurates largest solar plant

Julia Chan — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 15:54:13 -0800

The President of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla has officially inaugurated a 1MW solar park in Miravalles which is said to be the country’s largest PV plant to date and the largest project of its kind in Central America.

Report: Emerging solar markets hold 20GW of PV project potential

Mark Osborne — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:53:13 -0800

A slew of emerging markets for PV have been identified in a weighty new report from market research firm IHS, which has identified 20GW of PV projects across Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle-East, Africa and "emerging Europe".

SunEdison secures financing for 58MW South African PV projects

Julia Chan — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:52:16 -0800

US PV project developer SunEdison, Chint Solar, the Public Investment Corporation and the Kurisani Youth Development Trust have obtained US$314 million in long-term debt and equity financing for two large-scale solar projects in Limpopo province, South Africa.

Report: China’s CSP market may reach 3GW by 2015

Julia Chan — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:51:22 -0800

China’s CSP capacity could increase to 3GW by 2015, although more conservative estimates predict it will only grow to 1GW, according to a paper by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Report: Dramatic fall in US installed PV costs

Ben Willis — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:50:08 -0800

The installed cost of solar power systems in the US fell substantially last year and in the first half of this year, according the Department of Energyâ€™s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Solar’s soaring job growth keep boots on the roof

Felicity Carus — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 15:48:58 -0800

The National Solar Jobs Census 2012 published earlier this month revealed that solar companies are hiring faster than the general economy. The Solar Foundation's review of the US solar workforce found that as of September 2012, the solar industry had grown to 119,016 workers under its definition of those "who spend at least 50% of their time supporting solar-related activities".

U.S. Heads for Warmest Year Recorded in Lower 48 States

Alex Morales — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:48:38 -0800

The U.S. is about to register the warmest year on record in the lower 48 states, and the world its ninth-hottest, a United Nations agency said in a report, adding new urgency to the quest to control global warming.

Morocco sees first wind–hydrogen system installed in Africa

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 15:46:55 -0800

The first African initiative to generate hydrogen from water using renewable energy has been installed in Morocco. The completion of Africa’s first wind–hydrogen system is a collaboration between the Pure Energy® Centre in Scotland, Sahara Wind Inc, and Al Akhawayn University in Morocco.

Renewable energy to become world's second-largest power generation source by 2015, says IEA

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 15:45:36 -0800

The global energy map is changing “in dramatic fashion”, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today, as it launched the 2012 edition of its World Energy Outlook.

World Bank’s US$12 billion ‘better invested in desert power than in fossil fuels’

Julia Chan — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:44:41 -0800

The US$12 billion should have been invested in harnessing renewable energy sites where â€œthe wind blows the hardest or the sun shines the fiercestâ€ such as in the deserts of Asia, the Americas and Africa, says Dr. Thiemo Gropp

More than 1,000 new coal plants planned worldwide, figures show

Damian carrington — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:43:07 -0800

World Resources Institute identifies 1,200 coal plants in planning across 59 countries, with about three-quarters in China and India More than 1,000 coal-fired power plants are being planned worldwide, new research has revealed.

Megalim Solar Power wins contract for 121MW Israeli solar thermal plant

Julia Chan — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:40:46 -0800

Megalim Solar Power, a company established by BrightSource Energy and Alstom, has won the bid to build a 121MW solar thermal power plant in Israel. The construction contract was awarded by Israelâ€™s inter-ministerial Tender Committee.

NREL/DOE Launch New Alternative Transportation Web Tools

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:39:46 -0800

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has launched a new tool and redesigned DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center Web site to help fleet managers, municipalities and consumers choose from a wide variety of alternative fuels and energy efficiency strategies for reducing petroleum use, vehicle emissions, and operating costs.

Freshwater Fish Are Dying at Alarming Rates

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:38:46 -0800

North American freshwater fishes are going extinct at rates that concern scientists

Bet on Adoption of a U.S. Climate Policy

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:37:31 -0800

Four years ago, six months before the last presidential election, I expressed skepticism about whether the United States would adopt a cap-and-trade carbon reduction plan, even though both candidates Obama and McCain had explicitly favored such a system. This year, though neither President Obama or challenger Romney has uttered the words "climate change" during the campaign, my prediction is that the United States will soon adopt some kind of carbon plan, regardless of who wins.

Japan's nuclear dilemma: Is geothermal the answer?

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:36:57 -0800

Walking through Tsuchiyu's near-deserted streets on a rainy weekday afternoon, it's hard to imagine that this spa town of 450 could become a standard-bearer in Japan's quest to wean itself off nuclear power

Tokelau islands shift to solar energy

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:35:15 -0800

Tokelau has become the first territory able to meet all its electricity needs with solar power, officials say.

Laos to begin building hotly debated Xayaburi dam this week

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:32:30 -0800

Laos plans to start building a dam on the Mekong River this week, a step that neighboring Cambodia and Vietnam fear could imperil fish and cripple rice fields.

Installed PV capacity in Italy surpasses 16GW

Julia Chan — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:32:01 -0800

Italy has a total of 456,575 grid-connected PV plants currently in operation, benefitting from the country’s Conto Energia V incentive programme, according to figures published by Italian energy agency GSE. Combined, these plants have a total PV capacity of 16.6GW.

Unprecedented world carbon emissions cuts needed by 2050 -PwC

Nina Chestney — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:24:52 -0800

LONDON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The world will have to cut the rate of carbon emissions by an unprecedented rate to 2050 to stop global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees this century, a report released by PwC on Monday showed.

Iceland--an Example of the High Penetration of Renewables in the Modern Era

Paul Gipe — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:22:26 -0800

Iceland's famous for its breathtaking scenery, its geysers, its Blue Lagoon--and for sitting astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Among energy wonks, Iceland is also well known for using its abundant renewable energy, and especially for tapping the volcanic roots of the island in developing its geothermal resources.

Southern Solar to create 100MW solar project in India

Syanne Olson — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:21:31 -0800

According to RTT News, Gestamp and Zynergy’s joint venture (JV), Southern Solar, will complete the first 25MW of the project by March. It has been noted that Rohit Rahindernath, CEO and MD of Zynergy stated that the Southern Solar will buy 202 hectares in the Madurai and Ramnad districts, with the JV planning to sell the power generated by the plants directly to industrial consumers.

Ending India's Massive Power Grid Outages

Darchan Goswami — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:00:17 -0800

On July 30thÂ and 31stÂ the world's largest blackout -- The Great Indian Outage -- stretching from New Delhi to Kolkata occurred. This blackout caused by northern power grid failure had put nearly 700 million people -- twice the population of the U.S. without electricity. A grid failure of this magnitude has thrown light on the massive demand for power in a country and its struggle to generate much-needed power supply.

Swiss energy provider to launch residential rooftop leasing programme

Nilima Choundhury — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:59:33 -0800

Swiss energy providerÂ Energie de Sion-RÃ©gion (ESR) has launched a residential rooftop leasing programme for PV installations in the Swiss canton of Valais.

MX Group SEE unveils plans for 1GW of PV projects across Serbia

Julia Chan — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:58:48 -0800

The Serbian government and Luxembourg-based investor Securum Equity Partners have signed a binding framework agreement for a 1GW PV deal.

Tenaska and SDG&E install first module on 130MW PV projec

Julia Chan — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:58:15 -0800

US PV project developer Tenaska has installed the first PV module forÂ its 130MW Tenaska Imperial South solar project located at the company’s Imperial Solar Energy Center South facility near El Centro, California.

DBSA approves US$980 million of loans for South African solar projects

Julia Chan — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:56:59 -0800

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has approved loan facilities worth R9,668.50 billion (US$980 million) earmarked for 13 solar projects in South Africa. Combined, the projects have a total capacity of 762.6MW.

EDF Energies Nouvelles commissions 56MW solar plant in France

Syanne Olson — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:56:07 -0800

The solar plant holds a 56MW installed capacity and is outfitted with nearly 700,000 thin-film PV panels from First Solar.

SunPower completes largest PV system in the US Navy

Julia Chan — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:55:18 -0800

US PV manufacturer SunPower Corporation has announced the completion of a 13.78MW solar power system at the US Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS China Lake) in California. The PV system is hailed as the largest in the US Navy.

Marubeni plans large-scale 81.5MW PV plant in Japan

Julia Chan — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:54:44 -0800

The surge in solar activities in Japan is continuing with Tokyo-based Marubeni Corporation announcing plans to create a â€œmega-solar power businessâ€ by building an 81.5MW solar plant in Oita City, Japan.

IKEA targets energy independence by 2020

Julia Chan — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:50:33 -0800

IKEA has allocated €1.5 billion to solar and wind projects up to 2015 in a bid to meet all its on-site energy demands from renewable sources by 2020.

With 'Facts' Website, California Looks to Thwart Opposition to Climate Change

Jim Malewitz — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:37:34 -0800

Perhaps more than any other state, California has acted on the scientific consensus that global climate change is real and man-made. By 2020, California utilities will have to obtain a third of their energy from renewable sources. And in November, the state plans to roll out a “cap-and-trade” system to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Its development plans account for rising sea levels, eroding coastlines and dwindling fresh-water resources.

Energy Report: U.S. Wind Industry Surges in 2011

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:36:50 -0700

The Energy Department released a new report on August 14 highlighting strong growth in the U.S. wind energy market in 2011. According to the 2011 Wind Technologies Market Report, the United States remained one of the world’s largest and fastest growing wind markets in 2011.

The rise–and possible fall–of U.S. wind power

Brad Plumer — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:36:10 -0700

It’s getting harder and harder to call wind power a niche source of electricity in the United States. Last year, wind turbines represented one-third of all new generation capacity built in the country, behind only natural gas. At this point, wind provides 3 percent of the country’s electricity. In a few states, such as South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa, wind provides more than 10 percent of all electricity.

Lockheed Martin to Integrate Fuel Cells, Solar Power for Military Apps

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:35:39 -0700

Lockheed Martin secured a contract with the Office of Naval Research for the design and development of solid oxide fuel cell generator sets as an alternative to traditional battlefield power generation equipment. Lockheed Martin's fuel cell technology will be integrated with solar panels, providing the military with the power needed to perform missions while using dramatically less fuel.

New York to inject US$107 million into large-scale PV projects over 2 years

Julia Chan — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:33:19 -0700

Through the NY-Sun Initiative — a programme which aims to co-ordinate a well-funded solar energy expansion plan — US$107 million will be injected into the NY-Sun Competitive PV Program to facilitate the development of large-scale PV systems throughout New York, US, Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced.

Punjab, India, to implement revised renewable energy policy

Nilima Choudhury — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:34:12 -0700

Energy minister of Punjab, India, Bikram Singh Majithia announced new financial incentives to be incorporated into a revised renewable energy policy for 2012.

Gujarat in talks with IFC for 1,000MW solar project

Nilima Choudhury — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:31:40 -0700

The government of the state of Gujarat in India has confirmed it is exploring the possibility of setting up a 1,000MW solar power project in conjunction with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Gujarat estimates that the project could cost around Rs 8 to 9 crore per MW, therefore, the 1,000MW project could cost anywhere between Rs 8,000 to 9,000 crore.

US Army Corps of Engineers issues RFP for renewable energy projects

Syanne Olson — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:32:39 -0700

Through its Engineering and Support Centre, Huntsville, the US Army Corps of Engineers has issued a multiple-award task order contract (MATOC) RFP for US$7 billion in total contract capacity for the acquisition of locally generated, renewable and alternative energy through PPAs.

Warm extremes in Earth's climate becoming more common

Scott K. Johnson — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:28:34 -0700

When you see a lot of sixes coming up on a friend’s Monopoly dice, you might begin to harbor a suspicion that the dice are loaded. But if you see sevens appear, you know something is definitely amiss.

Global PV monitoring market will reach 23GW in 2012 and 50GW in 2016, report forecasts

Julia Chan — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:30:58 -0700

The global PV monitoring market is predicted to reach 23GW in 2012, according to the Global PV Monitoring 2012 report published by GTM Research.

NASA: Hotter Summers Since 1980 Caused by Global Warming

Tiffany Kaiser — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:27:47 -0700

Hotter summers have become the norm from 1980 to present compared to 1951 to 1980 (the base period)

Joining Forces on Renewable Energy Development

Melissa C. Lott — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:26:22 -0700

A partnership between the Interior and Defense departments will reopen 16 million acres of land to renewable energy development. The goal? To help ensure reliable energy supplies for the nation’s military bases, while protecting the environment and saving taxpayer money.

Cooling a Warming Planet: A Global Air Conditioning Surge

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:21:08 -0800

The U.S. has long used more energy for air conditioning than all other nations combined. But as demand increases in the world's warmer regions, global energy consumption for air conditioning is expected to continue to rise dramatically and could have a major impact on climate change.

PV to become Australia's cheapest electricity source by 2050, study says

Julia Chan — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:24:17 -0700

According to a study by the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE), PV, along with onshore wind, will be the cheapest sources of electricity in Australia by 2030. Moreover, non-tracking PV is estimated to go on to become the cheapest power generation technology in Australia by 2050. BREE is a research unit within Australia’s Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.

Germany installs record amount of PV in 1H’12

Emma Hughes — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:23:08 -0700

The latest installation figures from the German Federal Network Agency show that the country’s mid-year subsidy change for rooftop installations has caused a surge in solar demand for the first half of 2012, with more than 4.3GW installed in a period of just six months. This figure compares to just 1.71GW installed in the same period last year.

PSE&G plans US$883 million investment to expand its solar projects

Julia Chan — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:25:23 -0700

Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G), a US electric and gas company, has announced that it will submit a request to New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for approval to invest up to US$883 million to expand its Solar 4 All and Solar Loan programmes in order to develop an additional 233MW of solar capacity. The expansion is expected to create around 300 jobs per year over the next five years.

Walmart hits 100th solar installation milestone in California

Julia Chan — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:22:22 -0700

US retail giant Walmart is continuing to fulfill its promise to invest in renewable energy and has installed solar panels on the rooftop of its College Avenue store in San Diego to generate electricity. This marks the company’s 100th solar installation in California and is in line with its aim to expand its solar portfolio to more than 75% of its stores in the state, approximately 130 stores, by the end of 2013.

Greece adds 97MW of PV capacity in June 2012

Julia Chan — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:21:42 -0700

According to Hellenic Transmission System Operator SA (HTSO), Greece has installed an additional 97MW of grid-connected PV capacity in June 2012, bringing its total PV capacity to 724MW. HTSO also revealed that the country’s PV systems generated 161.5 GWh of electricity in the same month.

IMS Research: Chinese government doubles installation target to rescue domestic PV manufacturers

Nilima Choudhury — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:21:12 -0700

China’s PV manufacturing base saw a major setback in the first and second quarters of 2012, with a severe slump in exports sparking the government to step in and further raise its PV installation target to 50GW, according to the latest quarterly report on China’s PV market from IMS Research. Tough competition in the global market place, vast oversupply and falling prices has put Chinese manufacturers’ balance sheets under huge pressure and China’s government has responded by more than doubling its long-term installation target from 20 to 50 GW by 2020.

Kyocera's 70MW PV power plant to cost US$345 million

Mark Osborne — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:20:29 -0700

Japan's largest single utility-scale solar power plant, using 290,000 multicrystalline solar modules supplied by Kyocera is expected to cost in the region of US$345 million or approximately ¥27 billion when complet by autumn 2013. With project finance now in place, construction of the plant in Kagoshima City, on land owned by IHI Corporation, will start in September. The plant was initially announced in April 2012.

France offers €1 billion investment opportunity

Nilima Choudhury — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:19:24 -0700

Perhaps not in the way Enerplan wished in a statement to France’s new president, Francois Hollande, but the country is pushing forwards with its plans for renewable energy generation. Delphine Batho, the new minister for ecology, sustainable development and energy, announced the results of two tenders for solar plants.

Envision Solar announces development initiatives in Middle East, Spain

Syanne Olson — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:18:45 -0700

Shaded parking array designed and developer, Envision Solar International, has announced that through a new partnership with Aconfort, it will be developing new business initiatives through the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Spain. Aconfort is a member of Al Habtoor Enterprises and is based in the UAE and Spain.

IMS Research: micro-inverter firms fastest growing as PV inverter market to surpass US$7 billion

Mark Osborne — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:18:01 -0700

The latest global PV inverter market report from IMS Research paints a mixed business environment for the sector that has more than 150 active suppliers. Although having defended reasonably well against price declines, compared to the rest of the supply chain, the market research firm is forecasting inverter sector revenues to only increase by 3% in 2012, while shipments increased nearly 25%.

SolarCity partners with Credit Suisse on second round of investment for solar panel installations

Syanne Olson — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:17:01 -0700

SolarCity announced that it has partnered with Credit Suisse on a second round of investment. The investment will go towards building solar panel installations and will help offset the upfront cost of solar panels for SolarCity customers. Each round included an investment of US$100 million from Credit Suisse, for a total of US$200 million.

Credit Suisse provides US$200 million commitment to Sunrun

Syanne Olson — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:16:21 -0700

Credit Suisse, which just announced its US$200 million partnership with Solar City, has additionally advised that it has committed US$200 million to Sunrun. The investment will help support the purchase and installation of thousands of residential solar systems in the US.

GEA National Geothermal Summit to address challenges in advancing geothermal industry in California and beyond

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:14:10 -0700

As California is in the midst of policy decisions that will determine its energy future, the GEA National Geothermal Summit will bring policy and industry leaders together in Sacramento Aug. 7-8.

OCI and CPS's 400MW project will drive US$700 million into Texan economy

Nilima Choudhury — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:20:30 -0800

Endemic overcapacity and continued price declines within the polysilicon sector impeded Korean OCI Company’s previously announced plans for the construction of two plants in May. Nevertheless, its North-American arm, OCI Solar Power, has signed a landmark deal with CPS Energy in San Antonio, Texas, to develop more than 400MW of projects. The contracts are based on a 25-year power purchase agreement.

Solar cells that convert windows into energy producers

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:11:00 -0700

Researchers have fashioned a new transparent solar cell that will not only permit windows at homes to generate power but also enable people to see outside.

Renewable energy can solve Afghanistan's power scarcity problem – study

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:10:06 -0700

Renewable energy will help in Afghanistan's energy scarcity problem according to a study by a researcher from Kansas State University.

U.S. Lags Behind Other Countries In Energy-Efficiency Efforts

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:06:44 -0700

The U.K. ranks first in a new energy-efficiency ranking of the world's major economies, and is followed closely by Germany, Italy and Japan, according to the International Energy Efficiency Scorecard, published by the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Big Military Solar Project Expands To New Bases

Todd Woody — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:08:06 -0700

SolarCity has embarked on the second phase of Project SolarStrong, a billion dollar initiative to install solar panels on 120,000 units of privately managed U.S. military housing.

Why the U.S. Fracking Industry Worries About the Weather in India

Hilary Hylton — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:05:44 -0700

It's all about a bean that is essential to making the technology flow, literally. In the meantime, Indian farmers have hit pay dirt.

New Database from NREL Makes Costs of Energy Technologies More Transparent

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:03:10 -0700

A new web application collects cost and performance estimates for electric generation, advanced vehicles, and renewable fuel technologies and makes them available for utilities, policy makers, consumers, and academics. The Transparent Cost Database (TCDB) app provides technology cost and performance estimates that can be used to benchmark company costs, model energy scenarios, and inform research and development decisions.

WGA seeks ways to add renewables

Bill Opalka — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 14:04:23 -0800

Greater amounts of renewable energy are continually being added to the power mix in the Western states, so ways to integrate those resources are paramount.

Unique Properties of Graphene Lead to a New Paradigm for Low-Power Telecommunications

Sun, 15 Jul 2012 14:00:52 -0700

New research by Columbia Engineering demonstrates remarkable optical nonlinear behavior of graphene that may lead to broad applications in optical interconnects and low-power photonic integrated circuits. With the placement of a sheet of graphene just one-carbon-atom-thick, the researchers transformed the originally passive device into an active one that generated microwave photonic signals and performed parametric wavelength conversion at telecommunication wavelengths.

Update: Sky Solar to invest US$900 million into Chilean market

Nilima Choudhury — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:01:55 -0700

Chinese company Sky Solar will be a conduit to help form a strategic partnership for bilateral free trade between China and Chile. CEO Amy Zhang recently attended a banquet hosted by Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in the capital, Santiago, an event also attended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his entourage.

Global Warming Makes Heat Waves More Likely, Study Finds

Justin Gillis — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 13:57:27 -0800

Some of the weather extremes bedeviling people around the world have become far more likely because of human-induced global warming, researchers reported on Tuesday. Yet they ruled it out as a cause of last year’s devastating floods in Thailand, one of the most striking weather events of recent years.

IEA warns Ireland to invest even more in renewables to meet 40% by 2020 target

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 13:58:35 -0700

Ireland must invest even more in renewable technologies, expand grid integration and improve energy efficiency, the International Energy Agency says in a review of Irish energy policies, published today.

Top 20 Cities with Billions at Risk from Climate Change

Eric Roston — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:51:29 -0700

By 2050, more than 6 billion humans are expected to live in cities, according to the United Nations. Ports, which constitute more than half the world's largest cities, will face unique challenges as their populations swell.

Costa Rica's 'green economy' shows that money can grow on trees

Ina Porras — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:55:43 -0700

A creative approach to sustainable development includes paying for environmental resources, such as forests and water

Germany Plans 3800-Kilometer, $25 Billion Transmission Network for Wind Power

Dave Levitan — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:53:17 -0700

Fresh off the record-setting solar weekend in Germany, the country's transmission operators say plans are in the works for a huge transmission line buildout to accommodate growing wind power resources.

SunEdison sells 98MW of European PV projects

Anne Zimmermann — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:11:25 -0700

SunEdison has sold a total of 98MW of European PV projects, the company has announced, closing three transactions last week. The projects include a 60MW PV plant in Karadzhalovo, Bulgaria, which was sold to a consortium of investors including the First Reserve Energy Infrastructure Fund, Saudi Arabian developer ACWA Power and Turkish private equity firm Crescent Capital. The plant was connected to the grid in March 2012 and had been funded by an IFC €155 million debt financing agreement. ACWA subsidiary NOMAC and SunEdison will operate and maintain the plant under a joint vernture agreement.

New US financing alternative to tax incentive could increase installations by 75%

Nilima Choudhury — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:10:38 -0700

The US Senate’s recent vote to not extend the Department of Treasury's solar energy tax incentive has resulted in a creative alternative by underwriters from financial institutions like Bank of America to Credit Suisse and Citigroup. This option would convert “sunlight into cash to pay bond investors,” reports Bloomberg. The SEIA predicts solar installations could increase by 75%, exceeding the 3,200MW goal for 2012. The only negative could be that developers may have to offer higher interest rates than more established asset-backed bonds in order to attract investors.

IEA report expects renewable power generation to continue steady growth over next five years

Syanne Olson — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:12:12 -0700

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has determined that over the next five years, in spite of economic uncertainty, global power generation from hydropower, solar, wind and other renewable resources will increase by over 40% to 6,400TWh. The report, Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report 2012, finds that renewable electricity generation should expand by 1,840TWh between 2011 and 2017; nearly 60% more than the 1,160TWh growth found to have taken place between 2005 and 2011.

Waaree offers easy finance scheme for PV projects

Anne Zimmermann — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:09:52 -0700

Waaree has launched a new easy finance scheme, the company has announced. The scheme is aimed at both bridge finance as well as long-term finance of solar projects and will be offered to companies already under PPAs. With this new finance scheme, Waaree can provide financial support for companies investing in PV in India and for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).

JBIC extends credit line for ICICI Bank of India

Anne Zimmermann — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:15:28 -0700

The Japanese Bank for International Cooporation (JBIC) has signed a general agreement with ICICI Bank (Bank of India) for an export credit line of up to US$30 million to fund a variety of renewable energy projects, it has been announced. Other private Japanese institutions will also co-finance the loan, adding another US$50 million to the credit line, making the credit a total of US$80 million.

Solaria to develop 50MW of PV projects throughout Argentina

Anne Zimmermann — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:06:16 -0700

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente is planning to develop upto 50MW of PV projects in Argentina, the company has announced. Under an agreement signed by Solaria and Argentinian energy company Energia Argentina SA (ENARSA), Solaria will develop the projects throughout Argentina. No further details were disclosed.

Conergy installs 1MW PV rooftop system in Greece

Anne Zimmermann — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:05:41 -0700

Conergy has connected a 1MW PV plant in Greece to the grid, the company has announced. The company has been responsible for the design and construction of the plant and has also supplied 13,000 thin-film PV modules for the installation. N. Kornilakis MEPE, a Greek logistics company, had the system installed on its 68,000mÂ² warehouse roof.

California installs 1GW in 2011

Nilima Choudhury — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:04:47 -0700

In 2011, California became the first US state to install more than 1GW of customer-generated solar energy, according to figures published by the California Public Utilities Commission. The report, California Solar Initiative (CSI) also demonstrates that 311MW were installed in the investor-owned utility territories last year. The CSI program has received a budget of US$2.4 billion and is aiming to reach 1,940MW of solar capacity by the end of 2016.

Japan publishes strategic energy road map

Nilima Choudhury — Wed, 03 Jul 2013 15:24:16 -0700

Japan has published its latest strategic energy plan, originally formulated in 2003 and reviewed every three years by conference bodies as well as various opinion polls. The latest revision includes a road map of energy-based economic growth and reformation of the energy infrastructure. The strategy is to ensure growth and encourage multi-faceted international trade by taking into account the social cost and price differences between nuclear, thermal and renewable energy generation.

Solarpack lands contract to supply energy to Collahuasi copper mine in Chile

Syanne Olson — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:02:14 -0700

Spain-based Solarpack Corporacion Tecnologica was recently awarded a contract to supply energy to northern Chile's Collahuasi copper mine. According to a statement emailed to Bloomberg from Compania Minera Dona Ines de Collahuasi, the company will deliver 60,000MWh of energy a year from two solar plants, beginning in Q4 2013.

Obama Administration Announces Major Steps Forward to Advance Energy Efficiency Efforts, Improve Access to Low-Cost Financing for States and Local Com

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:29:11 -0700

The Obama Administration today announced 36 new states, local governments, and school districts have joined President Obama's Better Buildings Challenge. These new commitments total nearly 300 million square feet in job-creating building energy upgrades, equivalent to more than 130 Empire State Buildings.

Salazar Approves First-Ever Commercial Solar Energy Project on American Indian Trust Lands

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:00:38 -0800

350 megawatt photovoltaic facility in Nevada will benefit Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, generate enough power for over 100,000 homes.

HCPV to attain 31% compound annual growth rate until 2017 according to Lux Research

Syanne Olson — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:59:48 -0700

Lux Research’s Putting High-Concentration Photovoltaics into Focus report is expecting for high-concentrating PV (HCPV) to start making a bigger footprint in the solar industry. The research company’s new report expects for HCPV to have a 31% compound annual growth rate until 2017, growing to 697MW in five years. Lux Research anticipates the growth in the HCPV technology to create a system market worth US$1.6 billion and a module market worth US$700 million with a system price of US$2.33/W.

Sky Solar plans to enter Chilean PV market with 300MW project

Anne Zimmermann — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:58:52 -0700

Chinese PV company Sky Solar is planning to invest in a 300MW PV project in Chile, according to a report by Reuters. Sky Solar, in collaboration with Chilean Sigdo Koppers and the Chinese Development Bank, has announced the signing of an agreement on Tuesday, under which Sky Solar is looking to invest US$900 million to construct the 300MW solar power park over three years.

Rio+20: Ban announces more than 100 commitments on sustainable energy

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 15:22:46 -0700

Speaking at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced that more than one hundred commitments and actions have been already mobilized in support of the UN’s global sustainable energy initiative.

Is 80 Percent Renewables by 2050 Wishful Thinking?

Bill Opalk — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:30:09 -0700

How much renewable energy can the United States accommodate over the coming decades is the subject of a new report published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

First the iPhone. Now Renewables.

Mitsuru Obe — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:58:02 -0700

When Masayoshi Son heard about the nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima last year, he had a mini meltdown of his own. The chief executive of telecommunications and Internet company Softbank Corp. 9984.TOÂ +2.87% - these days best known as the man who brought Apple Inc.'s iPhone to Japan - says he told his board he was so concerned by the accident that he couldn't concentrate on his job anymore. Mr. Son said he planned to quit and work on energy issues instead.

Japan approves renewable subsidies in shift from nuclear power

Yuko Inoue and Leonora Walet — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:57:13 -0700

Japan approved on Monday incentives for renewable energy that could unleash billions of dollars in clean-energy investment and help the world's third-biggest economy shift away from a reliance on nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster.

Better Lithium Ion Battery Aims to Re-Energize Electric Cars

David Biello — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:14:15 -0700

A new lithium ion battery technology may finally make the devices cheap enough and durable enough to turn electric cars from a niche product into a mass-market mode of transport. Waltham, Mass.-manufacturer A123 Systems has produced a cell that delivers 20 percent more power, works at temperatures as low as â€“30 degrees Celsius and as high as 60 degrees C, and should be just as easy as current batteries to manufacture.

Cuba Focuses Efforts on Renewable Energy

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:21:22 -0700

Cuba looks forwards to adding a 16.5 percent renewable energy contribution to the country's energy output as a crucial factor for security, sustainability and sovereignty.

IEA calls for doubling of clean energy spending by 2020

Michel Rose — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:19:57 -0700

Global investments in clean energy need to double by 2020 to avoid missing climate change targets, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Monday, calling on governments to spend more on technologies such as carbon storage and solar power.

Scatec and IFC enter agreement to develop PV plants in West and Central Africa

Anne Zimmermann — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:56:31 -0700

Norwegian-based Scatec Solar and IFC InfraVentures have entered an agreement to develop a number of PV plants in West and Central Africa, the companies have announced. IFC will be financing the projects while Scatec will be responsible for designing, developing, constructing and operating PV plants with a capacity of 10MW or more in different African countries. Among the first countries in which Scatec and IFC are planning to develop solar power plants are Benin, Cameroon, Togo, Niger and Burkina Faso.

IBM partners with CUNY to study, establish solar adoption in New York City

Syanne Olson — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 14:55:33 -0800

IBM and CUNY Ventures, a City University of New York (CUNY) Economic Development unit, have partnered under the Smart NY program in order to encourage the adoption of solar. The program aims to develop the ability to analyse and understand key solar market indicators that make solar systems more cost competitive by using IBM's Intelligent Operation Centre (IOC) for Smarter Cities.

KREDL seeks government approval for 500MW solar park, India

Nilima Choudhury — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:54:01 -0700

Having increased the allocation of solar projects to 350MW by 2016, in February this year, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development (KREDL) is in the process of seeking government approval for a solar park, following in the footsteps of states like Gujarat. KREDL wishes to build the 1,000 hectare solar park at Mannur village in Bijapur, India, through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. According to the chairman of KREDL, C.M. Nimbannavar, the site is expected to generate 500MW of solar power.

Suntech proposes 100MW of solar projects in Pakistan

Nilima Choudhury — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 14:52:29 -0700

Pakistan's slow economic growth and energy shortage could be coming to an end if proposals from Suntech to establish 100MW in the country are realized. Speaking at a meeting attended by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Minister for Water and Power, Naveed Qamar, secretaries of the ministries of EAD, Water and Power, chairman NEPRA, CEO AEDB, Pakistan's ambassador to China and senior officials of relevant ministries, Dr Shi Zhengrong, chairman of Suntech, announced plans for the phased installation of plants with a generating capacity of 20MW each.

CNPV celebrates Enel Green Power's solar geothermal hybrid project completion in Nevada

Syanne Olson — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:18:14 -0700

CNPV Solar Power executives were on hand, May 2, at Enel Green Power’s inauguration ceremony for its solar geothermal hybrid project in Stillwater, Nevada. CNPV supplied its PV modules for the project, which has 33MW of geothermal capacity and 26MW of solar capacity. Initiated and owned by Enel Green Power, the project is said to be the world’s first and only geothermal hybrid project.

MOU Signed with Iceland for Geothermal Advancement; Geo Could Meet 20% of UK Power Needs

Leslie Blodgett — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:16:37 -0700

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Energy Minister Charles Hendry of the United Kingdom and Iceland's Finance Minister Oddny Haroardottir signed a memorandum of understanding in late May to explore options in bilateral energy affairs, including an electricity connection as well as information-sharing on deep geothermal development.

Enfinity completes 1.1MW solar project for Macy's distribution centre in New Jersey

Syanne Olson — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:51:11 -0700

Retail giant, Macy’s, has added a new solar array to the rooftop of its Edison, New Jersey distribution centre. The 1.1MW project, completed by Enfinity America is operational and expected to generate nearly 1.3 million kWh of energy per year. Enfinity owns the solar plant and under a 20-year PPA, will sell the electricity produced to Macy’s at a fixed rate. Co-developed by SunConnect, the project received longer-term financing through PSE&G’s SREC-based solar loan program.

Offshore renewable energy storage

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:13:08 -0700

An Energy Bag has been developed for undersea compressed air energy storage (CAES) of offshore wind, wave and tidal power.

Bangladesh keen on importing power from Arunachal Pradesh

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:25:52 -0700

Bangladesh has evinced keen interest in importing power from Arunachal Pradesh, once the ongoing hydro electric projects in the state are commissioned.

Last Weekend, Half of Germany Was Running on Solar Power

Brian Merchant — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:48:11 -0700

That's right - half of all of Germany was powered by electricity generated by solar plants. That's incredible. It was also world record-breaking. Germany is pretty much singlehandedly proving that solar can be a major, reliable source of power - even in countries that aren't all that sunny.

Obama administation to install 3GW on military installations

Nilima Choudhury — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:49:31 -0800

US President Barak Obama believes national security lies in energy independence. Overall, the country’s reliance on foreign oil has fallen since 2005, with net imports of total consumption declining from 57% in 2008 to 45% in 2011 – claimed by the administration to be the lowest level since 1995.

South America and the Caribbean to receive US$600 million funding for renewable energy projects

Nilima Choudhury — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:27:34 -0700

The Inter-American and Development Bank (IDB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have entered a co-financing agreement worth US$600 million to invest in renewable private-sector projects in South America and the Caribbean.

Nicaraguan government to develop country’s first PV project

James Williams — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:28:43 -0800

Nicaragua’s Ministry of Energy and Mines has started construction on a 1.38MW project in the west of the country. The solar farm, located 12km from the city of Diriamba, will be partly funded by the Japanese, with an investment of US$12 million. According to Nicaraguan newspaper El Nuavo Diario, the PV installation will become the largest in Central America.

ABB Launches Fast EV Charger

Kari Williams — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:09:07 -0800

The fast EV charger has been designed for fast charging in commercial and office areas, and can fully charges an electric car in 30-120 minutes. It can also charge to set levels in a shorter period of time if a full charge is not necessary. Charging from a 30% to 80% takes less than half an hour, ABB says. The Terra SC uses the widely available 3-phase 32A input, eliminating the need for a costly grid connection upgrade.

India offers Pakistan 5,000MW electricity

Muhammad Saleh Zaafir — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:00:32 -0800

Seoul: India has formally offered to provide Pakistan with 5,000 megawatt electricity to fulfill its energy requirements on an urgent basis regularly which could be transmitted through Punjab without much delay.

German government cuts FiT from March 9

Mark Osborne — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:03:06 -0800

Due to an aggressive FiT cut of between 20% for residential and 30%, for large-scale PV installations the German government will introduce the FiT cuts from March 9, 2012. Due to an aggressive FiT cut of between 20% for residential and 30% for large-scale PV installations, the German government will introduce the FiT cuts from March 9, 2012 to eliminate a rush of installations to beat the tariff change. Tariff changes include 19.5€c per kWh for small-scale to 16.5€c per kWh for larger systems and only 13.5€c per kWh for 10MW or below utility plant-scale systems.

Largest-ever OPV module created at NREL’s labs

Sile Mc Mahon — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:43:38 -0800

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has, in collaboration with New Energy Technologies, produced its largest-area OPV module ever at 170cm2. The companies’ engineers have worked together on developing New Energy’s SolarWindow technology that allows the generation of electricity on see-through glass windows.

2 mln more Chinese to have access to electricity

China.org.cn — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:39:13 -0800

The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), the country's largest power supplier, pledged Tuesday to launch projects in the country's most remote corners, offering another 2.07 million people access to electricity by the end of 2015.

Nicaragura Power up on Green Energy

PRONicaragua — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:29:41 -0800

Over the past few years, Nicaragua's energy sector has become a State priority, and wheels have been set in motion to promote its development – as well as seek large-scale renewable energy projects.

We Can't Wait: Obama Administration Announces Steps to Boost the Rural Economy, Promote Job Creation

usda.gov — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:44:06 -0800

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2012 – As part of the Obama Administration's "We Can't Wait" efforts to strengthen the economy, create jobs and support business growth, Administration officials announced three significant actions to expand the government's purchase of biobased products, promote regional rural job creation efforts, and develop a rural healthcare workforce, all of which build on the historic investments the Administration has made in rural America over the past three years. Today's announcements are the latest in a series of executive actions the Obama Administration is taking to strengthen the economy and move the country forward because we can't wait for Congress to act.

Navajos look to invest in grid connection project

cbsnews.com — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:28:20 -0800

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A $1.5 billion effort to link the United States' three major electricity grids has caught the attention of one of the country's largest American Indian tribes as it looks to enter the energy race.

Climate 'tech fixes' urged for Arctic methane

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:29:40 -0800

An eminent UK engineer is suggesting building cloud-whitening towers in the Faroe Islands as a "technical fix" for warming across the Arctic.

NRG Energy completes first two solar energy projects with the Clinton Foundation in Haiti

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:16:34 -0800

Former president Bill Clinton and NRG Energy’s president David Crane visited Haiti to examine the progress of the solar power installations built in partnership with the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF).

Is Desertec The Answer To Europe And Africa's Energy Woes?

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:01:39 -0800

Standing on the shores of the Mediterranean, anywhere from Tangiers to Istanbul, it’s not exactly difficult to imagine the region’s renewable potential.

Alta Devices’ solar panel receives NREL verification of 23.5% efficiency

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:42:43 -0800

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has verified Alta Devices’ most recent and highest efficiency solar panel at 23.5%.

South Africa has great wind energy potential

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:27:36 -0800

There exists great wind energy potential that remains to be tapped in South Africa, experts said, reports Xinhua.

U.S. wind generation increased 27% in 2011

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:36:00 -0800

Generation from wind turbines in the United States increased 27% in 2011 compared to 2010, continuing a trend of rapid growth.

Asia Report: After Quake, Japan Pushes for Asia Supergrid

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:27:53 -0800

Japan this week marks the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that has since forced it to re-evaluate its nuclear strategy. In doing so, it also unveiled a plan that could have big implications for renewable energy across the continent.

Minnesota Electricity Could Be 100% Renewable, 100% Local

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:15:48 -0800

A new report released today by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research shows that Minnesota can meet 100% of its electricity needs with in-state wind and solar power, and (with ample energy efficiency investments) at a comparable cost to its existing electricity supply.

U.S. solar and wind industries expand

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:57:51 -0800

Despite last year's bankruptcies of several solar manufacturers, including government-backed Solyndra, the U.S. solar and wind industries continue to expand in the face of obstacles this year.

India, Pakistan keen to open up borders for trade

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:47:30 -0800

Joint Working Groups on electricity, petroleum and banking scheduled to meet this month

Eigg Electric

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:30:14 -0700

On 1st February 2008, the Isle of Eigg entered a new era, with the switching on of our island electrification project, which makes 24 hour power available for the first time to all residents and businesses on the island.

Insurers See Growing Risks and Costs from Climate Change

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:08:04 -0800

Coming off a year of record-setting $1 billion-plus natural disasters, representatives of leading insurance companies said today that costs to taxpayers and businesses from extreme weather will continue to soar because of climate change.

'Nanotrees' could deliver clean fuel

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:58:17 -0800

U.S. engineers say a forest of tiny "nanowire trees" can cleanly capture solar energy without using fossil fuels and harvest it for hydrogen fuel generation.

POWER EXPORT TO COST BILLIONS

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:43:20 -0800

The Royal Government of Bhutan’s (RGoB) ambition to harness and export 10,000 megawatts of hydroelectric power to India by 2020 will be a mamoth task looking at projected figures.

Suntech’s Pluto technology achieves world-record 20.3% efficiency

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:44:42 -0800

Suntech has logged another world record for its Pluto cell technology with a SERIS-verified 20.3% cell efficiency.

President Obama Launches EV-Everywhere Challenge as Part of Energy Department’s Clean Energy Grand Challenges

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:35:59 -0800

At an event today at the Daimler Truck factory in Mt. Holly, N.C., President Obama launched EV-Everywhere, the second in a series of Energy Department “Clean Energy Grand Challenges” aimed at addressing the most pressing energy challenges of our time.

Power of Supportive Policy: California Could Get 66% of Electricity From Renewables, Double It's Already Aggressive Goal

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:27:47 -0800

Thanks to prescient policies, California could achieve double its already aggressive goal of 33% of electricity from renewables by 2020.

USGS assesses geothermal potential for the western U.S.

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:39:59 -0800

Reported by the Arizona Geological Society, there is a large potential for geothermal energy in the Western United States.

In search of the energy Internet

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:35:47 -0800

"The Enernet." When I heard that term last week, at the U.S. Energy Department’s Energy Innovation Summit, I harkened back to about 1993, when something called "the Internet" first entered my consciousness.

A Tour of the U.S.'s Clean Energy Future [Slide Show]

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:23:29 -0800

The third annual ARPA-E summit showcases potentially transformative energy technologies

Solar shakeout: Oerlikon Solar to be sold to Tokyo Electron

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:13:44 -0800

Oerlikon Group’s loss-making Oerlikon Solar, the originator of the turnkey thin-film business model with a-Si and tandem-junction thin-film technology, is being sold to Japan’s leading semiconductor equipment supplier, Tokyo Electron (TEL).

Kuwait scraps nuclear power in light of Fukushima crisis

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:01:28 -0800

Kuwait is no longer pursuing nuclear power following the disaster in Japan, scrapping a plan last July to build four reactors by 2022, officials of a Kuwaiti government research body told Kyodo News and other media Tuesday.

Texas cities find it can take a lot of green to be 'green'

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:49:34 -0800

College Station, the maroon-hued home of Texas A&M University, is finding it is not easy being green.

Landmark power line ends Tibet plateau's blackouts

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:38:35 -0800

Residents on China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have bid farewell to winter blackouts, once a common occurrence in Tibet, thanks to a new power line.

Turkey sets renewable energy targets up to 2023

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:22:45 -0800

Turkey aims to make more use of renewable energy resources by 2023, according to a research of Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.

Bangladesh to buy 500 MW of electricity from India

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:50:28 -0800

Bangladesh has signed a deal to buy 250 megawatts of electricity from India to partly ease power shortages, as Dhaka slowly moves away from producing power using costly imported fuel, a senior official said on Tuesday.

France endorses “Made in Europe” FiT bonus

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:37:44 -0800

Previously announced in February, the French government has confirmed PV power plants will be eligible to receive a 10% bonus on top of the feed-in tariff if at least 60% of the installation’s modules are made in Europe. The law will come into effect shortly before the first round of presidential elections in April.

Finding solutions to Achilles’ heel of renewable energy: intermittency

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:27:29 -0800

Engineers imagine an energy future where giant transmission grids are backed up by massive energy storage units

Desertec Ambitions Turn to Asia, Australia

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:15:06 -0800

The ambitious Desertec project—a $9 billion initiative to develop, harness, and transmit 2,000 MW of renewable power from North Africa and the Middle East to Europe by 2050—has been trumped by a vaster concept that spans Asia and Australia (Figure 8).

Haiti seeks to rebuild, or just build, power grid

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:57:09 -0800

Sometimes it seems as though the people here have only the sun and moon: the blinding sun that bakes their mud homes and moonlight that with flickering gas lamps fights against the dark of night.

UN urges Africa to facilitate private investment in clean energy production

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:42:09 -0800

India, Feb. 26 -- Government policies that facilitate private sector investment in energy markets are crucial to help tap Africa's massive renewable energy potential, which can fuel the continent's poverty reduction efforts and put it on a path to sustainable development, according to a United Nations report released today.

Startup announces big breakthrough for electric vehicle batteries

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:30:48 -0800

For years, the electric vehicle industry has been eager to build a better electric car battery: one that extends range while having a longer overall life, is affordable, quick-charging and safe.

Egypt to Help With Gaza Power Shortages

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:22:07 -0800

Egypt has agreed to help ease Gaza's chronic power shortages as part of a three-stage plan that would eventually hook up the isolated territory to the regional grid, a Palestinian energy official said Monday.

Ethiopian electric cable to Sudan completed

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:16:25 -0800

February 19, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia has completed a power transmission line that links its power grid with neighbouring Sudan, state Electric and Power Corporation (EEPCO) announced.

'Printed' solar cells a low-cost solution?

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:03:36 -0800

Solar cells manufactured using special ink printed onto sheets of a supporting material could lead to new low-cost solar cells, U.S. chemical engineers say.

Mike’s energy plan blowin’ in the wind

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:52:45 -0800

The next hurricane could power your apartment.

2 mln more Chinese to have access to electricity

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:38:12 -0800

2012: A Breakthrough for Renewable Energy?

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:26:21 -0800

In his annual State of the Union address, President Obama declared: “I will not walk away from clean energy.”

GDP inadequate as climate cost gauge - Stern

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:13:42 -0800

LONDON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The cost of global warming can no longer be quantified solely in terms of gross domestic product as the changes the world will experience and the resulting loss of life will be so immense, climate economist Nicholas Stern said on Wednesday.

India's Soaring Energy demands strain national grid

John Daly — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:59:51 -0800

As the “Third World” races to industrialize, rising population demands for reliable energy place increasing stress on a country’s power generating capabilities, and nowhere is this more evident than in BRIC nation India.

Germany Slashes FIT Subsidies in an Effort to Rein in Solar Power Installations

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:47:31 -0800

Bonn, Germany -- Solar power has grown so massively in Germany that the government now plans to rein in the boom in photovoltaic installations by cutting generous subsidiaries.

Bulk of India’s future energy to come from renewables

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:59:36 -0800

By 2050, nearly 69 per cent of the electricity produced in India will come from renewables like solar energy, suggests a recent market insight on the “BIPV (Building-integrated photovoltaics) Market — Emerging Opportunities through Sustainable Resources” by Frost & Sullivan. India’s strategic geographical location enables it to tap the vast potential for solar power generation, with about 300 clear sunny days in a year, the Frost & Sullivan report says.

OriginOil Study Concludes Algae Producers Can Make Gasoline and Diesel For as Little as $2.28/Gallon

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:48:17 -0800

OriginOil, Inc. (OTC/BB: OOIL), developer of a breakthrough technology to convert algae into renewable crude oil, today announced a new company study indicating for the first time that algae producers worldwide can now make transportation fuels cost-effectively themselves.

ENVIRONMENT: Taking a human rights approach to climate change

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:39:36 -0800

GENEVA, 24 February 2012 (IRIN) - Many of the countries that have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions will be the worst affected by global warming, a “climate injustice” that highlights the link to human rights, experts told a gathering in Geneva.

Green power holds promise to replace fossil fuel as world's primary electricity source

Scott simpson — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:27:54 -0800

Large-scale green energy systems can affordably replace fossil fuel as the world's primary source of electricity within 20 years, new research from the United States weather office suggests.

Marshaling the Winds of Mongolia

Dylan walsh — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:15:37 -0800

Construction is to begin in March on Mongolia’s first wind farm, and its backers hope it will be the beginning of a renewable energy boom.

