Author: Francesco

Iberdrola May Invest 16 Billion Euros Through 2012

Iberdrola SA, Spain’s biggest electricity company, said net investment from 2010 through 2012 may total 16 billion euros ($22 billion) as it spends more on renewable-energy projects and networks. Gross investment may climb to 18 billion euros, while asset sales may raise as much as 2.5 billion euros through 2012, Iberdrola said today in a… Read more »

Bill to open wind energy to private sector widely praised

A state bill that would open wind power to private developers was praised by a variety of groups during a legislative hearing on Wednesday, including some who called it a potential milestone for Nebraska’s fledgling wind power industry. “I think this is the most significant legislation relating to electricity in this state, probably, since the… Read more »

Turbine company in talks to open UK factory

One of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers is in talks with the government about setting up a factory in Britain. Gamesa, the Spanish turbine company, is being urged by Iberdrola, the owner of Scottish Power, to build a manufacturing facility to serve the British market, according to Ignacio Galan, Iberdrola’s chief executive. Gamesa confirmed… Read more »

Solar Sweeps Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards

At the Renewable Energy Expo and World Conference in Austin, Texas yesterday, solar energy received accolades from the editors and readers of the Renewable Energy World network of publications. The Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards are intended to recognize projects, people, and companies for “advancing the market for renewable energy in North America”. Of the… Read more »

Chevron to construct solar energy plant on Questa, New Mexico mining facility

The Chevron Corporation has announced that it will be constructing a new photovoltaic solar panel facility on the site of one of its molybdenum mines in Questa, New Mexico. The solar energy facility will consist of approximately 175 solar panels spread across 20 acres of land, making it the largest concentrating solar photovoltaic installation in… Read more »

Solar bill will help California’s energy future

For homeowners and businesses, a big part of the appeal of “going solar” is the chance to offset their energy bills by earning credit for the power they generate. State law requires investor-owned utilities such as the Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to provide such credits to their customers – up to 2.5 percent of… Read more »

Wind Potential Grows in ND

It’s really not surprising to many of us in North Dakota, but a new report from the American Wind Energy Association says there’s more wind energy potential in the Dakotas than previously estimated. The report lists North Dakota number six in the nation in wind energy potential. However several companies are arguing that the state… Read more »

Kansas needs to capitalize on wind

Kansas learned last week that it’s second only to Texas among states for its potential wind generation, according to a new report co-authored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Now, the state and its leaders, with help from Congress, should take the second-place status and run with it, turning that potential into power, jobs and… Read more »

Wind & solar can’t provide energy needs

Wind, solar can’t provide energy needs Mainstream media are gaga over solar and wind energy. Myth 1: Mainstream media would have you believe solar and wind can replace coal-fired power plants. Most coal plants produce base-load electricity. Base-load electricity is required 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Solar is obviously not base-load. Only… Read more »

Solar thermal energy on the march

The global market for solar thermal energy has skyrocketed, particularly in China. Despite the boom, what’s considered the most important of all solar technologies still has a long way to reach its true potential. Mention solar energy and most people are likely to think of sun-powered electrical systems. But there’s a much more important solar… Read more »

Solar power project in Mojave Desert gets $1.4 billion boost from stimulus funds

The Energy Department on Monday announced a “conditional” $1.4 billion loan guarantee for a solar thermal power complex in the Mojave Desert that would ultimately produce as much as 392 megawatts of electricity. The loan guarantee would be drawn from the resources given to the Energy Department under the economic stimulus bill adopted last year…. Read more »

Pennsylvania awards >$5M to 13 solar power projects totaling 4.25MW

The state of Pennsylvania has announced new grants totaling more than $5 million in 13 solar energy projects, which will add more than 4.25MW of photovoltaics installations in 11 counties. The projects have a total value of more than $23 million and will include rooftop, parking structure, and ground-mount systems, ranging in size from 20KW… Read more »

US Wind Energy Potential 3Xs Higher Than Thought

The potential amount of wind energy in this country is actually more than three times what is was previously thought to be. This post from the Energy Collective blog says a new analysis from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) credits the increase to improvements in wind turbines over the last decade and a half:… Read more »

Poor Showing for WYO on Nat’l Conservation and Energy Scorecard

Wyoming may be one of just a few states aggressively developing wind energy, but the new National Environmental Scorecard released today by the League of Conservation Voters ranks the state last when it comes congressional representation on energy and conservation issues. The organization has put the tally together for 30 years, and this past year,… Read more »

NI Technology Updates Outlooks for Suntech Power Holdings, First Solar, Yingli Green Energy, LDK Solar and JA Solar

Next Inning Technology Research (http://www.nextinning.com), an online investment newsletter focused on semiconductor and technology stocks, announced it has updated outlooks for Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP), First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR), Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE), LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK) and JA Solar ( JASO). Editor Paul McWilliams has displayed uncanny accuracy in identifying winners and… Read more »

Turbine design breathes new life into hopes for UK’s renewable targets

A radical windmill design could hold the key to making offshore wind power more economical and helping the UK meet its ambitious renewable energy targets. The Aerogenerator turns conventional windmills on their side, with a 100m tall V-shaped blade rotating on a vertical, rather than the usual horizontal, axis. By building all the moving parts… Read more »

Mobil Industrial Lubricants: helping to power the energy sector for more than 100 Years

For more than 100 years, the team behind Mobil Industrial Lubricants continues to help companies all around the world to meet their most demanding energy challenges, pushing the boundaries of innovation and setting new benchmarks for lubrication excellence. Today, Mobil Industrial Lubricants’family of premium oils and maintenance solutions help successful companies within the global energy… Read more »

Taiwan aims at 100,000 solar-panel roofs

Taiwan, in an effort to increase the use of solar energy and cut carbon emissions, has taken to the rooftops. Under the ‘100,000 solar roofs programme’ launched last year, the government plans to spend 280 million dollars in subsidies to encourage the locals to turn their rooftops into sun roofs, said Wang Yun-ming, deputy director… Read more »

Sanders: ‘It’s time for a solar revolution’

This country spends, in a typical year, $350 billion importing oil from Saudi Arabia and other foreign countries. Although this is no doubt good news for the Saudi royal family, one of the richest in the world, it is bad news for the average American. The vast majority of the American people understand now is… Read more »

Remote Desert Region Spearheading Israel’s Renewable Energy Revolution

Dorit Banet is not one to throw around hackneyed expressions (such as “making the desert bloom”) when describing her work. Tired clichés are apparently not part of her lexicon, but she does have an ambitious vision. Largely under the radar, