Month: November 2008

Warm welcome for UK’s new feed in tariff

The renewables industry in the UK has welcomed new legislation included in the Energy Bill to introduce a feed-in-tariff. In the House of Commons debate MPs also agreed to introduce a Renewable Heat Incentive, although no clear timetable was agreed. Biogas received a boost from the heat incentive clause, as it entitles producers of renewable… Read more »

PV markets in good health, new report claims

The global growth rates for the PV market are showing excellent health, according to a new study by Bank Sarasin. The report forecasts average global growth rates of 48 per cent for the sector up to 2012, with the global market volume of newly installed PV systems rising from 4 gigawatts in 2008 to 125… Read more »

Euro energy report calls for more turbines

Europe should erect more wind turbines, a new report into energy in the bloc has said. A draft of the EU’s Second Strategic Energy Review, says planning will start for a new power grid linking offshore wind turbines in the North Sea and for bolstering imports of liquefied natural gas. {pagebreak} Linking all the North… Read more »

New turbines provide power across Ireland

Irish energy company Energia has taken delivery of 61 megawatts of wind power from two major new turbine facilities in counties Cork and Kerry. The company will harness the wind for onward supply to its renewable energy customers throughout Ireland. Energia supplies 25 per cent of the business electricity market on an all-island basis with… Read more »

Huge boost needed for low-carbon tech, says CBI

The UK government must massively increase its investment in low-carbon technologies if it wants the county to meet its climate change goals, according to business leaders. In a report, the Confederation of British Industries (CBI) argues that there is a “lack of ambition in the UK” for the new technology and that an increased focus… Read more »

New product line aims for PV efficiency

A new line of PV products from Rohm and Haas is set to help increase solar cell efficiency across Europe. Enlight photovoltaic products use innovative materials to improve the efficiency of solar cells, enhancing their ability to convert the sun’s light into electrical energy. The company’s technology also helps solar cell manufacturers more quickly produce… Read more »

UK shares wind energy knowledge with Taiwan

British wind power experts have been sharing their expertise with Taiwanese counterparts at a seminar in Taipei held by the British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO). Led by Richard Brooks, head of Business Development of the Renewable Deployment Team of Britain’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, a U.K. delegation comprised of 16 experts from… Read more »

Climate change laws ‘must press ahead’ says EU chief

The EU Commissioner for Energy has said that its proposed climate and energy legislative package should be moved forward despite the current global financial crisis. Andris Piebalgs, EU Commissioner for Energy, told attendees at the Cercle Royal Gaulois energy conference in Brussels that it is ‘completely irresponsible’ for politicians to postpone adopting the package since… Read more »

Tips on Bolt Tensioning

Calculation notes on using Hydraulic bolt tensioning tools. Formula to use:Residual Bolt Load = Bolt Stress x Bolt Tensile Stress AreaUnits:Residual Bolt Load = (N or Tons)Bolt Tensile Stress Area = (mm2 or In2) {pagebreak} Below are tables of standard ISO Metric and Imperial Thread forms along with applicable tensile stress area’s.Step1: Determining required bolt… Read more »

Sharp to bring thin film solar cells to US

Sharp Corp, one of the world’s biggest makers of silicon-based solar cells, will introduce next generation thin film solar cells in the U.S. market in August next year. The lower cost of thin film solar is seen by Sharp and its competitors as the best way to create utility-scale solar panel arrays because they can… Read more »

Barack ‘bounce’ sends green energy stocks skyward

The bounce that the election of Barack Obama has brought to America was reflected in a soar in the price of green energy stocks. Solar Integrated Technologies rose by 30 per cent the day after the election, following increases of 22 per cent by Renewable Energy Corporation and 16 per cent by the wind turbine… Read more »

Germans buy into mega-wind farm plan

A 50 per cent stake in what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm has been bought by German utility giant RWE. The deal, worth £308m, was brokered between RWE and Scottish and Southern Energy for the Greater Gabbard wind farm, 15 miles off the Suffolk coast. Under the terms of the deal SSE… Read more »

Curbing emissions will be ‘difficult’, say Chinese

The Chinese government has warned of the difficulty of curbing growing greenhouse gas emissions in the foreseeable future. Beijing has said it wants to combat climate change yet ensure China’s economic take-off is unimpeded, and a recent government white paper on climate change reflects the uneasy fit between those imperatives. {pagebreak} China faces shrinking crops,… Read more »

PES magazine pleased to partner major wind gathering

Power and Energy Solutions (PES) magazine has been named as an official partner for the European Wind Energy Conference in Marseille, France, next year. The event, which will be held in March, is the biggest gathering of wind energy experts and commentators from Europe and beyond and it provides an opportunity to discover the latest… Read more »

Manufacturers put wind in sails of renewables industry

Nine UK manufacturers are ready to blow away the competition to gain new business in wind energy and other fast growing renewable energy sectors. As part of an Envirolink business improvement project funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and central government, the companies have energised their own people and performance to compete more effectively… Read more »

Former landfill is used to produce solar energy

German company DEGERenergie has just opened its third solar park on a former landfill site. The new park, in Rexingen, Kreis Freudenstadt, joins established parks in Heiligenfeld and Oberiflingen. Enough power will be generated to cover the energy needs of the entire town. {pagebreak} In total 190 kWp are installed on 1.5 hectares. Fifty four… Read more »

Top honours for turbine-drives firm

Power conversion specialists Converteam have taken top honours at an awards ceremony which recognised their work in the wind turbine field. The UK-based company, which makes a leading range of drives, including the MV3000, widely used in the most advanced wind turbines, came first in the World Class Manufacturing category at the Manufacturer 2008 Live… Read more »

Middle East looks west for wind investment

No strangers to lucrative means of producing energy, the money men of the Middle East are now looking towards the renewables sector for cleaner ways of making a profit. A company based in Abu Dhabi has bought a 20 per cent stake in London Array offshore wind farm, which is set to be one of… Read more »

Glory days of steam are back for Siemens

Industrial giant Siemens Energy is to supply a steam turbine for one of the world’s first commercial solar tower power plants. The Spanish company Sener will build the innovative solar thermal power plant with a capacity of 19 megawatts (MW) at a site near Seville in Andalusia. {pagebreak} For the “Solar Tres” project Siemens will… Read more »

Insurance hike fear for renewable sector

Insurance premiums for renewable energy projects look set to rise by up to 10 per cent over the next two years, as a direct result of the current economic crisis. Specialist renewable energy insurer GCube has announced that it has secured an increased underwriting capacity to cover business up to a value of $800 million… Read more »