Rwanda aims to turn a threat into a power supply

Aimable Twahirwa — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:52:20 -0800

RUTSIRO, Rwanda (AlertNet) - The deep waters of Lake Kivu harbour a silent and invisible threat. Vast and growing quantities of methane and carbon dioxide, generated by volcanic activity, are trapped at the bottom of the lake. If they were to escape, the results could be deadly for the millions who live and work around Kivu’s shores.

German government cuts FiT from March 9

Mark Osborne — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:36:28 -0800

Due to an aggressive FiT cut of between 20% for residential and 30% for large-scale PV installations, the German government will introduce the FiT cuts from March 9, 2012 to eliminate a rush of installations to beat the tariff change.

Largest-ever OPV module created at NREL’s labs

Sile Mc Mahon — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:24:45 -0800

World Bank installs 1.2 mn solar systems in Bangladesh

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:10:05 -0800

Dhaka : The World Bank has helped install more than 1.2 million solar home systems for electricity in rural Bangladesh, the Washington-based lender said Wednesday.

Nicaragua powers up on green energy

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:30:46 -0800

What was once a weakness has become one of the country's strengths. The transformation of Nicaragua's energy sector could well become a case study for other countries.

UK wave and tidal has huge potential – needs government backing

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:16:33 -0800

With the largest wave and tidal resources in Europe, up to 20% of the UK' electricity could eventually come from marine renewables, and developing a thriving wave and tidal industry could bring economic benefits to the UK, the committee says.

GE to construct 10,000mw power plant in Nigeria

AMETO AKPE — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:49 -0800

General Electric (GE), a leading global company, originating from the USA, is to construct a 10,000 mega watts power plant in Nigeria, Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji has said.

New grid under-sea cable to connect England and Scotland

David Thorpe — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:42:40 -0800

While politicians talk of Scottish independence from England, a world-beating €1.1 billion contract has today been announced to make the two countries even more interconnected.

Analysis: As Solar Panels Eclipsed, Installers In Limelight

Matt Daily — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:21:35 -0800

A steep decline in solar panel prices is helping solar installers attract new capital, a trend likely to trigger consolidation in the fragmented industry and drive down the cost of putting the renewable energy system on rooftops.

Power of Supportive Policy: California Utilities Hit Target: 20% From Renewables

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:09:07 -0800

Two of California's largest utilities are now getting 20% of their energy from renewables as required by the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) - 20% by 2010.

2012: A Breakthrough for Renewable Energy?

Manish Bapna — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:55:07 -0800

In his annual State of the Union address, President Obama declared: “I will not walk away from clean energy.”

Activists Crack China’s Wall of Denial About Air Pollution

Sharon Lafraniere — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:35:04 -0800

BEIJING — Weary of waiting for the authorities to alert residents to the city’s most pernicious air pollutant, citizen activists last May took matters here into their own hands: they bought their own $4,000 air-quality monitor and posted its daily readings on the Internet.

Renewable energy passes nuclear as U.S. power source

Steven E.F Brown — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:19:22 -0800

Renewable energy sources -- wind, water, solar and others -- passed nuclear generation as a share of U.S. power in September, according to the Energy Information Administration.

ABB commissions power link between Sweden and Finland

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:01:12 -0800

Zurich, Switzerland, Jan.11, 2012 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has successfully commissioned a power link between Finland and Sweden. The HVDC (high-voltage direct current) Fenno-Skan 2 link is a cable-based power transmission system that enables the exchange of an additional 800 MW of power between the two countries, mitigating transmission bottle-necks in the region. The Fenno-Skan link is owned and operated by Fingrid and Svenska Kraftnät

Only one-in-three Afghans get electricity

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:44:20 -0800

Only one in three Afghans has access to electricity despite years of spending to improve supply, and the country is still far too dependent on imported power, the head of the country’s state owned power utility told Reuters. Abdul Razique Samadi, the chief executive officer at Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), said the situation in the capital, Kabul, is far better than the rest of the country, with around 70 percent of households connected.

Iran plans to connect power grid to Russia

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:35:43 -0800

Iran plans to connect its national power electricity grid to Russia by the next calendar year which will end on March 20, 2013, Iran power generation transmission and distribution management company (TAVANIR) managing director stated.

Electronic Atlas Maps U.S. Renewable Energy Resources

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:45:30 -0800

A new geospatial application developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) allows users to easily and accurately map potential renewable energy resources in the United States.

Pakistan to import 500MW electricity from India

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:07:35 -0800

ISLAMABAD: Energy and trade managers of India would likely to visit Islamabad in mid-February to finalise export of estimated 500MW electricity to Pakistan. Country has currently been facing treacherous power shortage because of number of reasons including a mismatch between Hydel and Thermal power generation, price hike of Furnace Oil and other fuels sourcing thermal power generation and as well as the severe shortage of natural gas also.

Electricity through solar energy for 6 islands

Ahmed Rishan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:39:48 -0800

Renewable Energy Maldives (REM) together with the State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) kick started a project yesterday, to generate electricity using solar energy in 6 islands in Male' atoll.

Renewables Pass Nuclear

Bill opalka — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:26:26 -0800

Has renewable energy passed a threshold it has been seeking for years? It has surpassed nuclear in energy production and inching up on domestic oil production.

Solar, wind and geothermal power seen solution to energy crisis

Nisar Mahmood — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:15:20 -0800

PESHAWAR: After hydroelectricity, the solar, wind and geothermal power is the best alternative for thermal power to overcome the deepening energy crisis in the country, said experts at a seminar here on Sunday.

Could a Russia-US rail tunnel be built?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:45:19 -0800

Russian officials have backed the idea of a rail tunnel linking Russia and the US.

Report claims 50% of Chinese solar firms have ceased production

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:32:15 -0800

Approximately half of China’s PV manufacturing firms have ceased production, according to a report on the Chinese newspaper Guangzhou Daily and as cited by Digitimes. Chronic oversupply and massive price drops would appear to have nudged the lower-performing China-based manufacturers over the edge, with the solar energy division of CSG Holding’s research suggesting that half have stopped production, around 30% are at half their production capability and 20% are at pains to maintain their current levels of production.

Could the desert sun power the world?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:18:22 -0800

Green electricity generated by Sahara solar panels is being hailed as a solution to the climate change crisis

Incredible UK solar installation figures revealed

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:08:04 -0800

After Solar Power Portal last week reported that photovoltaic installations in the UK had begun to tail off, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has quietly updated its weekly data revealing shocking figures not even the most optimistic of us would have expected.

German Village Produces 321% More Energy Than It Needs!

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:46:33 -0800

Ok, those Germans are just showing off now. Not only has the nation announced plans to shut down all of its nuclear power plants and started the construction of 2,800 miles of transmission lines for its new renewable energy initiative, but now the village of Wildpoldsried is producing 321% more energy than it needs! The small agricultural village in the state of Bavaria is generating an impressive $5.7 million in annual revenue from renewable energy.

EIB supporting €100 million funding for renewable energy projects in South Africa

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:36:54 -0800

With almost perfect conditions for solar technology deployment, a significant energy need and weak infrastructure, South Africa, as highlighted in a detailed EPIA report last year, should be one of the best emerging markets. However, lack of financial support was said to be the key obstacle. That may now be changing with support from the European Investment Bank and Investec to the tune of €100 million for the promotion of clean energy generation and energy efficiency initiatives in South Africa.

Turning Rwanda's rivers into renewable energy

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:34:03 -0800

One of the business ventures that African entrepreneurs tend to avoid - perhaps in order to avoid a shock - is electricity.

Germany sets timeline for all nuclear plant shutdowns: puts pressure on PV to cut costs

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:15:01 -0800

A dramatic u-turn by German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been officially proclaimed with the announcement that all nuclear plants in the country will be shut down permanently by 2021. Initially, eight of Germany’s oldest nuclear plants will shut down immediately and the remaining plants will be phased out over the next 10 years. However, three plants could remain operational until 2022 to allow for the possibility of delays occurring in the addition of new energy sources - mainly renewables - as a replacement.

Fifth of Global Energy Could Come from Biomass Without Damaging Food Production, Report Suggests

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:59:02 -0800

A new report suggests that up to one fifth of global energy could be provided by biomass (plants) without damaging food production.

Wind Could Become Brazil's Second Power Generation Source in 2015

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:38:20 -0800

BRAZIL -- It's one of those stories everyone's talking about, at least in Brazil's wind energy space. And it should come as no surprise. Under its newly launched energy expansion plan, the government intends to boost installed wind power generation capacity to 11.5 GW by 2020 from a mere 1.5 GW now, bringing new and exciting investment opportunities for developers and entrepreneurs.

SolarStrong gains momentum as SolarCity, BofA Merrill plan US$1 billion in military installations

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:52:03 -0800

SolarCity and Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA Merrill) are ploughing ahead with their plan for SolarStrong, a five-year initiative for solar power installations on privatized US military housing communities. The plan is for SolarCity and the major US bank to invest over US$1 billion in solar plants across the country, and the combined generation capacity is estimated to be in the region of 300MW.

NPD Solarbuzz: North American solar PV installations to exceed 2.2GW in 2011

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:40:59 -0800

Fear, uncertainty and doubt are ever present in the North American PV market, according to the latest ‘North America PV Markets Quarterly’ report from NPD Solarbuzz. In the US, issues over module dumping from China and the expiration of the US federal cash grant do not help, but there is growing concern of the feed-in tariff system in Ontario, Canada, not least as it is responsible for 99% of the Canadian PV market.

A how-to guide to slashing California's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:26:20 -0800

What will a day in the life of a Californian be like in 40 years? If the state cuts its greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 - a target mandated by a state executive order - a person could wake up in a net-zero energy home, commute to work in a battery-powered car, work in an office with smart windows and solar panels, then return home and plug in her car to a carbon-free grid.

US Could Achieve Over $80 Billion In Lower Energy Costs By Focusing On Safer, Renewable Energy

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:10:49 -0800

It is a myth that switching to safe, renewable energy would mean an unreliable U.S. power supply that also is too expensive to afford. That is the major conclusion of a new Synapse Energy Economics report prepared for the nonprofit Civil Society Institute that details a future with more energy efficiency and renewable energy and less reliance on coal and nuclear power.

South Asian countries to work on power links

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:21:30 -0800

Bangladesh’s PM Sheikh Hasina says SAARC members committed to solve electricity shortages. Dhaka says framework will be finalised by October this year.

Nationwide Utility Rates Now on Open EI

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:07:52 -0800

Utility rates from cities all across the United States are now available in one place — the U.S. Department of Energy's Open Energy Information platform, or OpenEI.org.

Ride the energy superhighway

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:52:10 -0800

Could Australia become the world's next energy superpower? This is not an academic question. It's about how this country can drive not only its own but also Asian economic development for centuries to come.

Coal-fired power plants in Canada must use CCS

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:34:03 -0800

The Canadian government proposed rules August 19 that could phase out coal-fired power plants that do not use carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

Xcel sets world record for wind power generation

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:23:56 -0800

Early on the morning of Oct. 6, Xcel Energy set a world record for electricity from wind power.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Adds 16,000 Jobs and $1.6 Billion in Value to Northeast Economies, Study Finds

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:22:00 -0800

“We tracked the dollars spent, and RGGI generates greater economic growth in every one of the 10 states that participate in RGGI than would occur without a carbon price. The states’ auction of the CO2 allowances was important for generating those public benefits.” — Susan Tierney, managing principal at the Analysis Group

Global renewable energy share in 2035: 18%

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:20:10 -0800

The renewable energy share of the global energy mix could rise from 13% in 2010 to 18% in 2035, according to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) 2011 World Energy Outlook.

The Ice That Burns: Are Methane Hydrates the Next Big Resource?

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:32:02 -0800

Petroleum engineers in the 1930s knew what to think about methane hydrates, the magical “ice that burns”: they were a big nuisance. Chunks of these flammable frozen solids would sometimes clog oil and natural gas pipelines and slow production, so eliminating them became a priority. For decades, methane hydrates remained a worthless, vexing curiosity to industry.

Bangladesh and India shaping South Asia Power Grid

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:18:43 -0800

bdnews24.com reported that Bangladesh and India are working together to draw the contours of the proposed South Asia Power Grid, even as the two countries are set to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the energy sector during Indian prime minister Mr Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh on Sep 6 to 7.

US reforms electric transmission planning

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:07:51 -0800

The changes could significant create opportunities for renewable projects

Welcome To Marshall Hydrothermal-The First System Ever To Unlock The Enormous Energy Potential Of Hydrothermal Vents

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:57:10 -0800

Hydrothermal vents have been around since the planet was first formed. They are a natural by-product of Plate Tectonics, the process that forms, moves, and eventually consumes entire continents.

Siemens Debuts HVDC PLUS with San Francisco’s Trans Bay Cable

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:37:28 -0800

A new !"-kilometer cable running under the San Francisco Bay can transmit up to #$ percent of the peak power needs for the City of San Francisco. The link is the world’s first deployment of Siemens’ next-generation HVDC PLUS technology, a transmission solution for space-constrained urban environments and remote sources of renewable energy.

Solar Farming a Transformative Resource for India

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:00:32 -0800

Imagine a crop that can be harvested daily on the most barren desert and arid land, with no fertilizer or tillage, and that produces no harmful emissions. Imagine an energy source so bountiful that it can provide many times more energy than we could ever expect to need or use. Imagine that an hour's worth of sunlight bathing the planet holds far more energy than humans worldwide could consume in a year. You don't have to imagine it -- it's real and it's here. Solar energy is an abundant enormous resource that is readily available to all countries throughout the world, and all the space above the earth. It is clean, no waste comes from it, and once a system is in place, it's "free."

To Build a Better Grid

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:16:40 -0700

JEJU, SOUTH KOREA — Lim Ki-choo has lived most of his life in a modest stucco house on Jeju, this pleasant freckle of an island off the southern tip of South Korea. He was a village leader in days gone by, and before that he ran a bank for local fishermen. All of which suggests that Mr. Lim, 84, has a certain standing here. Yet, he says, he’ll be damned if he can figure out how to work the controller the electric company gave him that runs all the new gizmos in his house.

Butte College to Become First Grid-Positive College in the US

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:05:14 -0700

Butte College, located in Northern California and resting on a 928-acre wildlife refuge, has been recognized over the last few years as a national community college leader in sustainability. By May 2011, the college will move to the head of its class--as the only college in the nation that is grid positive--producing more clean energy from sustainable on-site solar power than it uses.

Subsidies for Renewables, Biofuels Dwarfed by Supports for Fossil Fuels

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:39 -0700

NEW YORK--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--New research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance reveals that despite many platitudes and pledges, governments of the world are spending substantially more on subsidizing dirty forms of energy than on renewables and biofuels. In fact, support for cleaner sources is dwarfed by the help the oil, coal, and other fossil fuel sectors receive.

3TIER map measures solar in Australia

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:28:55 -0700

A new map developed by 3TIER appears to show correlation between a drop in Australia’s solar energy and the 2010 floods.

Tajikistan to Export Electricity to Afghanistan

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:14:46 -0700

According to Tajik first deputy minister of energy and industry Pulod Muhiddinov, next month Tajikistan will begin exporting electricity to Afghanistan via the Sangtuda-Pol-e Khomri 220-kilovolt electricity transmission line.

Germany Passes More Aggressive Renewable Energy Law

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:56:52 -0700

Despite widespread rumors in North America that Germany was abandoning its system of Advanced Renewable Tariffs, the country's upper chamber of parliament, the Bundesrat, approved the latest revision of its pioneering Renewable Energy Sources Act on July 8.

Italy Passes 7,000 MW of Total Installed Solar PV

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:37:29 -0700

The interactive web page Atlasole created by Italy's Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE) indicates that the country surpassed 7,000 MW of total installed solar photovoltaics (solar PV) from nearly one-quarter million systems sometime mid-year.

Sahara Solar Project to Present First Plant Design in 2012

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:22:43 -0700

The Sahara solar initiative backed by German turbine maker Siemens AG (SIE) and Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) will sketch out plans in 2012 for its first power plant, a 600 million-euro ($800 million) station in Morocco, its project manager said.

Renewables Rule Transmission

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:06:47 -0700

Federal regulators have approved a long-anticipated rule for transmission that gives “public policy requirements” important status in determining planning requirements and cost allocation. Renewable energy integration is the policy requirement most widely understood as the beneficiary of the policy, which has been controversial since the rule was proposed 13 months ago.

A Big Deal

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:57:54 -0700

A federal transmission planning order is so massive, industry pros are taking several cracks at it to discuss what it means. Such was the case recently.

Jeremy Rifkin: The 'Democratization Of Energy' Will Change Everything

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:32:26 -0700

Rampant unemployment, rising food prices, a collapsed housing market, ballooning debt -- to Jeremy Rifkin, the American economist and president of the Foundation on Economic Trends, these are not simply symptoms of a temporary economic malaise. Rather, they are signs that the current world order -- long infused with and defined by fossil fuels -- is collapsing around us.

Geothermal Power Plants Could Help Produce Lithium for Electric Cars

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:15:41 -0700

A new process aims to extract lithium from the brines used to generate electricity in a geothermal power plant

Wind, Water, and Solar Power for the World

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:55:19 -0700

We don’t need nuclear power, coal, or biofuels. We can get 100 percent of our energy from wind, water, and solar (WWS) power. And we can do it today—efficiently, reliably, safely, sustainably, and economically.

EIA: World Generation to Increase 84% in 25 Years

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:39:36 -0700

World electricity generation is projected to increase 84% from 19.1 trillion kWh in 2008 to 35.2 trillion kWh in 2035—growth that will be driven by increasing demand in developing countries, the Energy Information Agency’s (EIA’s) recently released International Energy Outlook 2011 shows. Much of this growth will be from renewables and natural gas, though coal generation will also increase in developing countries, and particularly, in China and India.

Switched on to mini grids

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:27:13 -0700

A BILLION AND a half people around the world still don't have access to electricity. Could hybrid mini grids be the best way to provide electricity – particularly to rural, often isolated, areas?

Germany keen to buy solar-generated electricity from Greece

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:14:14 -0700

ATHENS — Greek Prime Minuster Georges Papandreou confirmed Sunday that Germany was keen to import solar-generated electricity from debt-ridden Greece.

Renewables stir growth, create jobs: EU adviser

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:59:30 -0700

Jeremy Rifkin, a best-selling author and an adviser to the European Union on climate change and energy security, said Germany has been leading the way by creating some 250,000 jobs in renewable energy in just a few years, but could do more.

FRV-led consortium wins bid to build 150MW Australian solar plant

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:36:34 -0700

A consortium led by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has won a bid to develop Australia’s largest solar power plant. The tender â€“ launched by the Australian government â€“ is for a 150MW system near the town of Moree in New South Wales.

Pictures—Ten Oldest U.S. Nuclear Plants: Post-Japan Risks

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:35:24 -0700

Siemens signs up for 3.5GW HVDC project to deliver US wind

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:33:58 -0700

Siemens has entered an exclusive agreement with Clean Line Energy Partners to provide high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) technology for its Rock Island project, which will deliver 3.5GW of wind power from the Northern Plains to Illinois and states to the east.

Gigawatt-scale loan guarantees: First Solar gets DOE conditional commitments for Calif project trio

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:32:55 -0700

First Solar and its partners have received nearly $3.8 billion in new partial or full conditional loan guarantee commitments from the US Department of Energy. The commitments will be used to support the development of three major utility-scale solar farm projects in southern and central California, with a combined projected installed capacity of >1.3GW(AC) of the company’s CdTe thin-film modulesâ€”Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (230MW), Desert Sunlight (550MW), and Â Topaz Solar (550MW).

2010 Global Recap: A Year of Continued Growth

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:31:47 -0700

PARIS -- Renewable energy continued its global surge in 2010, accounting for about half of the 194 gigawatts of new installed capacity, according to the REN21 Renewables 2011 Global Status Report.

World Bank grants 99m dollars for Nepal-India power project

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:30:46 -0700

The World Bank (WB) has provided 7.024bn rupees (99m dollars) for to implement the Nepal India Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (NIETTP).

Renewable power hits highest level in 12 years in New Zealand: minister

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:29:45 -0700

WELLINGTON, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Three quarters of the electricity used in New Zealand last year was generated by renewable sources, the highest level in 12 years, Acting Minister of Energy and Resources Hekia Parata said Wednesday.

Mitsui to build huge solar power plants in disaster areas

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:28:03 -0700

Trading company giant Mitsui & Co. plans to build huge solar power plants in the Tohoku region to help the region recover from the March 11 disaster by easing its power shortages, it was learned Wednesday.

One of World's Largest Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Projects to Be Constructed in Windsor, Ontario

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:25:42 -0700

Ontario-based solar installation company Solar & AlternativeTechnology Corp. has partnered with solar panel manufacturer Soventix Canada Inc., known as Sovello in Canada, and Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd., the historic Windsor, Ontario based producer of brands like Wiser'sÂ® Canadian whisky and MalibuÂ® rum, to design and build the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic plant in Canada, at 7.9MW.

Flywheels help NY power grid runs more smoothly

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:24:27 -0700

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) â€” Some excess power on New York's electrical grid is being stored short-term in 200 flywheel batteries that can zap the power back into the system within seconds when needed.

Future of electric cars hinges on better batteries

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:18:01 -0700

Electric cars are a game-changing technology with an Achilles’ heel â€” the battery.

Abu Dhabi hosts Africa meeting on renewable energy

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:16:10 -0700

African governments should consider investing in renewable energies like wind, solar and hydro power to help feed the continentâ€™s growing energy demands and combat threats of climate change, the head of a new international energy agency said Friday.

Jordan's renewable energy resources highlighted

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:15:16 -0700

AMMAN - Jordan has great potential to achieve energy security if it properly utilises its renewable energy resources, researchers said on Wednesday.

U.S., Seeking to Reshape Electric Grid, Adopts a Power Line Rule

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:14:18 -0700

WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators laid down principles on Thursday for planning and paying for new power lines, part of a long-term policy effort to help the nation’s electricity grid grow enough to meet the demands of renewable energy and a competitive electricity market.

Smart grid: worth it?

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:12:57 -0700

Some questions don't have direct answers and such was the case in last week's EnergyBiz webcast titled, "Rethinking Smart Grid: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Challenges?"

Resources For Upgrading Home Appliances

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:12:00 -0700

Upgrading home appliances can be an opportunity for homeowners to make their existing home appliances sounder. This can mean making them so that they are more energy efficient or just provide more benefits for the time they are being used. Other reasons for why homeowners may want to upgrade their home appliances have to do with safety issues or stopping something adverse from happening or continuing to happen. For example, old microwaves may give off some radioactivity, and other older home appliances may even display signs of having lead paint. Going further than upgrading home appliances and actually buying new appliances also has a positive effect on one’s wallet . Buying new appliances even will raise the value of the home that a person resides in.

IRC Paper Addresses Renewable Energy Integration Challenges

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:35:22 -0700

A recent briefing paper on variable energy resources (VERs) has proposed various remedies that independent system operators (ISOs) and regional transmission organizations (RTOs) can implement when incorporating increasing amounts of renewable energy resources onto their grids.

How China dominates solar power

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:19:54 -0700

Huge loans from the Chinese Development Bank are helping Chinese solar companies push American solar firms out of the market

Competition brewing among states over renewable energy exports

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:05:36 -0700

If Nevada wants to be the global “epicenter of renewable energy,” as Gov. Brian Sandoval put it on Tuesday, it’s going to have some competition with its neighbors.

Switch From Coal To Natural Gas No Boon To Climate

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:50:25 -0700

Relying more on natural gas than on coal would not significantly slow down the effects of climate change, even though direct carbon dioxide emissions would be less, a new study has found.

Industry Hears Details of New FERC Energy Strategy

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:30:37 -0700

The Obama administration is briefing industry on a new energy strategy that could create a fast-track approval process for major transmission lines serving renewable energy projects, according to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff comments on the plan.

China Remains Atop Quarterly Renewable Energy Index

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:21:16 -0700

Ongoing debt worries from the United States to Europe, and austerity measures that aim to drastically slash government spending in those countries, continue to impact financing of renewable energy projects. China, meanwhile, is moving ahead with its accelerated growth as renewables continue to figure prominently into its energy future.

SolarCity’s new pricing plan undercuts utility grid electricity in Hawaii

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:09:58 -0700

A new solar pricing plan from SolarCity has sent shockwaves through the Hawaiian energy generation market by undercutting traditional utility grid electricity prices. Hawaii has the highest energy prices in the US and the new rates will bring solar electricity to residential and business users on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Lanai from as little as US$60 per month.

DOE finalizes $90.6M loan guarantee for 30MW Alamosa solar power plant, featuring Amonix CPV systems

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:57:59 -0700

The US Department of Energy has finalized another loan guarantee, this time for $90.6 million to Cogentrix for the 30MW Alamosa Solar Generating Project, which uses Amonix high-concentration PV dual-axis tracker systems. When the utility-scale installation is completed next year, the site will be the largest CPV-based power plant in the world.

Energy-Savvy Military Base Bumps Up Against Calif. Cap-And-Trade Law

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:44:03 -0700

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- With fields of solar panels and a pilot microgrid project, the sprawling Marine base here is at the forefront of U.S. military efforts to lessen its reliance on the vulnerable civilian power grid.

Rooftop Solar Could Power 20% of D.C. and Save Ratepayers Money

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:35:27 -0700

For many years the citizens of Washington, D.C. struggled for the basic right to elect their own leaders. In 2011, they should use their political home rule to maximize the economic benefits of local renewable energy with “electricity home rule.”

Son launches Japan renewables push with Asia 'supergrid' call

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:17:38 -0700

Launching the Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (JREF), Masayoshi Son, Softbank’s founder and chief executive, claimed the country could shift 60% of its power production to renewables over the next two decades with the help of a ¥2 trillion national onshore and offshore transmission network.

MarketsandMarkets: Global Solar Energy Market Will Reach $75.2 Billion With Annual Installations Reaching 227 GW by 2016

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:03:35 -0700

According to a new market research report, "Solar Power Market by PV, CSP Technologies by Installations, Price, Cost, Trade Trends & Global Forecasts (2011 - 2016)", published by MarketsandMarkets (http://www.marketsandmarkets.com), global solar energy market will grow from around $39.6 billion in 2011 to $75.2 billion in 2016 with a compound annual growth rate of 13.7% during the same period.

SunShot seed corn: DOE sows projects from cheaper BIPV shingles to Shockley-Queisser limit busters

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:51:53 -0700

Still smarting from the wounds of loan guarantee recipient Solyndra’s shutdown and imminent Chapter 11 filing, the US Department of Energy kept its eyes on the SunShot Initiative prize last week, announcing more than $145 million in awards to be spread across 69 projects run by companies, national and private labs, and universities. The efforts encompass a half-dozen categories, including big R, little d and little r, big D accelerants on the cell, module, and inverter technology, balance of system cost reduction (actually, cost reduction is a recurring theme among all categories), grid integration schemes, building integrated PV, and a chunk of change for IT-laden moves to cut nonhardware costs down significantly. Here’s a closer look at some of the players, numbers, and threads that emerge from the latest DOE innovation seed-corn distribution.

Order Focus: First Solar lands 100MW supply agreement for Reliance Power’s Jaisalmer project

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:36:22 -0700

Upon the US Export-Import Bank approving a US$84.2 million direct loan last month to Reliance Power’s Dahanu Solar Power unit, the company was able to secure an agreement with First Solar for the delivery of 100MW of solar modules. Under the supply contract, First Solar will deliver 40MW of its thin-film modules to Reliance Power by the end of the year, with the remaining 60MW delivered in 2012. The solar modules will be used for Reliance Power’s Jaisalmer solar project, which will supply solar electricity to Mumbai. The companies claim that this is the largest PV module supply agreement in India to date.

Power import from India as planned

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:24:24 -0700

The import of 250 megawatt electricity from India will go ahead as planned, the government said yesterday, dispelling media reports that it could be delayed due to opposition over use of land in Paschimbanga for installing power transmission line.

World Will Install 44 Gigawatts of Wind Power in 2011

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:12:52 -0700

The World Wind Energy Association released its mid-year report for 2011, and showed an increase in installations over the same period a year earlier. A total of 18,405 megawatts of wind power were installed in the first half of this year around the world, up from 16,000 MW in 2010.

Indonesia to boost renewable energy supply

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:39:19 -0700

JAKARTA, (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has made a master plan for development of renewable energy resources as the country seeks to gradually reduce reliance on fossil fuels, an official said on Wednesday.

India Expects $6.5 billion to be Invested in Renewable Energy

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:07:18 -0700

NEW DELHI -- India expects investments of 300 billion rupees ($6.5 billion) in renewable energy projects in the current financial year, the minister for renewable energy said Friday.

Will Germany Become First Nation with a Hydrogen Economy?

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:53:39 -0700

Germany will become the first country completely accessible to fuel cell vehicles in 2015, when carmaker Daimler and the Linde technology group will build 20 new hydrogen filling stations. The result will quadruple the number of public stations available and make it possible for a fuel cell vehicle to reach any location in the country.

High Energy Output Found from Algae-Based Fuel, but 'No Silver Bullet'

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:33:02 -0700

ScienceDaily (Aug. 10, 2011) — Algae-based fuel is one of many options among the array of possible future energy sources. New University of Virginia research shows that while algae-based transportation fuels produce high energy output with minimal land use, their production could come with significant environmental burdens.

Pakistan Offers Renewable-Energy Incentives to Tackle Shortages

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:15:22 -0700

Pakistan will announce its first tariff policy for clean-energy producers next month, offering premium payment rates as it seeks to attract investors to help overcome power shortfalls.

Fast-tracking Renewable Energy

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:02:00 -0700

Arizona Public Service Company (APS) took another step to develop more solar energy with its recent announcement of an 18-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant to be located 70 miles southwest of Phoenix in Gila Bend.

Guest Post: The $200 Billion Energy Question

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:47:41 -0700

The U.S. stands at an energy crossroads. With or without new direction from policymakers, huge sums will be invested in the electricity system as aging infrastructure is replaced and new infrastructure is built to meet our country’s growing energy needs. In the 11 states that comprise the Western Interconnect, that amounts to more than $200 billion over the next two decades.

Mitsui, Toshiba join forces to build 50MW PV plant in Japan

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:40:25 -0700

Mitsui and Toshiba are joining forces to build Japan’s largest PV system, according to financial newspaper Nikkei. With a capacity of 50MW, the plant will be considerably bigger than any other in Japan and cover 800,000m2 of Mitsui-owned land in the Aichi Prefecture.

Japan’s renewables bill clears first hurdle in parliament

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:28:43 -0700

The lower house of Japan's parliament has passed a new green bill aimed at promoting investment in solar and other renewable energy sources and weaning the country off nuclear power.

Return to London please, via Moscow: Kremlin paves way for East to West rail link after after 'approving' $99bn Bering Strait

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:19:58 -0700

The prospect of an epic train journey from New York to London might seem like a distant dream for those seeking the ultimate railway holiday.

UK Ford facility on 100% wind power

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:53:29 -0700

The Ecotricity wind turbine could generate close to 5 million units of energy annually. It joins two other wind turbines that have been operational since May 2004.

Atlantis deploys 1 MW tidal turbine at EMEC in Orkney

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:41:48 -0700

Atlantis Resources Corporation has connected its 1 MW AR1000 tidal turbine to the grid at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, UK.

Condemning Private Property to Build Transmission

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:14:28 -0700

A transmission case in Montana is getting ensnared in both the state capitol and in the local court house. It’s centered on “eminent domain” -- whether state law allows energy developers to take private property for public use.

Large scale energy storage technologies to capitalise on renewables

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:58:15 -0700

All Western European countries have targets aimed at boosting the contribution of renewable energy. Such high use of renewable energy is possible through efficient energy storage methods, creating huge opportunities for market growth.

Green Jobs Are Real: German and American Solar Industry Both Employ More People Than U.S. Steel Production

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:46:47 -0700

Washington, D.C., United States - With roughly 93,500 direct and indirect jobs, the American solar industry now employs about 9,200 more workers than the U.S. steel production sector, according to 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics. The American steel industry has historically been a symbol of the country's industrial might and economic prosperity. But today, the solar industry has the potential to overtake that image as we build a new, clean-energy economy.

Australia’s solar industry welcomes new carbon tax

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:44:50 -0700

Australia's prime minister, Julia Gillard.

Following months of tense negotiation between the minority Labour Government and the Green and independent MPs, Australia’s prime minister Julia Gillard yesterday revealed the ‘Strong Growth, Low Pollution’ report, which models how the country’s economy can continue to grow at the same time as reducing carbon pollution with a carbon price. The new tax, which will come into effect from July next year, will hit Australia’s top 500 emitters with an AUD$23 per tonne carbon tax.

Department of Energy Commits Support for Landmark Rooftop Solar Project

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:43:35 -0700

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the offer of a conditional commitment to provide a partial guarantee for a $1.4 billion loan to support Project Amp. This project will support the installation of solar panels on industrial buildings across the country, with the electricity generated from those panels contributing directly to the electrical grid, as opposed to powering the buildings where they are installed. Supported by funding from the Recovery Act, the solar generation project includes the installation of approximately 733 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, which is nearly equal to the total amount of PV installed in the U.S. in 2010. The project sponsor estimates Project Amp will create at least one thousand jobs over a four year period.

From King Coal to Carbon Tax: A Historical Perspective on the Energy and Climate-Change Debate

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:41:09 -0700

Paul Sabin and Richard Morin/Solutions

The history of energy consumption in the United States shows how new fuels typically add to an expanding energy supply, rather than displacing other fuels. The historical pattern of adding to the fuel supply underscores the challenge of cutting back on carbon dioxide emission levels solely by increasing alternative energy production. This graph draws on data from the Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Review 2008 (Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 2009).

Power Interconnection Project Costly but Needed

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:39:42 -0700

Power interruptions continue to affect both private and public sectors. And captains of industry insist that the Malawi/Mozambique interconnector power project must come into effect. The interconnection is expected to allow Malawi to have access to the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) market through the Mozambique interconnected grid with Zimbabwe and South Africa.

N.J. and France Ban Fracking While N.Y. Is About to Lift Fracking Moratorium

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:38:26 -0700

Last week, New Jersey's Legislature passed legislation that affirmed the state's involvement in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and banned the natural gas drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Neighboring New York, meanwhile, is poised to lift a moratorium on new shale gas drilling, and France has become the first country to ban fracking.

Q-Cells guides almost flat sales in 2011; CIGS modules achieve 13.4% new efficiency world record

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:38:02 -0700

Although there were no specifics mentioned in the financial forecast for 2011 provided by Q-Cells as it announced full year financial results, sales are set to be at around the same level as last year. As previously reported, Q-Cells sales increased by 70% to 1.35 billion in 2010. In its annual report, 2011 sales guidance is between 1.3 billion and 1.5 billion.

New York's Latest Energy Bill Better for the Environment and the Economy

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:36:18 -0700

The Governor of New York has signed a new law which promotes the adoption of low carbon energy and energy efficient technologies through all sectors of the economy.

Solarcentury connects UK’s largest solar system to national grid

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:34:13 -0700

Solarcentury has broken new ground in the UK solar industry by connecting the nation’s largest solar system to the grid. The 748kW array is comprised of over 3,000 panels and will produce enough electricity to power one-quarter of the Oxfordshire business park in which it is located.

Q-Cells guides almost flat sales in 2011; CIGS modules achieve 13.4% new efficiency world record

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:51:54 -0700

New South Wales solar industry in crisis

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:45:02 -0700

Without Government assistance, the New South Wales solar industry could cease to exist in as little as eight weeks, according to the Australian Solar Energy Society.

6 MW Solar Plant Planned on Kauai

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:43:08 -0700

Alexander & Baldwin and Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) are planning a 6 MW utility-scale photovoltaic facility on Kaua'i's sunny south shore.

IRAN TO GENERATE OVER 5,000 MW OF ELECTRICITY BY 2015

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:42:16 -0700

Press TV reported that Iran plans to generate more than 5,000 MW of electricity from renewable energy resources by 2015. Mr Majid Namjou energy minister of Iran said that “Iran is pursing to fulfill its major strategic objectives in the field of renewable energies.”

China Sunergy to invest US$277 million in 1GW cell manufacturing expansion

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:41:13 -0700

Two China Sunergy subsidiaries are investing RMB1.8 billion (US$277 million) in a new 1GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Yangzhou, China. The joint venture will concentrate on the production of China Sunergy’s newly-developed Quasar cells, with the first 500MW batch set to be delivered in the first half of 2012.

Deutsche Bank’s 7.56MW solar project officially unveiled

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:39:55 -0700

Deutsche Bankâ€™s 7.56MW solar park in the southeast Italian commune of Torre Santa Susanna has been officially opened. The plant was a joint venture alongside EST Energie & Solar Technik, dean Solar and Sanyo, and is one of the largest tracking solar systems in Europe.

Scottish 2020 Routemap for 100% renewable electricity

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:34:39 -0700

The Scottish Government has released its 2020 Routemap for 100% renewable electricity and 30% overall renewable energy in Scotland by 2020 Jenny Hogan, Director of Policy at Scottish Renewables, says: “The Routemap frames Scotland as the place to invest in renewable energy within Europe. It recognises that the Scottish Government’s 100% renewable electricity target, alongside commitments on heat and transport, takes Scotland’s overall renewable energy target to at least 30% of all energy demand by 2020..

Technology Buoys Wave Energy

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:32:28 -0700

Successful trials off Scotland

Initial test results are in and an ocean wave technology is exceeding its projections in a challenging environment.

The last time we wrote about this company, Ocean Power Technologies, Inc., the trials had just started off the Scottish coast and were expected to last for three months.

OPT said the first of its new generation utility-scale PowerBuoy device, the PB150, has delivered better-than-expected initial results from tests being conducted off the northeast coast of Scotland.

Global consumers crave green energy in survey-Vestas

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:31:10 -0700

* Survey shows 90 pct favor renewables * Automobile industry wins best marks * Chinese overestimate their clean energy sources NEW YORK, June 28 (Reuters) - Consumers around the world overwhelmingly support the rollout of renewable energy, but many have mistaken views about "green" products, according to a survey conducted by TNS Gallup for Vestas Wind Systems (VWS.CO: Quote).

The Good News About Coal

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:30:07 -0700

During the years when governments and the media were focused on preparations for the 2009 Copenhagen climate negotiations, a powerful climate movement was emerging in the United States: the movement opposing the construction of new coal-fired power plants.

Average U.S. temperature increases by 0.5 degrees F

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:28:45 -0700

Statewide changes in annual "normal temperatures" (1981 - 2010 compared to 1971 - 2000).

According to the 1981-2010 normals to be released by NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) on July 1, temperatures across the United States were on average, approximately 0.5 degree F warmer than the 1971-2000 time period.

Normals serve as a 30 year baseline average of important climate variables that are used to understand average climate conditions at any location and serve as a consistent point of reference. The new normals update the 30-year averages of climatological variables, including average temperature and precipitation for more than 7,500 locations across the United States. This once-a-decade update will replace the current 1971–2000 normals.

Italy’s new austerity plan could hit solar with further cuts

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:28:17 -0700

The final version of Italy's deficit-reduction plan has imposed further reductions on renewable energy incentives, reports Reuters. If confirmed, the new legislation could see incentives to renewable energy companies paid for by consumers on their electricity bills slashed by as much as 30%.

Biofuels from the Sea: Seaweed May Prove a Viable Future Biofuel, Especially If Harvested in Summer

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:25:26 -0700

Seaweed may prove a viable future biofuel -- especially if harvested in summer. The use of kelp (Laminaria digitata) could provide an important alternative to terrestrial grown biofuels; however the suitability of its chemical composition varies on a seasonal basis. Harvesting the kelp in July when carbohydrate levels are at their highest would ensure optimal sugar release for biofuel production.

Biofuels from the Sea: Seaweed May Prove a Viable Future Biofuel, Especially If Harvested in Summer

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:19:57 -0700

Bank of Tokyo Leads $500 Million Funding for Biomass Power Plant

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:04:33 -0700

The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. led a $500 million financing round for a 100-megawatt biomass power plant under construction in Gainesville, Florida.

Airlines Win Approval to Use Plant-Based Biofuels on Commercial Flights

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:55:44 -0700

Airlines won final approval from a U.S.-based technical-standards group to power their planes with a blend made from traditional kerosene and biofuels derived from inedible plants and organic waste.

First College in US Generates Income Selling Solar to the Grid

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:52:37 -0700

Butte College, near Sacramento, California is the first college in the US to be ‘grid positive' - it generates more electricity than it needs from its solar arrays and thus can deliver energy to the electric grid, making a tidy profit.

Transmission Access for Renewables

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:51:16 -0700

The transmission build-out wouldn’t just give renewable energy to markets, but would be an economic engine of its own, according to a new study. And there’s the little mater of jobs, which should get some attention, even among those who aren’t sold on clean energy.

State-of-the-Art Control Center

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:12:11 -0700

High-tech Tools Integrate Renewables

How the DRC’s Inga project could solve much of Africa’s power problems

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:57:32 -0700

Companies in Africa are severely handicapped by poor power supply.

Can North Africa Light Up Europe With Concentrated Solar Power?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:34:24 -0700

HAMBURG, Germany -- Twenty-five years after Gerhard Knies conceived of powering Europe with the Sahara Desert's sun, the North Africa Solar project has grown into something considerably more than a mere mirage, but it's still less than a reality.

US$1.2 billion DOE loan guarantee offered to Abengoa for 280MW project

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:13:05 -0700

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has offered a conditional loan guarantee totalling US$1.2 billion to help build a 280MW Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant in southern California. If confirmed, the DOE guarantee will help fund the construction and start-up of Abengoa’s Mojave Solar Project (MSP), which is to be located around 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles in San Bernardino County.

Google invests US$280 million in SolarCity solar rooftop fund

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:01:25 -0700

Google has made its biggest investment in renewable energy to date by creating a US$280 million fund with SolarCity. The money will be dedicated to projects in the residential solar market and takes the internet giant’s green spending to US$680 million.

Tata Steel, Dyesol produce world’s largest dye-sensitized photovoltaic module

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:20:12 -0700

The Tata Steel and Dyesol development partnership has produced the world’s largest dye sensitized photovoltaic module. Manufactured at Tata Steel’s Shotton site in North Wales, the module is over three metres in length and approximately one square metre in area. This unique achievement represents an important step towards the development of large-scale microgeneration capability within building infrastructure.

Top US utilities added 561MW of new solar capacity in 2010

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:59:35 -0700

According to the Solar Electric Power Association’s (SEPA) most recent report, US-based power utilities are ramping up the use of solar photovoltaics. The 2010 Utility Solar Rankings report identifies the top 10 US utilities that added the most new solar power to their systems last year as well as the top 10 utilities that added the most solar on a watts-per-customer-served basis.

OPIC approves $123 million for pair of 20MW PV power plants to be built by T-Solar in Peru

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:48:38 -0700

The board of the Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC) has approved $123 million in financing for the construction of two 20MW solar power plants in Peru, said to be the first large-scale solar power project in the Latin American country. Along with the involvement of Peru's ProInversion investment promotion agency, the ground-mount-based projects will be developed by T-Solar and use silicon thin-film panels made by the Spanish company with Applied Materials SunFab technology.

Soitec, Schneider Electric to promote CPV in Morocco

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:37:01 -0700

Soitec and Schneider Electric have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) to develop concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) technology in the North African country.

IEEE: Solar could challenge fossil fuel in 10 years

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:17:03 -0700

Solar photovoltaics have the potential to be the most cost-effective electricity source and could even challenge fossil fuels within 10 years.

Utilities Developing More Solar Projects

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:56:17 -0700

The 2010 SEPA Utility Solar Rankings report shows huge growth in utility ownership of solar projects.

NV Energy Launches Renewable Transmission Intiative

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:51:05 -0700

NV Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NVE) is one of Nevada's largest power utilities providing electricity to 2.4 million customers. With its most recent announcement, the company will soon be producing energy for customers outside of Nevada.

Fuel From Algae, Wood Chips OK’d for Airlines

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:29:08 -0700

Airlines won the backing of a U.S.- based technical-standards group to power their planes with a blend of traditional fuel and biofuel from inedible plants, the Air Transport Association said today.

South Asia’s energy quest could reshape region

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:02:16 -0700

New Delhi — India and its Himalayan neighbor Nepal are set to build a massive power transmission line across their border, a step toward addressing rising energy needs in a region that analysts say has been held back economically by political distrust.

China Solidly Leads Renewables

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:36:15 -0700

China is maintaining its lead in the global renewable energy race while the United States continues to lag in second place, partly due to its uncertain policy commitments.

San Diego's New CPV Solar Giant

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:15:40 -0700

The development of a commerical large-scale CPV project is helping to establish the performance credentials of a technology that offers significant opportunities at the power plant scale.

The Rise of Concentrating Solar Thermal Power

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:51:44 -0700

With big government help, a solar thermal power (CSP) technology boom seems to be coming in the United States. Regulators have issued permits for about a dozen power plant projects and construction is underway for a few. But the three main challenges for building a project – permits, finance and technology -- remain big concerns for technology and project developers.

China still most attractive country for renewable energy

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:38:52 -0700

A diverse renewable portfolio helps China hold top position in global energy rankings

MENA Tipped for CSP Boom

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:25:45 -0700

London, UK -- The Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) could be ripe for developing its massive potential in concentrating solar power (CSP), finds a recent study for the World Bank by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE).

Smart grid is all fine, but just get transmission built, group tells DOE

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:56:50 -0700

A transmission-interest group lamented the other day that the Department of Energy didn't specifically put upgrading and expanding the high-voltage transmission grid in the Strategic Plan it released earlier this month.

World Bank to Help Cities Control Climate Change

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:34:42 -0700

SÃO PAULO, Brazil — The World Bank signed an agreement on Wednesday with mayors from 40 of the world’s biggest cities to work on technical and financial assistance for projects to minimize the effects of climate change.

Plugging High-Speed Rail Into Germany’s Power Grid

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:10:55 -0700

Using rail lines for the energy grid may help a suddenly nuclear-shy Germany transition to wider use of renewable sources.

Midwest power transmission project targets Kansas wind

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 12:28:51 -0700

A Houston company is in the early stages of planning one of the largest energy infrastructure projects the Midwest has seen in years - a $1.7 billion high-voltage transmission line connecting Kansas wind farms with consumers in St. Louis and throughout the Ohio River Valley.

Viewpoints: How electrical 'microgrids' might revolutionize power transmission

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 12:07:14 -0700

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District has long been seen as a clean technology pioneer. After all, this is a utility that shuttered a nuclear reactor after a public vote in 1989 and has since blazed trails on wind, solar and energy efficiency.

Condemning Private Property to Build Transmission

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 11:49:42 -0700

Sustainable Energy without the Hot Air

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 11:36:19 -0700

Let’s express energy consumption and energy production using simple personal units. The units I’ll use are kilowatt-hours. One kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the energy used by leaving a 40-watt bulb on for 24 hours. The chemical energy in the food you eat to stay alive amounts to about 3 kWh per day. Taking one hot bath uses about 5 kWh of heat. Driving an ordi- nary car (delivering 25 miles per US-gallon) 100 km uses 80 kWh of fuel.

Roll-to-roll flexible solar thin-film with 10% efficiency

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 11:12:25 -0700

The Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) has developed a roll-to-roll system depositing CIGS solar thin-film on a 25 µm thin polymer film with a 10% efficiency.

The Fastest Growing Industry

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:54:29 -0700

Solar power may be the fastest growing industry in the country, says one of its leading proponents. The base from which it is growing may be small, but the rate of increased is unmatched in the renewables space.

DOE Offers Loan Guarantee for Solar Generation Project in Nevada

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:38:06 -0700

DOE announced on May 19 its offer of a conditional commitment for a $737 million loan guarantee to support a 110-megawatt concentrating solar power (CSP) tower facility in Nevada. The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project, sponsored by SolarReserve, LLC, will be the first of its kind in the United States and the tallest molten salt tower in the world. It is located on 2,250 acres leased from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management. The company estimates the project will create 600 construction jobs and 45 operations jobs.

Coming Clean about Nuclear Power

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:20:39 -0700

Regulators and industry have one precious moment to recapture the public's trust

Huge Growth Expected for North American Solar Industry

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:03:47 -0700

Washington, DC-- President Obama recently stated in his 2011 State of the Union Address: "Instead of subsidizing yesterday's energy, let's invest in tomorrow's." Shortly thereafter DOE secretary Chu launched the SunShot initiative, geared at research to drive down the costs of solar PV aggressively.

BPA Decision To Curtail Wind Power Sends 'Chilling Signal' To Industry

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:44:22 -0700

The decision discriminates against wind power, violates contracts and favors its own narrow interests, according to AWEA reps and other wind industry insiders.

U.S. smart grid to cost billions, save trillions

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:06:44 -0700

(Reuters) - A planned modernization of the U.S. national power grid will cost up to $476 billion over the next 20 years but will provide up to $2 trillion in customer benefits over that time, according to industry experts.

All-Energy: Scotland aims for 100% renewable energy

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:40:37 -0700

Salmond said in the opening session: "Because the pace of development has been so rapid, with our 2011 target already exceeded, we can now commit to generating the equivalent of 100% of Scotland's own electricity demand from renewable resources by 2020. By then we intend to be generating twice as much electricity as Scotland needs – just over half of it from renewables, and just under half from other conventional sources.

Japanese Billionaire Touted to Kick-Start Solar Power Plants In Tsunami-Hit Areas

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:32:56 -0700

Japan's richest man, Masayoshi Son, the CEO of Japanese telecom company, Softbank, wants to kick-start large solar power plants in tsunami-hit areas of eastern Japan, according to reports. Said to be an advocate of shifting Japan away from nuclear energy towards greater dependence on renewable forms of energy, Son wants to provide approximately 10% of the funding for 10 projects, supported by local governments and banks.

Asia Wind Market Takes Flight

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:45:09 -0700

London, UK-- The Asia-Pacific region currently leads the global market in annual wind capacity installations and will account for at least 45 percent of total megawatts added globally through to 2025. In recent years, exponential growth in regional wind power demand, coupled with improving state and local incentives, has encouraged local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to scale up their sales strategies.

Teaching Algae to Make Fuel: New Process Could Lead to Production of Hydrogen Using Bioengineered Microorganisms

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:02:53 -0700

Many kinds of algae and cyanobacteria, common water-dwelling microorganisms, are capable of using energy from sunlight to split water molecules and release hydrogen, which holds promise as a clean and carbon-free fuel for the future. One reason this approach hasn't yet been harnessed for fuel production is that under ordinary circumstances, hydrogen production takes a back seat to the production of compounds that the organisms use to support their own growth.

Mongolia allows import of electricity from China

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:00:04 -0700

The Mongolian government has permitted the company that invests in Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mining project to build an electricity line to import electricity from China, local media reported Wednesday.

California's Grid Plan Ready for Renewable Power Influx

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 13:41:57 -0700

The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) Board of Governors yesterday approved the 2010-2011 Transmission Plan that includes 33 grid upgrades for addressing future reliability and policy-driven needs worth $1.2 billion. The approval provides a timely decision that will aid renewable power projects seeking financing. The ISO accelerated its planning process by six months so that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects could meet eligibility criteria.

China confronts raft of problems at Three Gorges

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 13:29:07 -0700

China has admitted that its showcase Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric project, has caused a slew of urgent environmental, geologic and economic problems.

6 amazing facts about electricity transmission in China

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 12:56:43 -0700

It’s well known that China has been going gangbusters on developing its energy infrastructure, rapidly building everything from not-so-green new coal-fired power to a massive solar photovoltaics manufacturing base to large deployments of wind power. While its energy resources have been growing, though, its transmission capacity has some serious catching-up to do.

Japan contemplates making solar compulsory on all new builds

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:08:56 -0700

The Japanese Government is contemplating making it compulsory for all new buildings to be fitted with solar panels by 2030, according to financial newspaper Nikkei. The proposed legislation illustrates Japan’s desire to promote the use of renewable energy and is expected to be unveiled at the upcoming G8 summit in Deauville, France.

Ecuador adopts feed-in tariffs

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:06:00 -0700

The programme by the South American country of 15 million people includes multiple technologies, including solar photovoltaics (PV). Biomass-biogas and hydro projects are further differentiated by size.

Desertec first pilot project in Morocco

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:27:11 -0700

The first pilot project Desertec megaproject, which aims to supply Europe and the MENA (Middle East, North Africa) in renewable energy from the deserts of the latter will be in Morocco, said on Thursday, Klaus Schmidtke, Head of Communication Desertec Industrial Initiative. La capacité de production du projet sera de 500 MW d'énergie solaire. The production capacity of the project will be 500 MW of solar energy. L'exploitation débutera en 2016 et l'appel d'offres sera lancé en 2013. The operation will begin in 2016 and the tender will be launched in 2013.

Maui selected for smart-grid demonstration

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:13:23 -0700

WAILUKU - Maui has been selected as the site for a "smart grid" renewable energy demonstration project, with an investment of approximately $37 million from the Japan-based New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Hawaiian Electric Co. announced Wednesday afternoon.

California's Grid Plan Ready for Renewable Power Influx

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:58:31 -0700

SDG&E, Soitec Solar sign two more PPAs for another 125MW in CPV power plants

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:47:13 -0700

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has signed two more 25-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with Soitec Solar Development, which, this time around, will total 125MW of solar energy produced in SDG&E’s service area. Just last month, the utility signed contracts with Soitec subsidiaries for three solar projects in the San Diego area that amounted to 30MW of solar PV energy. SDG&E stressed that the three previous contracts were separate contracts from those announced today.

Electricity Grid Quiz: Test Your Electron Wits

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:29:04 -0700

Tonight's episode: Our Bulk Power System: The Fascinating World of Scheduling and Moving Electrons.

Kent's new electricity cable connection with Europe

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:16:24 -0700

The £530m cable links the Isle of Grain in Kent to Maasflakte near Rotterdam.

How Will the California System Operator Cope With 33% Renewables?

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:57:20 -0700

To meet California’s new standard requiring the state to get 33 percent of its power from renewables by 2020, the grid operator will have to stop talking about the weather and do something about it. The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) just brought its Mission Critical Wing, a new high tech control center, on line to do that.

The Case for Underground Transmission

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:39:05 -0700

The Knoxville Utilities Board has been hit hard by the storms ravaging the southeast. While the local distributor says that it usually spends about $2 million a year on similar events, this recent one will cost it at least $1.2 million fixing transmission-related items. Would underground lines help?

New Jersey An Unlikely Leader In Solar Energy

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:27:11 -0700

New Jersey, home to more industrial waste clean-up sites than any other state, is poised to become an exemplar of solar power usage -- though not everyone is happy about it.

China to upgrade power grids in rural areas in coming five years

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:15:53 -0700

China's top economic planer has issued a notice asking local governments to upgrade their rural power grids in a bid to boost the nation's rural power infrastructure and improve the lives of rural residents in the next five years.

Economic Opportunities and Environmental Benefits Identified in the Intersection Between Energy and Water

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:01:15 -0700

WASHINGTON, D.C.and CHICAGO, Illinois—A panel of national experts on energy and water efficiency has developed a blueprint for realizing the substantial economic and environmental benefits to the nation from a combined approach towards more efficient water and energy systems. These experts were jointly convened by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE), leading national research institutes focused respectively on energy and water efficiency, to address opportunities that could result from exploring the connections between energy and water. The outcome of this joint process, A Blueprint for Action and Policy Agenda, was released today.

After quake, Japan ends bid to boost nuclear power

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 13:05:04 -0700

Japan will scrap a plan to obtain half of its electricity from nuclear power and will instead promote renewable energy and conservation as a result of its ongoing nuclear crisis, the prime minister said Tuesday.

Historic climate change deal with legal powers agreed by Cabinet

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:54:03 -0700

Chris Huhne will announce a long-term programme that will put Britain at the forefront of the battle against climate change

Nuclear Power is Dead - Part 2

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:35:26 -0700

This is a continuation of a two-part series. In Part II, we will discuss: * Nuclear Power Plant Costs * Aging Nuclear Power Plants * NIMBY Factor * Summary

Nuclear Power is Dead - Part 1

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:27:35 -0700

The U.S. Government is actively looking into the safety of our existing nuclear power plants. Any new power plant design and construction will undergo heavy Government scrutiny before permits are issued. In addition, eight different non-profit clean energy organizations including Green Peace have just recently (2009) petitioned the U.S. Government to stop and abandon all nuclear power plants2.

Importing solar energy to Britain from abroad

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:11:47 -0700

In future Britain should consider importing solar energy from as far away as North Africa, according to a new report from the Committee on Climate Change.

Transmission Access for Renewables

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:36:35 -0700

EV Life Cycle Cost

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:19:02 -0700

Life cycle cost summary: Battery EVs cost more than fuel cell EVs, but fuel costs are less for battery EVs. Fuel savings with battery EVs can offset the higher vehicle costs for BEVs with less than 150 miles range, but for BEVs with more than 150 miles range, fuel cell EVs with 350 miles range will have lower life cycle costs (fuel, vehicle, maintenance, etc.)

Report: New Transmission Translates Into Jobs

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:03:10 -0700

U.S. annual investment in new electric transmission facilities could soon reach $12 billion to $16 billion, resulting in $30 billion to $40 billion in annual economic activity, says a new study conducted by The Brattle Group and commissioned by WIRES. This translates into support for 150,000 to 200,000 new full-time jobs in the U.S. in each of the next 20 years and between 20,000 and 50,000 new jobs each year in Canada, the report adds.

Solar PV could reach 130-200 GW by 2015

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:47:14 -0700

According to EPIA’s latest Global Market Outlook, the global cumulative solar PV market reached 40 GW at the end of 2010 with 16.6 GW added in 2010 alone. Solar PV is thereby now potentially producing around 50 TWh annually.

China Leads Push to Go Green

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:32:09 -0700

AMSTERDAM — Denmark earns the biggest share of its national revenue from producing windmills and other clean technologies, and the United States is rapidly expanding its clean-technology sector. But no country can match China’s pace of growth, according to a new report.

Offshore renewable energy storage

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 10:05:56 -0700

Canadian Thin Red Line Aerospace has developed the Energy Bag, which will see a prototype anchored to the seabed off the coast of Scotland this summer as part of a renewable energy research project led by Professor Seamus Garvey of the University of Nottingham, UK. The project is being supported by E.ON.

Renewables integration

Wed, 25 May 2011 11:29:05 -0700

As more emphasis is put on going green and weaning the U.S. off expensive and dirty fossil fuels, utilities continually find themselves at the focal point of green energy initiatives.

Japan says nuclear policy must be reviewed from scratch

Wed, 25 May 2011 10:32:58 -0700

TOKYO - Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on Tuesday that renewable energy would be a key pillar of Japan's energy policy after the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years and that its nuclear policy must be reviewed from scratch.

China revises PV installation targets

Wed, 25 May 2011 10:19:00 -0700

According to reports, the Chinese Government has increased the country’s target for PV installations from 5GW by 2015 to 10GW. Citing an official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the reports claim that the government has also increased installation targets for 2020 to have 50GW of PV installations, up from 20GW target previously planned.

Italy has a new FiT

Wed, 25 May 2011 10:07:10 -0700

Consultations and deliberations are now over as the Italian Council of Ministers signed on a new Conto Energia IV, effective on June 1, 2011. Since a review was announced the Italian market has effectively been frozen, especially for commercial and utility-scale projects, causing the PV supply chain to balloon with module inventory some market researchers have put at between 2 - 3GW. The situation was exacerbated by the slow start in PV installations in Germany this year.

Proposal would route 500-mile wind energy line near Q-C

Sun, 22 May 2011 13:12:01 -0700

A lack of transmission capabilities is slowing the growth of wind energy projects in Iowa and Illinois, according to a Houston-based company with plans for a multi-billion-dollar transmission line that would deliver the renewable energy across the Midwest.

NREL Highlights 2010 Utility Green Power Leaders

Sun, 22 May 2011 12:53:41 -0700

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) today released its annual assessment of leading utility green power programs. Under these voluntary programs, consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources such as wind and solar.

Ethiopia Plans to Start Exporting Power to Djibouti This Month

Sun, 22 May 2011 12:28:55 -0700

Ethiopia expects to begin exporting electricity to Djibouti this month after completing a project connecting its power grid to the neighboring country, an Ethiopian Electric Power Corp. official said.

MIT Showcases New Way of Turning Sun's Heat into Electricity

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:59:02 -0700

Cambridge, MA, USA -- MIT researchers and their collaborators have come up with an unusual, high performance and possibly less expensive way of turning the sun's heat into electricity.

New Entry

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:45:59 -0700

A Buoyant Future for Floating Wind Turbines?

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:45:39 -0700

London, UK -- In recent years there have been two significant trends in the wind industry: developers seeking higher quality wind resources and turbines growing in size. In response to these developments, the idea of 'floating' offshore wind turbines is becoming increasingly popular. Because they float, these turbines can provide developers with better access to offshore wind resources, unconstrained by water depth. Done right, they include a support structure able to accommodate today's large, and tomorrow's even larger turbines.

A Hidden Renewable Resource

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:34:24 -0700

A “hidden resource” for clean power generation is being promoted in Congress and throughout the states, one that its supporters point out is being wasted without anyone noticing. The waste heat from industrial processes now has an advocacy group and a fledgling effort to get it recognized where financial players would notice–in the tax code.

Gregoire signs bill to phase out coal power

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:24:44 -0700

Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire signed legislation today to close two coal-fired boilers at the TransAlta power plant in Centralia, the last coal-fired plant in the state, with the aim of replacing them with cleaner energy. The boilers will be closed in 2020 and 2025, respectively.

Intermittency and the HVDC Supergrid

Sun, 22 May 2011 11:22:51 -0700

Smart grid or supergrid? Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, distinguishing them can be useful.

Can You Run a Wind Farm From a Cell Phone?

Sun, 22 May 2011 10:56:32 -0700

Half a billion euros, GL Garrad Hassan (GL GH) Business Development Manager John Macaskill said, are lost every year around the world by wind farm operators who, inundated with unassimilated data, do not reach achievable levels of availability and operating efficiency.

EPRI Publishes Basic Consumer Guide about Electric Vehicles

Sun, 22 May 2011 10:47:17 -0700

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has published a basic consumer guide that addresses questions about electric vehicle technology and performance. With a variety of electric and hybrid technologies now available commercially, potential buyers are looking to understand which options might best match their needs.

No big shifts to nation's energy supply by 2035, report says

Sat, 21 May 2011 14:26:04 -0700

The current energy landscape is rife with contradictions: Gas prices are shooting up, renewables are being implemented at a seemingly rapid pace, natural gas is being simultaneously demonized and hailed as an energy savior, and electric cars are finally starting to roll off production lines. Fortunately, your tax dollars fund a government agency devoted to making sense of energy.

Fed Carbon Footprint: 121.3 Million Metric Tons; Lion’s Share is DOD

Sat, 21 May 2011 13:59:54 -0700

The federal government’s 2010 “reducible” emissions totaled 66.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, according to The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which is a reduction of GHG pollution by 2.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from its 2008 baseline.

New Entry

Sat, 21 May 2011 13:57:32 -0700

Tunisia still in running for Desertec role despite turmoil

Sat, 21 May 2011 13:42:00 -0700

Tunisia remains a leading candidate to host one of the first renewables projects built by the Desertec Industrial Initiative (DII), despite the North African country’s recent revolution.

A World Record in Direct Current Transmission

Sat, 21 May 2011 13:15:12 -0700

Siemens is building power converter stations for a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system with a record capacity of 2 x 1,000 megawatts. Beginning in 2013 the new HVDC PLUS technology will transmit 2,000 megawatts (MW) as direct current over a distance of 65 kilometers underground. This system, which is being partially funded by the EU, connects the French and Spanish grids between Baixas and Santa Llogaia. At present the two countries’ grids are linked only by low-capacity lines.

National Coal Expert: "Mining is a Loser" in Practically Every Way

Sat, 21 May 2011 12:24:53 -0700

Anytime coal’s cost to America is discussed, the coal industry reflexively talks about what an economic lifeline it is for the states in which it operates. Headwaters Economics, a Bozeman-based think tank focusing on natural resource issues, has a solid new study that’s getting national attention for undercutting those claims. For instance, the Headwaters study finds that “[f]ossil fuel production has not insulated energy-producing states from fiscal crisis,” that “[f]ossil fuel extraction has a limited influence at the state level on economic indicators such as GDP by state, personal income, and employment,” and that “[t]he volatility of fossil fuel markets poses obstacles to the stability and long-term security of economic growth in energy-producing regions.”

Renewables Integration

Sat, 21 May 2011 12:10:04 -0700

As more emphasis is put on going green and weaning the U.S. off expensive and dirty fossil fuels, utilities continually find themselves at the focal point of green energy initiatives.

Alternative Energy Watch: China Plans to Spend Big on Grid; Equipment Maker Gets Big Order (SOLR, AMAT, LDK, CREE, VECO, AMSC)

Sat, 21 May 2011 12:00:29 -0700

Alternative energy news today begins with a new order for sapphire crystallization furnaces and ends with a story on development in China’s national electricity grid.

centrotherm, Kinetics Germany to build Africa’s largest module production facility

Sat, 21 May 2011 11:47:44 -0700

centrotherm photovoltaics and Kinetics Germany have signed an agreement with Société Nationale de l'Electricité et du Gaz (Sonelgaz) to build an integrated solar module manufacturing facility in Rouiba, Algeria. When completed, the 43,000-square-metre site, located 30 km east of Algiers, will be home to Africa’s largest solar module factory and have an annual production capacity of around 116MW.

Q-Cells enters Japanese residential solar market

Sat, 21 May 2011 11:26:47 -0700

Q-Cells is set to become the first German firm to enter into the Japanese solar residential sector and is establishing a sales network of selected local installers, Q-Cells Meister Club (QMC), to help smooth its market entry.

Tata Power commissions 3MW solar power plant in India

Sat, 21 May 2011 11:14:09 -0700

India's largest private power utility firm, Tata Power, has commissioned a 3MW solar power plant in Mulshi. The project, which is one of the largest in the entire country and the first built in the province of Maharashtra, is spread over 12 acres and took nine months to complete.

When Will China's Energy Use Stop Growing?

Sat, 21 May 2011 10:58:29 -0700

China's energy use should flatten out sometime around 2030, with a similar leveling off of its greenhouse gas emissions, a federal researcher said yesterday.

Most U.S. Consumers Want to Buy an Electric Vehicle

Sun, 15 May 2011 13:09:15 -0700

Plug-in electric vehicles may just be entering the market, but most U.S. consumers are ready to buy them. E Source recently analyzed data from the Nielsen Energy Survey and found that 85 percent of U.S. consumers say they would purchase a battery-driven car either right away (3 percent), when their current car needed replacement (57 percent), or when the technology is proven and it becomes more mainstream (25 percent). The caveat is that consumers strongly prefer (58 percent) plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) versions such as the Chevrolet Volt. PHEVs have greater range than electric-only cars like the Nissan Leaf and only 8 percent of consumers prefer them. “We are seeing a substantial willingness for drivers to move to plug-in electric vehicles, but only if the manufacturers can provide the easy extended range of travel that Americans are used to,” says Bill LeBlanc, senior advisor at E Source.

Malaysia Adopts Sophisticated System of Feed-in Tariffs

Sun, 15 May 2011 12:57:00 -0700

Joining several other Asian countries, Malaysia's parliament has approved a sophisticated system of feed-in tariffs to develop its renewable energy resources.

Global Energy Futures and Human Development: A Framework for Analysis

Sun, 15 May 2011 12:41:49 -0700

This paper explores the relationship between measures of human well-being and consumption of energy and electricity.

Five business models to boost electric cars

Sun, 15 May 2011 12:06:00 -0700

WASHINGTON--Everybody wants an auto battery breakthrough that will lead to longer driving range and lower prices than what's found with oil-powered autos. But while scientists are busy at work on the technology, there are a number of clever business ideas to make transportation cleaner and cheaper.

Carribbean-wide power grid under discussion in Puerto Rico

Sun, 15 May 2011 11:48:24 -0700

Officials from islands across the Caribbean gathered in Puerto Rico recently to discuss interconnecting utilities to reduce electricity costs, promote reliability and reduce fossil fuel use in their home communities.

Tibet to become China's leading solar power base

Sun, 15 May 2011 11:31:49 -0700

Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region is poised to become the country's leading solar power generation base with 10 more photovoltaic power plants to be completed within this year.

Botswana explores alternative energy sources

Sun, 15 May 2011 11:15:21 -0700

Botswana plans to develop renewable energy to tackle the increasing demand of energy that has recently been outsourcing supply in the Southern African country.

Climate change panel: renewable energy to be key

Sun, 15 May 2011 11:00:33 -0700

The world's top scientific body concluded that renewable energy in the coming decades will be widespread and could one day represent the dominant source for powering factories and lighting homes, according to a draft report obtained by The Associated Press Thursday.

Bulgaria to encourage energy production from renewable sources

Sun, 15 May 2011 10:47:29 -0700

A new law that encourages energy production from renewable sources entered into force in Bulgaria on Tuesday.

Culver: Iowa a model for renewable energy policy

Sat, 14 May 2011 13:24:12 -0700

Former Gov. Chet Culver says other states should look to Iowa's wind energy success as a model for building renewable energy industries.

Government approves $1.24 billion carbon capture project

Sat, 14 May 2011 13:10:00 -0700

The Government of Saskatchewan has approved construction of the Boundary Dam Integrated Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration Project - among the first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage facilities in the world.

Falklanders to reap wind energy -- with their car batteries

Sat, 14 May 2011 12:53:25 -0700

The Falkland Islands could become the world's first territory to be mainly powered by a revolutionary combination of wind power and electric car batteries.

Solar Homes Sell at a Premium

Sat, 14 May 2011 12:39:53 -0700

A new Berkeley Lab report, “An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California,” provides some evidence that a significant benefit comes with selling a home with a solar power system.

Biochar looks promising in climate change fight, NW geochemist says

Sat, 14 May 2011 12:24:58 -0700

Scientists are probing the limits of how high-grade charcoal, dubbed biochar, can be formed from plant and animal waste to squirrel away the atmosphere’s carbon for centuries, or even millennia. Inspired by ancient Amazonian soils, researchers have found that buried charcoal resists bacteria’s attempts to break it down. And thanks to its porous geometry, it has a knack for improving land in ways still being revealed.

ADB pledges US$150 million in credit guarantees to bolster solar power development in India

Sat, 14 May 2011 11:44:34 -0700

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) revealed plans to offer up to US$150 million in credit guarantees to local and foreign commercial banks to encourage the development of solar power as a renewable energy in India. The credit will cover 50% of the payment default risk on bank loans made to solar project developers with an aim to secure long-term funding for solar energy development in the country.

Army Going Net Zero on Environmental Impact

Sat, 14 May 2011 11:18:37 -0700

This week, the US Army announced that six bases will go "net zero" energy by producing all the energy they consume on site.

Real-Time Solar Grid Data Now Available

Sat, 14 May 2011 11:06:51 -0700

The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) launched a new tool today that enhances the visibility of renewable resources on the grid.

Nuclear dilemma: adequate insurance too expensive

Sat, 14 May 2011 10:54:08 -0700

From the U.S. to Japan, it's illegal to drive a car without sufficient insurance, yet governments around the world choose to run over 440 nuclear power plants with hardly any coverage whatsoever.

Alstom Gets Contract for High Voltage DC at Tres Amigas

Sat, 14 May 2011 10:41:27 -0700

Alstom Grid has won the contract, worth at least 150 million Euros, to deliver the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter to the Tres Amigas Superstation.

Boeing’s South Carolina plant to install 2.6MW solar system and become a 100% renewable energy site

Sat, 14 May 2011 10:23:23 -0700

Boeing and South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) will be working together to make Boeing’s South Carolina facility a 100% renewable energy site. The North Charleston site will produce renewable energy with the help of a 2.6MW rooftop solar installation. Both companies maintain that the solar system at the Boeings 787 Final Assembly site will be the largest solar installation in the Southeast and the sixth largest in the US.

Doors Wide Open for Renewable Energy

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:32:41 -0700

GUATEMALA CITY, Jul 15, 2010 (IPS) - Heavy reliance on petroleum imports, the need for electricity in rural areas, and the ongoing effort towards sustainable development have focussed Central America's attention on renewable energy. But that doesn't mean there isn't opposition.

Condemning Private Property to Build Transmission

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:20:52 -0700

Renewable Energy Passed Up Nuclear in 2010

Wed, 11 May 2011 12:00:19 -0700

It seems that total cumulative installed power capacity from renewable sources passed up nuclear for the first time in 2010, according to the draft version of a new report coming out soon by the Worldwatch Institute, The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2010-2011.

Screen-printed solar cells reach efficiencies over 20%

Wed, 11 May 2011 11:48:19 -0700

Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have reached efficiencies over 20% for silicon solar cells using screen printing technology.

If You Like Solar, Tell Your Utility To Publish This Map

Wed, 11 May 2011 11:38:06 -0700

Distributed generation (like solar) brings unique and valuable benefits ($$$) to the electric grid. But capturing those benefits means solar and other renewable energy developers must find the best places to plug in to the grid, e.g. where demand is high or infrastructure is stressed. The cost to connect distributed generation may also be lower in these areas. Unfortunately, data about a utility's grid system is rarely public.

Connecting Britain To A European Supergrid

Wed, 11 May 2011 11:25:38 -0700

It stretches 260km under the North Sea, contains 23,000 tonnes of copper and lead, and may represent the first step towards a renewable energy revolution based on a European electricity “supergrid”. The £500m BritNed cable, which has just entered operation, is the first direct current electricity link from the UK to another country in 25 years. The high voltage cable, a joint venture between the UK National Grid and the Dutch grid operator TenneT, has a capacity of 1,000MW, the equivalent of a nuclear power station. It runs from the Isle of Grain in Kent to Maasvlakte, near Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.

Goldwind: Will Wind Be China’s Next Big Export to the US?

Wed, 11 May 2011 10:41:32 -0700

The U.S. CEO of the Chinese giant says he’s building jobs here, too.

American U. to use sun for power, hot water

Wed, 11 May 2011 10:17:15 -0700

American University says it is installing Washington's largest solar power system

China grids to connect 90 mln kilowatts of wind power by 2015

Wed, 11 May 2011 10:08:35 -0700

China's electrical grids will connect 90 million kilowatts of wind power capacity by 2015, said China's largest power grid company on Friday.

No Grid, No Gain: Untangling the Transmission Tie-up

Sun, 08 May 2011 13:15:56 -0700

California, USA -- Great strides have been made in enacting state renewable energy standards (RES) in the United States, which significantly affect the urgency of developing new renewable energy facilities. Also called Renewable Portfolio Standards and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards, over 30 states have adopted RES mandates. These initiatives are paving a path toward a more economically and environmentally sustainable and secure energy future for America.

Turkey to provide Iraq with electricity

Sun, 08 May 2011 13:04:05 -0700

Iraq Ministry of Electricity announced on Thursday that it inked an agreement with Turkey to provide Iraq with electricity during summer 2011 and to increase the share of Euphrates river water arriving to Iraq. The ministry said that in 2012 Iraq will connect its electricity grid with that of turkey.

UA looking at air-storage system as alternative green-energy source

Sun, 08 May 2011 12:46:05 -0700

http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/technical-articles/generation/energycentral.com/ua-looking-at-air-storage-system-as-alternative-green-energy-source/index.shtml

Duke Energy to Deploy Energy Storage Technology at Texas Wind Farm

Sun, 08 May 2011 12:18:45 -0700

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) intends to store electricity generated at its Notrees Windpower Project in west Texas using an energy storage and power management system developed by Austin-based Xtreme Power.

UAE boost for GCC electricity grid

Sun, 08 May 2011 12:04:48 -0700

In what is considered to be a major boost to the activities of the GCC Power Grid, a major power station that provides the vital link for the United Arab Emirates to the grid was completed and its trial run was successfully completed on Wednesday.

California is expanding its carbon-trading program to three Canadian provinces

Sun, 08 May 2011 11:46:30 -0700

California officials announced Tuesday that the state will expand its newly adopted carbon-trading program to three Canadian provinces, creating the largest regional cap-and-trade system in North America.

The Troubled Sunrise Powerlink: The Environment Versus Renewables

Sun, 08 May 2011 11:33:31 -0700

SUNRISE POWERLINK. THE NAME suggests the dawn of a new era of eco-friendly power, so why is the 112-mile-long high-voltage transmission line under construction by San Diego Gas & Electric, designed to bring power from the Imperial Valley to San Diego County, under fire from various environmental and civic groups? For exactly the same reasons that transmission lines come under fire whenever and wherever they're proposed: because no one wants lines and poles obstructing their view and because transmission lines don't generate anything but costs. They're hard to love and easy to oppose.

ABB wins $120-million power transmission order in China

Sun, 08 May 2011 11:18:05 -0700

Jinping-Sunan UHVDC link to enable integration and transmission of renewable energy

Integrating renewable energy

Sun, 08 May 2011 11:05:29 -0700

NREL effort seeks to convert wind and sun to hydrogen

Algae Could Replace 17 Percent of US Oil Imports, Study Finds

Sun, 08 May 2011 10:51:32 -0700

High oil prices and environmental and economic security concerns have triggered interest in using algae-derived oils as an alternative to fossil fuels. But growing algae -- or any other biofuel source -- can require a lot of water.

PLG Power launches 40MW solar plant

Sun, 08 May 2011 10:24:00 -0700

PLG Power Limited, the flagship energy and power division of PLG Group, launched India’s biggest solar power generation plant of 40MW at Patan in Gujarat. This is one of the largest solar power projects in the country, reports The Hindu.

US DOE pledges US$170 million for advancement of solar PV technology

Sun, 08 May 2011 10:14:06 -0700

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has unveiled its latest investment in its SunShot Initiative with Energy Secretary Steven Chu publicizing the nearly US$170 million that will be made available over three years for the advancement of solar PV technologies. As the DOE’s SunShot program looks to reduce the total cost of energy systems by 75% before 2020, this latest investment will help further its goal by supporting four areas of investment, which include: the improvement of efficiency and performance in solar cells, creating new installation, or balance of system, technologies, progressing solar energy grid integration and researching new materials and processes for solar PV technologies.

California’s Governor Brown signs alternative energy bill

Sun, 08 May 2011 09:59:08 -0700

During SunPower and Flextronics dedication ceremony for its new 75MW module manufacturing plant, attendee Governor Edmund “Jerry” Brown signed a new energy bill into law mandating that one-third of California’s electricity must come from renewable resources, such as solar and wind, by 2020. Before the new legislation was signed into action, California had a 20% renewables portfolio standard set for 2010; the 13% increase gives California until December 31, 2020 to meet the new goal 33% standard.

Hanwha spends US$955 million on polysilicon plant in South Korea

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:57:08 -0700

Hanwha Chemical is planning to spend KRW1.04 trillion (US$955 million) on a new polysilicon plant to help double sales over the next five years, reports Bloomberg. When construction is completed in July 2013, the Yeosu plant will have the capacity to produce 10,000 metric tonnes of polysilicon a year.

Turkish, Iraqi officials discuss cooperation in power transmission

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:43:49 -0700

Turkish and Iraqi energy officials on Tuesday discussed cooperation on building power transmission lines to meet electricity demand in Iraq, local media reported.

New Study Shows Apartment Buildings Are Huge Source for Solar Energy in LA

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:35:51 -0700

Solar power on apartment rooftops provides a tremendous opportunity to create up to 300 megawatts of clean power within city boundaries in the next 5-10 years, according to a report issued today at the Los Angeles Business Council's Sustainability Summit, where city officials announced a pilot program that could result in citywide rooftop solar installations by 2012.

Google invests $168M in solar energy project

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:25:33 -0700

Google Inc. is investing $168 million in an alternative power project that aims to produce enough solar energy to light 140,000 homes.

Calif. sets nation's highest renewable power goals

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:15:51 -0700

Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed legislation requiring California utilities to get one-third of their power from renewable sources, giving the state the most aggressive alternative energy mandate in the U.S.

Statnett, National Grid To Lay Power Cable Between Norway, UK

Wed, 04 May 2011 11:05:58 -0700

STOCKHOLM (Dow Jones)--The Norwegian state-owned electricity grid operator Statnett Monday said it plans to lay a 800 kilometer power cable between Norway and the U.K., in cooperation with U.K.'s grid operator National Grid (NG.LN).

Morocco Plans 2011 Solar Award As Investor Confidence Returns - Minister

Wed, 04 May 2011 10:51:44 -0700

Morocco plans to award a landmark contract by year end to build one of the world's largest solar power facilities, the country's industry minister said Monday.

India: The Next Big Solar Market

Sun, 01 May 2011 14:04:32 -0700

In light of the presumed slowdown of the European solar markets due to declining feed-in tariffs, the global solar industry is training its gaze on other growth markets: the U.S., China, and India, as well as Ontario, Canada and Gainesville, Florida.

Latest development in HVDC transmission

Sun, 01 May 2011 13:52:21 -0700

ABB has implemented several commercial HVDC power transmission schemes based on VSC (Voltage Source Converter) technology and is a pioneer in this field. Since the first project commissioned in 1997, its HVDC Light technology has evolved through three generations. It has now reached its fourth evolutionary stage, based on CTL (Cascaded Two Level) topology.

Energy Use Down, Renewables Up

Sun, 01 May 2011 13:34:24 -0700

Renewable energy is growing steadily even while the overall economy slumps and energy use from other sources is falling.

Iowa largest percentage wind generator

Sun, 01 May 2011 13:18:17 -0700

Iowa leads the U.S. in the percentage of its electricity that comes from wind, with 15 percent, according to the annual report of the American Wind Energy Association.

Study: Gas from ‘fracking’ worse than coal on climate

Sun, 01 May 2011 13:07:02 -0700

Cornell University professors will soon publish research that concludes natural gas produced with a drilling method called “hydraulic fracturing” contributes to global warming as much as coal, or even more.

Electric-vehicle technology accelerates toward tipping point

Sun, 01 May 2011 12:55:11 -0700

When oil hit a record price of $147 a barrel in July 2008, it was a game-changing moment that sparked a serious push to create electric cars and hybrid electric engines that could help wean Americans off oil. Today, crude is back over $100 a barrel and the payoff is the first generation of mass-produced electric cars rolling off production lines.

100% Renewable Energy Indeed Possible, say Stanford U. Researchers

Sun, 01 May 2011 12:43:14 -0700

The world can be powered by renewable energy in 20-40 years - using technology available right now, says Stanford researcher Mark Jacobson.

China Installing Wind-power Capacity As Fast As It Can

Sun, 01 May 2011 12:03:16 -0700

Beijing, China -- China is on track to install as much as 18 GWs of wind-power capacity this year as the world's second-biggest economy continues to diversify its energy resources, according to officials at Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association

IEA Calls For Scrapping $312B In Fuel Subsidies

Sun, 01 May 2011 11:51:35 -0700

ABU DHABI (AFP)--The International Energy Agency is calling for $312 billion in fuel subsidies to be scrapped in a bid to promote clean energy sources, according to a report presented in Abu Dhabi Wednesday.

US solar panel prices set to drop in 2011

Sun, 01 May 2011 11:29:37 -0700

With the acquisition of US-based CdTe thin-film start-up PrimeStar now behind GE, the conglomerate is planning to expand its investments in PV with the building of a 400MW manufacturing plant, potentially bringing its total investment in the sector to over US$600 million. GE also announced that NREL had verified that CdTe thin-film modules from PrimeStar’s 30MW manufacturing line in Arvada, Colorado have achieved 12.8% aperture area efficiency. NREL had transitioned the technology to PrimeStar through a cooperative research and development agreement signed in 2007.

GE to build 400MW CdTe thin-film module plant: NREL verifies 12.8% aperture area efficiency

Sun, 01 May 2011 11:16:27 -0700

Chaos in energy sector drives gains in clean energy

Sun, 01 May 2011 11:07:03 -0700

Funds that invest all their cash in companies tied to alternative energy, clean technology, the oil industry and other natural resources soared 13.7% in the first three months of the year, benefiting from turmoil in the oil-rich Middle East and the anti-nuclear sentiment after the accident in Japan.

Smart grids – a smart idea?

Sun, 01 May 2011 10:49:40 -0700

With the EU’s goal of 20% renewable energy by 2020, and the UK government’s plan to roll out smart meters to all domestic customers by the same time, the way has been paved for smart grids. Global energy consumption is set to triple by 2050, and power networks need to transform into intelligent systems that will save energy, accommodate increasing amounts of renewable energy, and ensure supply security.

World's Longest Sub-Sea Electric Cable Could Bring Iceland's Geothermal Energy to Europe

Sun, 01 May 2011 10:37:40 -0700

Exploring the viability of submarine cables to transmit energy is not a novel idea. Back in 2002, Landsvirkjun commissioned feasibility studieson whether or not the submerged cables could be used. The studies were underway in 2010, and Landsvirkjun's then managing director,Hördur Arnarson was quick to point out that research had been underway since the 1980's, with feasability being acknowledged as early as 1995.

China Devouring the United States in Clean Energy Financing

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 13:07:22 -0700

It is no secret China is currently beating the United States in the race to be the global leader of the new energy economy. However, with each passing month the gap between the two nations appears to be growing.

Peak power demand to triple in two decades, forum told

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:50:39 -0700

The peak power demand in the Kingdom is expected to triple during the next two decades from 43 gigawatts in the summer of 2010 to more than 120 gigawatts in 2030, Khalid M. Al-Sulaiman, vice president for Renewable Energy at the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE), said at the inauguration of the Third Saudi Solar Energy Forum held at the Faisaliah Hotel here on Sunday.

Can a Country Get 90 Percent of Its Power From Renewables?

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:35:11 -0700

Seder Boqer, Israel --- Renewable energy is often intermittent and unreliable, but with the right storage technology, it can become a substitute for baseline power.

Energy trading hub: HVDC transmission link between Britain and the Netherlands goes into operation

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:23:38 -0700

Erlangen, Germany, April 1, 2011 - Together with the operating company BritNed Development Ltd., Siemens Energy has placed the BritNed HVDC transmission link between Britain and the Netherlands into operation. BritNed is a joint venture of National Grid, the international electricity and gas company and one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the world, and TenneT, the Dutch grid operator based in Arnhem. The 260-km-long subsea cable connection with a transmission capacity of 1000 megawatts (MW) links the 400-kV grids in southern England and in the south of the Netherlands. The HVDC transmission system’s converter station in the UK is located on the Isle of Grain in Kent in southeastern England, while the Dutch station is situated in Maasvlakte near Rotterdam. Besides ensuring greater stability in the European integrated network, BritNed will also serve as an energy trading hub and thus bring more competition into the grid.

Stepping on the Gas

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:09:42 -0700

With the nuclear industry in crisis and oil prices on the rise, could the solution to our energy problems be in the ground at home? Daniel Yergin on the promise of shale gas.

Interior Report Reveals Potential to Generate Significant Clean Electricity and Create Jobs at Existing Dam Facilities

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:40:46 -0700

WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of the Interior today released the results of an internal study that shows the department could generate up to one million megawatt hours of electricity annually and create jobs by adding hydropower capacity at 70 of its existing facilities.

Ex-Im Bank to finance Indian solar projects

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:24:28 -0700

Export-Import Bank of the United States has agreed to help finance two new solar power projects in India. The move will not only help the development of PV on the subcontinent but also support more than 100 jobs at Infinia Corporation and First Solar’s U.S.-based production facilities.

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:12:55 -0700

On August 31, 2007, Solar Partners I, LLC, Solar Partners II, LLC, Solar Partners IV, LLC and Solar Partners VIII, LLC (Solar Partners) submitted a single Application for Certification (AFC) to the California Energy Commission to develop three solar thermal power plants and shared facilities in close proximity to the Ivanpah Dry Lake, in San Bernardino County, California on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The proposed project would be constructed in three phases: two 100-megawatt (MW) phases (known as Ivanpah 1 and Ivanpah 2) and a 200-MW phase (Ivanpah 3).

Yingli Green plans to establish U.S. manufacturing center

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 10:55:45 -0700

In the final segment of a two-part interview, Yingli Green CSO Yiyu Wang discusses the Chinese solar manufacturing equipment and materials supply chain as well as the tremendous growth in project development expected in his country. He also reveals the company's intent to establish its second vertically integrated manufacturing center--the first outside China--in the United States.

LDK Solar closes on US$33 million deal for 70% acquisition of Solar Power

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 10:44:55 -0700

LDK Solar has finalized its purchase of 70% interest in Solar Power under a US$33 million deal. An initial US$10 million was paid in January with the remaining US$23 million closing today. The companies look to this acquisition enabling Solar Power to enhance their project pipeline, while supporting LDK Solar’s prospects for its vertical integration model through module supply for large-scale projects.

Revolution offers a ray of hope for solar energy

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 10:34:06 -0700

The future of solar energy in the Middle East and North Africa is uncertain. The current instability may represent a temporary deterrent for investors and result in the delay of projects, while the reality of finite energy resources and an ever-increasing population means that the shift to solar energy is more urgently needed than ever. However, the recent breakdown of political power as uprisings sweep the region may actually prove an ideal opportunity for a paradigm shift required to get things moving.

Dominion Virginia Power Announces Study of Offshore Transmission Power Line

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 10:20:44 -0700

Dominion Virginia Power, a subsidiary of Dominion , is initiating a study of what it would take to build a high-voltage underwater transmission line from Virginia Beach into the Atlantic Ocean to support potentially multiple offshore wind farms.

Tibet's largest solar power plant to become operational in May - Mar 30, 2011 - energycentral.com

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 10:12:01 -0700

The largest solar power plant in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region will become operational in May to help ease the plateau region's power shortages.

Wind power becomes Spain's leading electricity source in March

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 10:00:55 -0700

Wind energy became Spain's leading source of electricity for the first time in March, surpassing the contribution from nuclear energy, according to figures released Thursday by Red Electrica de España, Spain's power-generating authority.

TEP to Develop New Grid-Connected Solar Power Systems on Local Rooftops

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:52:02 -0700

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is preparing to build new grid-tied solar arrays on the roofs of large public buildings to help serve a growing demand for renewable power.

Indonesia puts renewable energy ahead of nuclear option

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:40:03 -0700

The Indonesian government would maximize the use of new and renewable energy, especially geothermal, hydro-energy and bio fuels, before deciding to use nuclear energy, a paper said here on Wednesday.

Obama sets ambitious goal to reduce US oil imports

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:29:27 -0700

Seeking to show the public he understands the burden of rising gas prices, President Barack Obama set an ambitious goal of reducing U.S. oil imports by one-third by 2025, and vowed to break through the political gridlock that has stymied similar initiatives for decades.

Geothermal Pipeline Still Growing

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:14:08 -0700

Industry continues regional expansion

Recovery Act Stimulates Green Energy

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:36 -0700

Called the Greatest Green Bill Ever

Clean Energy Transmission Principles

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:50:17 -0700

New investment in clean energy transmission will be needed to maximize renewable energy development to meet renewable electric standards, facilitate the retirement of coal plants, increase the reliability of our electric transmission grid and more fully integrate renewable power.

Case study: river turbines provide ecologically acceptable power

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:40:55 -0700

Near the German town of St. Goar on the river Rhine, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Frankenthal, has installed and commissioned two river turbines that will generate power without affecting the river flow or harming fish stocks.

Photon International survey sees solar cell production potentially increasing 80% to 67GW in 2011 - Apr 27, 2011 - Mark Osborne - pv-tech.org

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:20:31 -0700

An annual survey of cell manufacturers published in the March 2011 issue of Photon International highlights a significant increase in solar cell production that could result in new capacity growing by 80% in 2011 and roughly reach a global capacity of 67GW. This comes on the back of reported cell production figures reaching 27.2GW in 2010, up 118%, compared with 12.5GW produced in 2009.

Reno Contracting and Envision Solar team up for solar-power charging stations for electric cars

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:42:34 -0700

Envision Solar will be collaborating with Reno Contracting on the development of several Envision Solar Tree solar parking arrays using Envision’s CleanCharge and EnvisionTrak technology. The solar-power charging stations for electric cars will be built across various locations in the southwest U.S. The first project is scheduled to commence during 2011’s second quarter followed by a multi-location construction at corporate and commercial properties through 2011 and beyond.

Solyndra offers integrated greenhouse energy generation solution

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:28:04 -0700

Solyndra has developed a new solar application for agricultural greenhouse and shade structures that takes advantage of the ability of light to pass through Solyndra’s proven tubular thin-film PV panel design. Research CeRSAA in Italy and the Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, have confirmed the improved nature of the panel design and its ability to support crop growth underneath while generating electricity.

New report focuses on the economic benefits of commercial and residential solar projects in Nevada

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:10:56 -0700

As Nevada lawmakers are in the midst of considering the Solar Jobs Now proposal, which advocates increasing the amount of solar energy produced in Nevada to reach 400MW by 2020, a report compiled by Vote Solar and Clean Energy Project NV has focused attention on the economic benefits that solar projects on homes and business would bring to the state.

TEP to Develop New Grid-Connected Solar Power Systems on Local Rooftops

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:02:43 -0700

Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is preparing to build new grid-tied solar arrays on the roofs of large public buildings to help serve a growing demand for renewable power.

Renewable energy investment in Oregon surpasses $5.4B

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:49:46 -0700

More than $5.4 billion has been invested in renewable energy in Oregon, most of which has come within the last four years, according to new data released Thursday by the Renewable Northwest Project.

KB Homes to Install Solar Systems in Ten California Communities

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:32:56 -0700

KB Home has launched a new initiative to provide solar power systems for its new homes as a standard feature in 10 Southern California communities.

Constellation Energy and U.S. Department of State Sign Innovative Agreement That Will Spur Development of Solar, Wind Facilities

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:20:22 -0700

Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) today announced it has signed a first-of-its-kind federal contract that will help the U.S. Department of State contribute to President Obama's executive order to reduce federal-wide greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by 2020 and encourage the development of two new renewable energy facilities.

U.S. drops to 3rd in clean-energy investment: Pew

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:33:41 -0700

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States fell one spot to third place in clean-energy investment last year as the lack of a national energy policy hurt purchases in wind and solar power and other technologies, a report said on Tuesday.

World Bank partners with Morocco and Egypt on innovative projects that use hybrid concentrated solar power (CSP)

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 10:45:29 -0700

(MMD Newswire) -- The World Bank has partnered with Morocco and Egypt on two innovative projects that use a hybrid concentrated solar power (CSP) technology to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and cut greenhouse gas emissions. These projects have demonstrated that it is possible to develop power plants using this new technology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by delivering clear results. Among them are the avoidance of 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually by the plant in Morocco and 40,000 tons of CO2 emissions in Egypt, a reduced dependency on fossil fuels, and job creation within the two countries.

BPA's New High-Voltage Power Line To Carry Wind Power

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 10:13:12 -0700

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) says it plans to build a new power line across southeast Washington that will carry an additional 840 MW of wind energy and provide up to 170 jobs.

Virtual-Power-Plant Market Capacity Expected To Double By 2015

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 09:58:16 -0700

A new report from Pike Research suggests that the market for virtual power plants (VPPs) will continue its steady growth over the next several years, increasing from $5.2 billion in worldwide revenue in 2010 to nearly $7.4 billion by 2015, under a base-case scenario. In a more aggressive forecast scenario, global VPP revenues could reach as high as $12.7 billion during the same period.

California Assembly approves higher renewable energy standard

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 09:45:59 -0700

California's Assembly on Tuesday approved one of the most ambitious renewable energy programs in the nation, sending the landmark legislation to the desk of Gov. Jerry Brown, who has said he'll sign the bill.

Energy Grid Integration

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:30:58 -0700

NREL Integration Effort Focused on the Market

Ministry calls for large-scale expansion of energy grid

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:22:39 -0700

In the wake of Germany's nuclear review, the Economics Ministry is calling for an accelerated expansion of the energy grid. One priority would be high-voltage cables that could overcome shortcomings in renewable energy.

Platina unveils Cyprus’ First Wind Farm

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:10:32 -0700

The €170 million project will reportedly provide 8% of the island’s electricity generation capacity.

EWEA 2011: China could surpass 70 GW installed wind by 2015

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:57:01 -0700

China could surpass 70 GW of installed wind power in 2015 under the country’s new Five Year Plan, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

Tidal stream array approved for Scottish Sound of Islay

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:34:12 -0700

The Scottish Government has approved the building of the 10 MW tidal stream array planned for the Sound of Islay.

Skyline Solar’s new LCPV system to be installed at 500kW power plant in Mexico

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 11:12:29 -0700

In conjunction with debuting its new Skyline X14 system, Skyline Solar announced that the system would be used in a 500kW concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) project in Durango, Mexico. DelSol Systems, which will lead the construction on the solar installation, asserts that this will be the largest CPV plant in Latin America to date.

Sunengy to build pilot Liquid Solar Array plant in India

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:42:59 -0700

Water is not a surface that immediately springs to mind when contemplating where to install a solar array, however, this may not be the case for much longer thanks to Sunengy’s ground-breaking Liquid Solar Array (LSA) technology. Sunengy hopes to build a pilot LSA plant in India before the end of the year and has enlisted the help of India’s largest integrated private power utility, Tata Power, to help realise this goal.

New UK power link may feed Europe, not import

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:29:38 -0700

LONDON (Reuters) - A new cable linking the British and Dutch electricity markets may surprise by exporting, not importing, thanks to Germany's pause on power from old reactors.

Geothermal is Hot for Developing Countries

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:16:07 -0700

Renewable energy is growing in demand; solar, wind, and biomass sources are acclaimed as the way to a greener future. For certain developing countries however, geothermal might be an even more promising option to displace fossil fuels and achieve energy independence.

Hawaii to build electric car charging stations

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 10:01:15 -0700

Electric vehicle charging stations will be built across Hawaii to provide a power boost to the short-range cars, according to an announcement Friday.

Wind and solar could supply 25% of Oahu's power by 2014

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 09:49:23 -0700

Oahu could satisfy one fourth of its electricity demand with wind and solar energy by 2014, including power from proposed wind farms on Lanai and Molokai that would transmit power to Oahu via undersea cables, according to a report released today.

Solarbuzz Reports World Solar Photovoltaic Market Grew to 18.2 Gigawatts in 2010, Up 139% Y/Y

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:40:10 -0700

SAN FRANCISCO, 2011—Worldwide solar photovoltaic (PV) market installations reached a record high of 18.2 gigawatts (GW) in 2010. This represents growth of 139% over the previous year, according to the annual PV market report, Marketbuzz® 2011, issued today by Solarbuzz, a California-based solar energy consultancy, and a part of The NPD Group.

India’s renewable energy policy framework favours CSP in long-run

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:08:47 -0700

Ahead of the game on renewable energy policy enactment, India is now pursuing ways to ensure countrywide support of the build-out of renewable energy, via RECs. Insiders say the domestic CSP sector is likely to thrive within the system over the longer-term.

Made in the USA: First Solar selects Mesa, AZ, as site for second domestic PV manufacturing facility

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 10:52:20 -0700

First Solar has selected the location of its second manufacturing center in the United States, and it’s a short drive from the company’s Tempe, AZ, headquarters. A 135-acre site in Mesa that once hosted a General Motors vehicle testing facility will see the creation of a cadmium-telluride thin-film PV module factory, a $300 million capital investment which will feature four production lines and be suitable for future expansion.

The Algae Appeal: Recyling Carbon to Make Transport Fuels

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 10:37:17 -0700

Auto experts say electric vehicles are a practical alternative to gasoline-powered cars, at least for some drivers. The biggest challenge for the auto industry is expanding the infrastructure for recharging the vehicles.

Infrastructure is Challenge for Electric Vehicle Owners

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 11:03:26 -0700

Seeking Wind Power Innovation: Europe's Largest Wind Turbine Test Facility Now Open

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:40:59 -0700

London, UK -- Early last month, an innovative new wind turbine prototype testing and certification site, the largest of its kind anywhere in Europe, opened its doors for business.

Vast and Powerful, but Willing? Russia's Renewable Winter

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 10:20:27 -0700

Often hailed as a 'sleeping giant' of renewable energy, nobody doubts that Russia has abundant potential to supply its 140 million citizens with cleaner power and heat. However, questions still remain over the country's political willingness to move the renewable energy agenda forward.

Nova Scotia Joins Surge on Tidal Power

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:06:57 -0700

Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia – To date much of the focus on tidal power has been on the Eastern side of the Atlantic with demonstration projects in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Over on the Western side however, the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia looks set to give the old country a firm run for its money.

Wave Power In Oregon Continues To Build

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:51:06 -0700

Wave energy development in Oregon added a new company to the research mix recently as Texas-based Neptune Wave Power announced it is testing its technology at Oregon State University’s (OSU) Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory. The university is part of a larger collaboration known as the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC), which also pulls in the University of Washington (UW) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

China adopts 5-year blueprint, aiming for fairer, greener growth

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:51:16 -0700

Chinese lawmakers overwhelmingly adopted a national plan to steer the world's second largest economy into a path of fairer and greener growth in the next five years.

The state of Japan's power grid

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:49:19 -0700

Japan’s electrical capacity is third in the world behind the United States and China, but damage and precautionary shutdowns from Friday’s earthquake and tsunami are straining its ability to meet demand. The Tokyo Electric Power Co., which provides more than a quarter of Japan’s power, is generating about 75 percent of its peak weekday demand.

Clean Energy Trends 2011

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:48:24 -0700

This year’s report represents a full decade of Clean Edge data and trends analysis. Ten years ago, Clean Edge released Clean Tech: Profits and Potential, the firm’s first publication. This year’s special anniversary edition looks at the past 10 years of clean-energy activity in the U.S. and abroad.

US Solar Power Market Reaches $6 Billion In 2010, Installations Double-Study

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:54:32 -0700

The U.S. solar power market grew by two-thirds in 2010 to $6 billion, while installations of solar-power projects doubled to about 1,000 megawatts, according to a study released Thursday.

Electricity prices could be impacted by when electric vehicles charge up

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:43:44 -0700

Only a few people in the Chicago area will be part of the first wave of electric vehicle owners later this year. But their charging habits have the potential to affect everyone's electricity prices.

US Names 19 Priority Renewable Energy Projects Proposed For Public Land

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:34:02 -0700

The U.S. Interior Department said Tuesday it has selected 19 solar, wind and geothermal-power projects proposed for public land as priority projects that could receive construction permits by the end of this year.

China resumes dam projects to dismay of environmentalists

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:13:23 -0700

Breaking a seven-year moratorium, Chinese officials plan to dam the nation's last free-flowing river in a remote canyon that is home to almost as many species of plants as in the whole of the USA and shrink a fish refuge on the Yangtze River to make room for another dam.

New Report Warns Against Investments in New or Existing Coal-Fired Power Plants

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:37:51 -0700

Replacing Coal Plants with Cheaper, Cleaner, Less Risky Alternatives Would Save Lives and Curb Climate Change Emissions

PRESS RELEASE: ACORE Releases Updated State-by-State Report on Renewable Energy for 2011

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:20:47 -0700

March 7, 2011 — The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) today released the 2011 update and redesign of its report, Renewable Energy in America: Markets, Economic Development and Policy in the 50 States, as an online resource and a product of ACORE’s mission to scale-up renewable energy in America. Compiling updated financial, market, resource potential, and policy information in a single easily-accessed resource, the report is intended to be an executive summary for all who are interested in the highlights of the renewable energy sector in every state.

Shams Power closes financing on 100MW Shams 1 plant

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:04:25 -0700

Shams Power has closed financing on its 100MW Shams 1 concentrated solar power (CSP) project in Madinat Zayed, United Arab Emirates. When completed, Shams 1 will be one of the largest CSP systems in the world, with investment coming from 10 major financial institutions and totalling US$600 million.

China could have 26.7% renewable energy by 2030

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:39:17 -0700

Renewable energy could supply 26.7% of China’s energy consumption by 2030, although the more probable middle scenario sets the share at 20-22%, according to the Centre for Renewable Energy Development (CRED).

ETI shows viability of vertical axis offshore wind turbines

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:25:22 -0700

Vertical axis offshore wind turbines could provide an alternative to conventional horizontal turbine designs, according to the Energy Technologies Institute.

Busting 4 Myths About Solar PV vs. Concentrating Solar Power

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:12:50 -0700

Although both produce electricity from the sun, there are significant differences between solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar thermal electricity generation. This guide answers the most pressing questions about the two solar technologies.

Federal Transmission under Microscope

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 09:59:58 -0700

Transmission policy is the next battleground in the ongoing debate over the federal role in the electric utility industry. And the dispute isn’t just some philosophical discussion about directives from Washington, it’s something more basic. It’s about money.

One Quarter of China's Wind Power Still Not Connected to Electricity Grid

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:55:34 -0800

We've been long documenting China's rapid rise to the top tiers of wind power, both in manufacturing and installed capacity. Worldwatch's Revolt blog looks into some of those impressive stats and finds that roughly 25% of China's wind power isn't connected to the power grid.

Coal Ash Plan Raises Fears in Missouri Community

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:11:53 -0800

Coal consumption is increasing in many parts of the world, driven by skyrocketing energy demands in rapidly developing countries like China. But with coal comes pollution: from climate-changing carbon dioxide to coal ash, the powdery toxic waste left over from burning coal to produce electricity.

Global Geothermal Power Capacity Could Increase 134% by 2020

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:57:35 -0800

Escalating investment in geothermal power could result in a 134% increase in total geothermal capacity between 2010 and 2020, according to a new report from Pike Research.

Update: Italian cabinet decides not to set annual cap for overall PV market—for now

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:31:49 -0800

As expected, the Italian cabinet signed off on a solar policy without a 8GW annual cap, but did institute a 1MW cap on farmland projects. Under the new policy, projects are required to be connected to the grid before May 31 to benefit from the current feed-in tarrifs. Any new FiT decision for projects beyond May would likely be made by April 30, according to published reports.
Barclays Capital believes the decision "to be worse than expectations as it increases uncertainty with respect to 2H11 fundamentals and likely increases risk to financing of several ongoing projects." The firm expects "this policy to result in a significant slowdown in the Italian market in Q2 until pricing expectations are reset for a potential 30%-50% FiT cut in 2H11."

Indonesia to build first wind farm in West Java

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:17:16 -0800

JAKARTA, An Indonesian senior official said that a local energy firm, Viron Energy, plans to build the country 's first large-scale wind power plant in Sukabumi, West Java, this year, with a total capacity of 30 megawatts, local media reported on Tuesday.

California Prepares for Influx of Electric Vehicles - Feb 09, 2011 - California Energy Markets - energycentral.com

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:45:12 -0800

While electric vehicles are still a relative rarity in California, efforts are already under way to prepare for a future when a lot more people will be relying on the grid to "fuel up." And a new report published this month by Pike Research indicates that future could be just around the corner.

U.S. Military Links Alternative Energy Research to Lives--and Dollars--Saved

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:24:09 -0800

Inventing the future of energy may be key to improving U.S. national security, economic prosperity and health

Four Latin American countries to bolster energy integration

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:03:49 -0800

LIMA, Government ministers from Peru, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador agreed on Friday to advance an electricity interconnection project to strengthen energy integration and security in the region.

World's first 660 KV transmission system sends power across China

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:51:34 -0800

YINCHUAN, The world's first 660-kilovolt direct current power transmission system began to supply energy from northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to the eastern Shandong Province Monday.

Report warns of high energy consumption in China

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:38:49 -0800

BEIJING, While China tries to limit its total energy consumption to an equivalent of 4 billion tonnes of standard coal in 2015, the actual figure may reach 5.1 billion if left uncontrolled, according to a report released on Monday by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE).

Ontario Power Authority awards FiT contracts to 35 large-scale PV projects

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 13:02:11 -0800

Solar power’s future in Ontario looks bright after the province awarded feed-in tariff (FiT) contracts to 35 new large-scale projects. The projects make up 257MW of the 872MW in FiT contracts that were handed out by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to renewable initiatives.

Mass. company making diesel with sun, water, CO2

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:44:48 -0800

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A Massachusetts biotechnology company says it can produce the fuel that runs Jaguars and jet engines using the same ingredients that make grass grow.

World's first 660 KV power cable in China

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:34:21 -0800

Beijing, Feb 28 (IANS) A 660-kilovolt direct current power transmission system, said to be the world's first, began to supply energy Monday to a province that is located over 1,300 km away.

Nuclear Power: Still Not Viable Without Subsidies

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:05:37 -0800

Conspicuously absent from industry press releases and briefing memos touting nuclear power’s potential as a solution to global warming is any mention of the industry’s long and expensive history of taxpayer subsidies and excessive charges to utility ratepayers. These subsidies not only enabled the nation’s existing reactors to be built in the first place, but have also supported their operation for decades.

Molten Metal Batteries Return for Renewable Energy Storage

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 11:40:38 -0800

New ideas for making sodium sulfur batteries could make them the answer for taming the variability of wind and solar power

‘Green Economy’ Needs $1.3 Trillion Investment Per Year, UN Says

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 11:22:56 -0800

Nations can kick-start a “green economy” by redirecting $1.3 trillion a year from industries that overuse resources to 10 areas ranging from forestry to buildings, the United Nations Environment Program said.

Wind Power Becoming Competitive with Coal

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 11:08:38 -0800

The U.S. government is pushing for large-scale wind power development and the timing may be just right.

Cutting Black Carbon and Methane Promises Immediate Climate Change Impacts

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 13:10:24 -0800

Reducing emissions of black carbon and methane can be done today with existing technologies, and could significantly slow climate change

Taiwan Initiates Energy Transition

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 12:45:43 -0800

London, UK -- Taiwan is set to blaze a trail in renewables development with its major policy initiatives that are designed to at last exploit the country's extensive renewable resources.

DOE Transportation Budget Is All About EVs

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:59:18 -0800

The 2012 Department of Energy budget submitted to Congress on Monday includes a 20-page section on Vehicle Technologies (VT), and nearly every word of it refers to vehicle electrification. In language of funding dollars, the VT budget jumps by 80 percent from $325 million to $588 million.

Renewable Energy and the Middle East Revolutions

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:30:28 -0800

As protesters across the Middle East continue their fight for democracy and liberation, speculators have drawn attention to the inevitable impact of this instability and change on the oil and gas sector, in oil price spikes.

Why develop wind in Wyoming

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:08:00 -0800

Wyoming is one of the top wind sites in the U.S., according to an NREL report “Wind Powering America.” The state is home to one of the oldest developed wind sites in the region, Medicine Bow online since 1982. Here, the Department of Energy funded research of wind energy production, particularly from large turbines.

Linking the West with wind

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:45:31 -0800

What good is producing wind energy if you can’t get it to people who will use it? Transmission lines are the critical link between generation facilities and the market place, and Wyoming’s got them. According to the Wyoming Infrastructure Authority, there are about 15,000 MW of new transmission capacity in development bringing power generated the state to load centers in the western states such as California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. This development represents a potential $30 billion investment in transmission and generation facilities.

Along the Right Lines

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:22:38 -0800

Europe's Policymakers Sign Up for a New Offshore Transmission Grid

View HVDC converter stations from space

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:26:15 -0800

If you have the Google Earth software on your computer we invite you to click on the Google Earth links! We have limited to only those converter stations where Google Earth provides a good resolution.

Analysis: In Food Vs Fuel Debate, U.S. Resolute On Ethanol

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:58:09 -0800

As world food prices reach new highs, a handful of U.S. politicians and hard-hit corporations are readying a fresh effort to forestall the use of more U.S. corn and soybeans as motor fuel.

Global Solar Power Growth Doubled In 2010: Study

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:39:42 -0800

The world added about 16 gigawatts of new solar photovoltaic (PV) power in 2010, double the growth seen a year earlier, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association told Reuters on Monday.

Southern California Edison signs PPA with First Solar for Silver State South plant

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:40:36 -0800

Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed a power purchase agreement with First Solar for its 250MW (AC) Silver State South plant. First Solar’s ground-mounted system, which will be located on 2,500 acres of public land near Primm, Nevada, will start generating electricity in 2014 and be fully operational in May 2017.

Tapping the Mighty Mississippi and Coastal Tides with Underwater Turbine

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:20:19 -0800

The turbines work by capturing the energy of flowing water, which they pick up from waves, tides and currents

Are Greenhouse Gases Upping the Risks of Flooding, Too?

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:00:21 -0800

Climate change caused by rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is causing more extreme rainfall and snowfall--and floods

Iceland Volcano Drilling Suggests Magma Could Become Source of High-Grade Energy

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:56:29 -0800

Geologists drilling an exploratory geothermal well in 2009 in the Krafla volcano in Iceland encountered a problem they were simply unprepared for: magma (molten rock or lava underground) which flowed unexpectedly into the well at 2.1 kilometers (6,900 ft) depth, forcing the researchers to terminate the drilling.

Department of Energy Finalizes Loan Guarantee for New Transmission Project to Deliver Renewable Energy to Southwest

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:36:30 -0800

Nevada Project Expected to Create Over 400 Jobs and Improve Grid Reliability

Coal's hidden costs top $345 billion in U.S.: study

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:19:15 -0800

BOSTON (Reuters) - The United States' reliance on coal to generate almost half of its electricity, costs the economy about $345 billion a year in hidden expenses not borne by miners or utilities, including health problems in mining communities and pollution around power plants, a study found.

Chinese cities are 'worst' in terms of CO2 emission

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 10:05:02 -0800

Chinese cities have the highest carbon emissions per capita and energy consumption per unit of GDP in Asia, while Singapore is the region's greenest metropolis, a study released by the German engineering company Siemens and the Economist Intelligence Unit has showed.

Korea's Highway: Embracing Renewables and Smart Grid

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:55:52 -0800

In particular, Korea Electric Power Corp. has included superconductor power cables in its Smart Green Utopia plan to convert Korea's entire power grid. The plan includes incorporating renewable energy sources, using smart grid technology, deploying electric vehicle charging stations, developing carbon sequestration systems and modernizing the electrical network.

ABB wins $180 million order for Norway-Denmark power transmission link

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:23:42 -0800

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth about $180 million from utilities Statnett of Norway and Energinet.dk of Denmark to supply an HVDC Light® (high-voltage direct current) converter solution to support the interconnection of the Norwegian and Danish power grids.The 500 kV (kilovolt) link is a new record in transmission voltage using this technology.

U.S. DOE investing US$7 million in PV Solar Incubator Program with four California companies

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:04:52 -0800

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been steadily working for the promotion of solar energy in the U.S. and recently announced

its newest solar promotion, the SunShot initiative, which aims to reduce the total cost of PV solar energy systems by 75% in order to be more cost competitive. The announcement of its new initiative was followed by news of a US$20.3 million investment in technologies that aim to improve the country’s solar manufacturing industry, its efficiency and costs.

DOE Releases New Analysis Showing Significant Advances in Electric Vehicle Deployment

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:17:18 -0800

The U.S. Department of Energy today released One Million Electric Vehicles by 2015, an analysis of advances in electric vehicle deployment and progress to date in meeting President Obama's goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. The analysis shows that while the goal is ambitious, it is also achievable based on steps already taken as part of the Recovery Act and additional policy initiatives proposed by President Obama -- including improvements to existing consumer tax credits, programs to help cities prepare for the growing demand for electric vehicles, and strong support for research and development to continue reducing the cost of electric vehicles.

New item

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:16:41 -0800

Wind energy experts: regulations slow development

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 10:54:47 -0800

Clearing up the regulatory hurdles that are slowing development of electricity transmission lines would provide a significant boost to U.S. wind power development, industry officials said Wednesday.

Battle of the Grids

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 10:37:24 -0800

As the EU considers how to overhaul its aging and inefficient power system, Battle of the Grids demonstrates how a lasting shift to a grid powered with nearly 100% clean energy can be achieved. Its centrepiece is a map that for the first time charts a supergrid for 2050. The report confirms what the recent economic crisis and accompanying fall in electricity demand has laid bare: a growing clash between flexible renewables and inflexible ‘baseload’ generators like coal and nuclear, a clash which gives the report its title. This clash will only grow and become more expensive unless coal and nuclear are phased out.

Asia leads global wind power growth

Sat, 26 Feb 2011 10:05:48 -0800

Asia leads the growth in global wind power, which grew 35.8 GW in 2010 bringing total global capacity to 194.4 GW – up 22.5% from 2009, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) says.

AECOM and EDF look at hydropower in DR Congo

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:02:16 -0800

AECOM and Electricité de France (EDF) have been awarded US$13.4 million feasibility study for Grand Inga hydropower site on Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

India to become renewable energy powerhouse

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:30:59 -0800

India could become a renewable energy powerhouse due to its need for alternative energy sources, international pressure and strong Government support, according to Datamonitor.

Solar PV Becoming Cheaper than Gas in California?

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:08:48 -0800

The latest round of proposed contracts from a California utility for 250 MW of solar PV projects comes in below the projected price of natural gas.

India's Renewable Future: Challenges and Prospects

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 13:08:01 -0800

Dr. Farooq Abdullah, India's Minister of New and Renewable Energy, wants his country to transform the promise of boundless and clean energy into reality.

EU's Barroso calls for new energy link for Central-Eastern Europe

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:28:03 -0800

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he would unveil the proposal later on Thursday at dinner in Brussels with prime ministers from Romania, Bulgaria and the Visegrad Group -- made up of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

DOE Leverages Fossil Energy Expertise to Develop and Explore Geothermal Energy Resources

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 12:10:23 -0800

Focusing on reducing the upfront costs of geothermal development as well as improve its effectiveness, the U.S. Department of Energy today announced plans to leverage oil and gas expertise to test the reliability and efficiency of geothermal power generation at oil and gas fields. DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will combine efforts to have experts test and validate low temperature geothermal power generation technologies at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC) near Casper, Wyoming.

Plans for 150 New Coal Plants Scrapped -- Transition to Clean Energy Picks Up Steam

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 11:06:08 -0800

Washington, DC: Purdue University has cancelled plans for a new campus coal plant, making the plant the 150th to be defeated or abandoned since the beginning of the coal rush in 2001. Thanks in part to the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, in the last two years no new coal plants have started construction and the industry has announced the phase out of over 50 plants.

Where Next for the Supergrid?

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:34:50 -0800

Transmission is the talk of the town right now throughout Europe. There are various plans currently under discussion that could see a radical transformation of the region's electricity transmission system.

Solar electric systems proliferate with much room to grow

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:17:39 -0800

Consumer-installed solar electric systems on Oahu, the Big Island and in Maui County more than doubled in 2010 with 3,967 systems added, compared with 1,916 in 2009.

Russia begins electricity supplies to Belarus

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 09:58:47 -0800

Russia has begun electricity supplies to Belarus, a source in the electricity sector has told RIA Novosti.

Fossil fuels replaced by 2050

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:31:42 -0800

Almost all of the world's demand for energy for electricity,transportation and heating could be met from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal power by 2050, WWF International and Ecofys said.

Companies Call for EU Single Energy Market

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:01:50 -0800

Two days before the first-ever EU summit on energy, twenty European companies and associations are calling on EU Heads of State to show the courage and vision to create a single market for electricity by 2015.

Energy Law Alert: Ninth Circuit Decision Further Dismantles an Already Weakened Federal Transmission Siting Authority

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:23:06 -0800

Congress' experiment with establishing federal siting authority for transmission lines suffered another setback after a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision issued yesterday, February 1, 2011, vacated the Department of Energy's ("DOE") 2007 Transmission Congestion Study (the "Congestion Study") that had designated national interest electric transmission corridors in mid-Atlantic and Southwestern states. This ruling is the latest of three court and agency decisions that have limited or undermined the federal siting authority established at Federal Power Act section 216 by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ("EPAct 2005").

China: 248 GW of wind power in 2010

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 11:02:42 -0800

China is expected to have reached a total installed wind power capacity of 248 GW in 2020 representing a compound annual growth rate of almost 23%.

UK-Norwegian interconnector JV

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 10:36:38 -0800

A joint venture, NorthConnect, has been set up between UK, Norwegian and Swedish companies to plan and build an electrical interconnector between UK and Norway.

Spain generated 3% of its electricity from solar in 2010

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 10:14:57 -0800

Despite the reductions in support for solar system, Spanish solar systems now deliver electricity in the TWh range making solar bigger than hydro or coal, and Spain now produces more wind and solar power than California.

Transmitting Canadian Hydroelectric Power to USA

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:00:51 -0800

Canada has for decades, exported hydroelectric power from Quebec and from Labrador into markets in the northeastern USA. A power transmission company based in Vancouver has proposed to install a submarine power cable along America's Pacific coast to carry electric power from British Columbia to California.

Jordan to host regional renewable energy commission

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:00:04 -0800

Amman will soon be home to a regional commission designed to place renewable energy on the agendas of decision makers across the Arab world.

Cost of Electric Power Report: Enormous Health and Water Impacts of Coal and Nuclear Power 'Hidden' From Consumers

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:34:12 -0800

WASHINGTON: An astounding 200 billion gallons of water withdrawn from America's water supply each day … annual costs to society from premature deaths due to power plant pollution so high that they are up to four times the price of all electricity produced in the U.S. … and four metric tons of high-level radioactive wastes for every terawatt of electricity produced by nuclear reactors, even though there is no long-term storage solution in place. These are just some of the little understood and largely "hidden" water, health and other costs from U.S. coal and nuclear electricity production detailed in a new analysis released today by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc., for the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (CSI) think tank. The Synapse report for CSI also outlines the considerable health impacts of the nation's current reliance on coal and nuclear power.

U.S. Air Force to quadruple solar use

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:07:04 -0800

The U.S. Air Force, the No. 1 government buyer of renewable energy, plans to quadruple its on-base solar-energy use in four years, an Air Force official said.

Battle of the Grids (PDF)

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:46:27 -0800

How Europe can go 100% renewable and phase out dirty energy.

Obama Calls for 80% "Clean Energy" by 2035

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:27:55 -0800

Clean energy advocates applauded the bold initiative, but cautioned against the inclusion of nuclear, clean coal and natural gas in a "clean energy standard."

U.S. wind energy industry finishes 2010 with half the installations of 2009

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:05:15 -0800

America's wind industry built 5,115 megawatts of wind power last year, barely half of 2009's record pace, but entered 2011 with over 5,600 megawatts currently under construction - and with wind cost-competitive with natural gas for new electric generation, utilities are moving to lock in favorable rates.

Chile, Peru to enforce regional electricity integration

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 10:32:39 -0800

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and his visiting Peruvian counterpart Alan Garcia on Thursday agreed to enforce the electricity integration in the region.

How to move to 100 percent renewables by 2030

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 13:40:03 -0800

What would it take to switch the world’s entire energy infrastructure to renewables like wind and solar by 2030?

According to National Geographic, about 4 million massive wind turbines, 90,000 solar plants and a four-fold increase in production of a rare earth metal that is a major component of key renewable energy technologies.

Investments in renewable energy grow 25%

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:51:41 -0800

Estimates show that investments have reached $200bn in 2010

China supplants U.S. as country with most installed wind-power capacity

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:18:43 -0800

China in 2010 became the country with the most installed wind-power capacity, supplanting the United States, industry officials said Wednesday.

Solar PV installations reached 17.5 GW in 2010

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 11:37:09 -0800

New solar photovoltaic (PV) installations grew by 130% to reach 17.5 GW in 2010 and growth is set to continue in 2011, says analyst IMS Research.

Secretary Chu Announces New Efforts to Promote Clean Energy in Tribal Communities

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 11:02:34 -0800

WASHINGTON - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today two new initiatives to promote tribal energy development and continue strengthening the partnership between the Department of Energy and tribal nations. Up to $10 million will be available this year through DOE's Tribal Energy Program to support the evaluation, development and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on tribal lands that will help save energy and money, expand the use of renewable energy resources, and promote economic development for tribal communities.

WMECo plans 4.2MW solar facility on top of landfill in Massachusetts

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 10:38:52 -0800

Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) is in the early development stages for its second large-scale solar facility in Springfield, Massachusetts. The 4.2MW solar project will use around 17,000 solar panels and be built over a capped landfill. WMECo did not release any contract details of the project, nor what modules or balance system elements

will be used.

Iranian villages equipped with solar power systems

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:51:24 -0800

The village solar systems are the latest stage in the Iranian government’s programme to ensure the entire country has access to electricity

Solarbuzz: PV manufacturers added 11.5GW of new capacity in 2010

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:22:30 -0800

The latest Solarbuzz ‘PV Equipment Quarterly Report’ highlights that the fourth quarter of 2010 saw a further 1.25GW of quarterly solar manufacturing capacity come online. According to the market research firm, annualized c-Si cell and thin-film module capacity increased by a further 11.5GW, in 2010. Equipment spending grew for the sixth consecutive quarter to reach US$2.9 billion in the fourth quarter. At the end of the year, 20 equipment suppliers to have order backlogs in excess of US$100 million, with the majority of these orders scheduled for shipment during the first half of 2011.

Stellar Solar makes strong start to Q1

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:05:00 -0800

A range of solar installations across the state of California has enabled Stellar Solar to post the best opening Q1 figures in its 12-year history.

Wind power generated 47% of the renewable power, small hydro-electric 20%, geothermal 22%, solar 1%

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:21:02 -0800

Achieving a major clean-air goal ahead of state targets, the DWP generated 20 percent of its power in 2010 through wind, water, solar and geothermal systems, city officials announced Thursday.

Ban-ki Moon urges clean energy revolution

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 11:35:14 -0800

ABU DHABI — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called on Monday for a clean energy revolution that would make energy available for everyone, at a summit in Abu Dhabi.

U.S. Can Cut Transportation Emissions 65% by 2050

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:46:02 -0800

The U.S. could reduce transportation emission 65% from current levels by 2050, according to a new report.

Siemens builds converter stations for HVDC link between France and Spain

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:20:49 -0800

Siemens Energy has announced that it is erecting the power converter stations for a high-voltage direct-current, or HVDC, transmission link between Baixas, to the west of Perpignan in France, and Santa Llogaia, south-west of Figueras in Spain, as components of the Trans-European Network for electrical power.

Spain's Gamesa Eyes Baja California Wind

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:00:52 -0800

Baja California, Mexico -- Gamesa, the expansionist Spanish wind-power company, is stepping up its forays into Mexican with hopes to sell as many as 2,000 wind turbines to Baja California. Its plans come at a time when observers expect the windy state bordering Southern California will attract $6bn of wind investments by 2015.

Agreement reached on new German feed-in tariff, maximum 12% regression

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:40:43 -0800

Fears of further aggressive cuts to the German feed-in tariff (EEG) mid-year, on the back of installations exceeding 6GW in 2010, would seem to have been

averted with industry and government provisional agreement on a new tariff structure. Although yet to be ratified into law, the new FiT structure limits

regression to a maximum of 12% in July, should installations reach 6.5GW from March-May (normalized annually).

Construction of $12.2 billion plant to turn nuclear waste into glass takes shape in Eastern Washington State

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:28:00 -0800

RICHLAND, Wash. — Rising from the desert sand in eastern Washington state is a construction project unlike any in history.

Ormat Commissions 15MW geothermal Plant in Nevada

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:11:16 -0800

Geothermal power company Ormat Technologies said yesterday it has commissioned a 15MW facility in the north of its home state of Nevada.

CIGS thin-film company SoloPower chooses Oregon as site for first volume production facility

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:19:06 -0800

SoloPower becomes the fourth CIGS thin-film photovoltaics manufacturer since the beginning of the year to announce it has selected a site for its volume production facility. The San Jose-based company has chosen Wilsonville, OR, where it plans to build a 75MW plant and create 170 new jobs as part of its initial phase of expansion. SoloPower made its decision in part because of a package of local and state incentives that includes at least $40 million in potential loan and tax credit monies.

Why Electric Vehicles Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:57:25 -0800

A recent article by John Peterson argued that electric vehicles will take us backward in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that today's

hybrid cars are more effective in reducing GHGs. Peterson's commentary rests on recent research by Carnegie Mellon University regarding life-cycle

emissions of various vehicle types.

King Coal

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:30:20 -0800

Coal supplies 70 percent of China's energy needs, and is responsible for much of its pollution. Despite a huge buildup of alternative sources, coal production is surging and consumption is growing even faster.

Volt's Battery Capacity Could Double

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 12:38:36 -0800

GM has tipped its hand about the type of battery materials it aims to use in the next generation of the Chevrolet Volt and other battery-powered cars. It has licensed battery-electrode materials developed at Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy Lab. These materials, called mixed-metal oxides, could improve the safety and durability of car batteries and help double their energy-storage capacity, potentially leading to substantial costs savings by allowing GM to use a smaller battery pack.

Nationalizing the Grid

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:10:42 -0800

The U.S. is blessed with abundant renewable energy, from wind in west Texas to sunlight in the western deserts. And the nation is rapidly putting that clean energy to work. Although most forecasts project annual load growth of only 1 percent for the foreseeable future, renewable power’s share of net generation is projected to double by 2035.

Solazyme Delivers 100% Algal-Derived Renewable Jet Fuel to U.S. Navy

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:42:17 -0800

Solazyme, Inc. is helping the U.S. military move closer to powering its planes, ships, tanks and trucks on renewable fuel and has delivered of 1,500 gallons of 100% algae-based jet fuel for the U.S. Navy's testing and certification program. The U.S. Navy has previously announced the objective to operate at least 50% of its fleet on clean, renewable fuel by 2020, and the delivery fulfills a contract awarded to Solazyme by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in September 2009.

Efficiency could cut world energy use over 70 percent

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:53:50 -0800

Simple changes like installing better building insulation could cut the world's energy demands by three-quarters, according to a new study.

ADB studies investment project to increase Turkmen electricity supply to afghanistan

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:34:20 -0800

In Ashgabat, representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are considering the partial financial support to the investment project to increase the Turkmen electricity supply to neighboring Afghanistan, an official Turkmen source said on Tuesday.

Record solar installations reached in U.S., says SEIA/GTM Research quarterly report

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:21:06 -0800

A market that always promised but failed to deliver is over, according to the latest U.S. Solar Market Insight report from GTM Research and the SEIA. PV installations in the third quarter reached 530MW, topping the total amount of installations reported in the whole of 2009 which stood at 435MW. According to the report PV installations are poised to reach 855MW in 2010, an increase of over 100%. The report noted that the growth trend is set to continue in 2011.

Turkish government approves feed-in tariff

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:30:02 -0800

After months of speculation surrounding the country’s solar feed-in tariff, Turkey has now made photovoltaic power generation subsidy payments law. Under the regulation, payments for renewable energy generation will be determined as dollar cent, as opposed to Euro cent, in Turkish Parliament.

The world can be powered by alternative energy, using today's technology, in 20-40 years

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:25:10 -0800

A new study – co-authored by Stanford researcher Mark Z. Jacobson and UC-Davis researcher Mark A. Delucchi – analyzing what is needed to convert the world's energy supplies to clean and sustainable sources says that it can be done with today's technology at costs roughly comparable to conventional energy. But converting will be a massive undertaking on the scale of the moon landings. What is needed most is the societal and political will to make it happen.

A Highway for the 21st Century: Tres Amigas Plans to Transform the Grid

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:49:08 -0800

The company signed a 99-year lease with the state of New Mexico and plans to develop 22 square miles of land, or about 14,400 acres, into an energy superstation.

DOE Gives Conditional Approval of Loan Guarantee for Agua Caliente Solar PV Project in Arizona

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:35:50 -0800

The U.S. Department of Energy has made a conditional commitment of a loan guarantee worth up to $967 million for the 290MW (AC) Agua Caliente solar PV farm, located on 2400 acres of former agricultural land site east of Yuma, AZ.

Solar-power buildup going large-scale across Arizona

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:40:11 -0800

Solar-power arrays have sprouted up on rooftops and parking garages across Tucson and Arizona.

Solar power on tribal lands: Part 1

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:14:18 -0800

Last month, the Quechan Tribe obtained an injunction that shut down a 709-megawatt solar farm planned for more than 6,000 acres of public land in the desert near El Centro, California. The project would have been one of the nation's largest solar facilities.

Germany Targets Switch to 100% Renewables by 2050

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:56:43 -0800

Germany already leads the world on renewable energy and could become first G20 country to kick the fossil-fuel habit.

2010 Hits Top of Temperature Chart

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:21:00 -0800

Topping off the warmest decade in history, 2010 experienced a global average temperature of 14.63 degrees Celsius (58.3 degrees Fahrenheit), tying 2005 as the hottest year in 131 years of recordkeeping.

Empire State Buildling to meet electricity needs through wind power

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:10:17 -0800

Deal secures more than double the amount of renewable power purchased by any other commercial customer in New York City.

Departments of Energy & Commerce announce new partnership to further cooperation on renewable initiatives

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:58:25 -0800

The Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce today announced a new agreement to further collaboration between the agencies on renewable energy modeling and weather forecasting, which will help enable the nation's renewable energy resources to be used more effectively by business and entrepreneurs.

Concetrating Solar Thermal Power, Distributed

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:53:42 -0800

When discussing centralized v. decentralized solar power, there’s an inevitable comparison between solar thermal electric power and solar photovoltaic (PV). But the fact is that solar thermal power – or concentrating solar power (CSP) – can also be done in a distributed fashion.

Global Renewables War is on: US MIA

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:36:56 -0800

The world war on renewables is on. China. India. And the United States - along with Denmark and others - are out to battle for supremacy in what will be the next turn in the industrial revolution.

China will scale faster than US in race for transport fuels

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:22:28 -0800

China could lead the race to roll out electric vehicles and will deploy new transport technologies at scale more quickly than the United States, according to a report by Accenture that compares the two countries.

Climate Change growing risk for Insurers Industry

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:50:55 -0800

Insurers are struggling to assess the risks from climate change, industry officials say, with the floods in Australia and Brazil highlighting the potential losses from greater extremes of weather.

Are SREC's the future of US solar policy?

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:24:26 -0800

SREC-based solar programs are increasingly popular. As pioneering states get more experience, many are wondering if SREC-only structures will win out, or if a hybrid approach will be the best solution.

Potential for Ethopia to Produce and Export Renewable Energy

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:18:08 -0800

Several years ago the European group called Desertec developed a strategy to generate renewable energy resources across the Middle East and North Africa (the MENA) and export the electric power into Europe. The range of technologies included wind, solar-PV, solar-thermal, hydroelectric, geothermal, ocean wave, ocean tidal currents and biomass sources.

China Boasts Breakthrough in Nuclear Technology

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:54:39 -0800

Chinese scientists have made a breakthrough in spent fuel reprocessing technology that could potentially solve China's uranium supply problem, state television reported on Monday.

European Supergrid Slowly Coming into Focus

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:34:01 -0800

A new agreement is one more step forward on the long journey to develop offshore renewable energy infrastructure and unlock gigawatts of wind power capacity.

2010 Clean Energy Investment Hits a New Record

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:20:06 -0800

Surprise, surprise: The 800-pound dragon in the room, China, has propelled global clean energy investment to record levels.

Map lets Colorado Companies tally solar potential

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:12:32 -0800

Plans to develop a free online service to give large businesses the ability to calculate how much solar energy they could harvest from their rooftops has gone better than expected.

government policies can shift southern US from coal to renewables

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:47:28 -0800

It is widely agreed that strategies addressing climate change through the adoption of renewable energy technologies cannot succeed without the active participation of governments and regulators.

Spanish Government cuts solar subsidies for new and exisitng plants

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:20:43 -0800

On Christmas Eve the Spanish Government made the controversial decision to again cut the financial support offered to solar power generators.

2010's Biggest Renewable Energy Projects!

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:52:09 -0800

Renewable energy development continued at a good pace this year, with record-breaking projects announced almost as often as once per week.

Egypt's First Solar-Thermal Plant goes into Operation

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:22:33 -0800

In Kuraymat, roughly 100 kilometers south of Cairo, a major solar-thermal power plant is going into operation for the first time in Egypt.

Gram for Gram, Solar is 10 times more powerful than Nuclear

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:55:11 -0800

A novel way of comparing solar power with nuclear power finds that solar easily bests nuclear.

Algae Prenears - Making Fuel from Algae

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:42:53 -0800

Some Florida businesses are squeezing a trickle of fuel from algae, claiming they can help power the world. But right now, a few expensive drops in the bucket are all they have to show.

From Chicken Manure to Clean Energy

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:21:41 -0800

The millions of chickens at Hillandale Farms can make quite a mess. Getting rid of that mess has traditionally meant trucking tons of manure to area farms where it is then spread on the land as fertilizer.

Medgrid studying developing mediterranean power grid for solar resources

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:10:44 -0800

A group of utilities, grid operators and equipment makers plans to study developing a network spanning the Mediterranean Sea to link Europe to North African solar-energy projects.

Middle East Countries putting solar to work overtime

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:43:41 -0800

While renewable energy production scenario is improving slowly in many developing nations, more action is now happening in the oil producing countries of the Middle East.

Maldives maps its renewable energy potential with help from the Scottish Government

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:33:15 -0800

The Maldives is assessing its renewable energy potential with a goal to become carbon neutral by 2020 with help from the Scottish Government.

US Treasury Grant Extension for Environmental Study of Solar Zones

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:20:33 -0800

President Barack Obama’s signing of the tax legislation passed by the U.S. Congress late last week included a holiday gift for the solar industry in the form of a one-year extension of the Department of Treasury Section 1603 “cash grant in lieu of investment tax credit” program.

Huge Renewables Expansion Coming

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:07:22 -0800

Renewable energy may be enduring a slump in some segments this year, but the long-term outlook remains bullish, according to one recent analysis.

Russian Grid to see $31 in investments over next 5 years

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:24:26 -0800

Russia’s Federal Grid Company (FGC), the operator and manager of Russia’s unified electricity transmission grid system, has announced a programme of investment totalling RUB 952.4bn ($31bn) covering a five year period from 2010 to 2014.

Cap & Trade in CA! California Regulators OK Major Greenhouse Gas Rules

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:10:23 -0800

California regulators on Thursday approved the first system in the nation to give polluting companies such as utilities and refineries financial incentives to emit fewer greenhouse gases.

ABB Secures $580 Million Power Transmission Order in Europe

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:53:59 -0800

ABB has won orders worth around $580m from Svenska Kraftnat of Sweden and LITGRID turtas of Lithuania to supply a new power transmission link between the Nordic and Baltic regions.

Floating tidal power plant opened in Norway

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:36:20 -0800

Hydra Tidal’s floating tidal power plant, Morild II, has been officially opened in Gimsøystraumen in Lofoten, Northern Norway.

Solar maps help foster sustainable cites

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:18:08 -0800

Solar energy is more accessible to Americans than ever before. There are federal tax credits, cheaper photovoltaic systems on the market and hefty rebates that make a return on investment more attractive.

Clean power industry worth trillions by 2020

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:59:55 -0800

A new study by Pew Charitable Trusts shows that private investments in global clean energy projects could top $2.3 Trillion in 10 years. Most investment will be in Asia but policy plays a key role.

New Report Launched at COP16 aims to cut energy costs by $26 million by 2030

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:24:13 -0800

A new World Economic Forum report developed in partnership with Accenture was presented today at the Green Solutions Event at COP16 in Cancun.

Sahara desert project aims to power half the world by 2050

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:24:01 -0800

A joint project by universities in Algeria and Japan is planning to turn the Sahara desert, the largest desert in the world, into a breeding ground for solar power plants that could supply half the world’s electrical energy requirements by 2050.

10 States Sign the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiatve

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:03:27 -0800

An important step considering that the energy capacity from the European offshore is greater than the oil capacity of the Middle East.

SolarWorld supplies haitian hospitals with PV panels

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:36:55 -0800

SolarWorld is supplying five medical centers in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with 440 of its 230-watt Sunmodule PV panels to power equipment, refrigeration and air conditioning.

Port of Los Angeles boasts new 1MW Solar PV Installation

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:26:58 -0800

The recently completed installation is expected to send 1.2 million kWh of electricity per year to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power energy grid.

Department of Energy Pours Funds into Cleantech industry

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:53:14 -0800

When Congress passed the landmark stimulus bill in 2009, more than $90 billion was targeted at clean energy -- the largest investment of federal dollars in the energy sector ever. Nearly $3 billion was awarded to the Bay Area from the Department of Energy alone.

Germany's Power Grid Could Handle 1 Million Electric Vehicles!

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:00:55 -0800

Germany’s utilities believe that the Federal Government’s objective of having roughly 1 million electric vehicles on the country’s roads by 2020 would not pose any problems for the electricity grid.

Tidal Power: Could Waves Provide 10% of America's Electricity

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:44:35 -0800

Last month, in the swells off Oahu, a company called Ocean Power Technologies connected a small test buoy to the power grid that serves the Marine Corps Base Hawaii. It was a first for a wave energy device in U.S. waters.

Report Says Clean Energy Gets Fewer Subsides & Investment than Fossil Fuels

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:46:47 -0800

Energy from fossil fuel gets 12 times more in subsidies worldwide than sustainable energy, says a new report from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Thailand: 4300 MW of Renewables using Feed-In Tariffs

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:30:51 -0800

Since the introduction of its small power program in 2006, Thailand has signed contracts to develop 4,300 MW of renewable generation. Nearly half of the contracts--1,800 MW--are for solar energy alone.

GE Announces Largest Single Electric Vehicle Commitment

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:16:25 -0800

GE announced today it will purchase 25,000 electric vehicles to convert half of its Capital Fleet Services business by 2015 - making it the largest-ever single electric vehicle commitment.

Gore says US Ethanol Was Not a Good Policy

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:00:42 -0800

Former vice-president Al Gore said support for corn-based ethanol in the United States was "not a good policy", weeks before tax credits are up for renewal.

FERC & DOE Seek Better Integration of WInd and Solar Energy

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:33:56 -0800

Washington, DC, United States -- Today, the nations regulatory commission, FERC, proposed a reform to its rules that would help integrate renewable energy into the nation's energy mix.

Nations That Debate Coal Use Export It To China

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:16:27 -0800

Even as developed countries close or limit the construction of coal-fired power plants out of concern over pollution and climate-warming emissions, coal has found a rapidly expanding market elsewhere: Asia, particularly China.

Current Government Policies Inadequate to Address Climate Change

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:48:47 -0800

The broad greenhouse gas policy commitments and plans of countries around the world will not be sufficient to avoid significant increases in average global temperatures, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Japanese Firm Partners with Russian Institute to Product Hydrogen using Wind Power

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:33:27 -0800

A Japanese company and a Russian institute will start a feasibility study soon on producing hydrogen through wind-power generation in Sakhalin in Russia's Far East for export to Japan.

HVDC Investment to Skyrocket Over the Next Five Years

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:13:37 -0800

Investment in the high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission market will increase by 44% over the next five years, rising from $8.4 billion in 2010 to $12.1 billion in 2015, according to a new study from Pike Research.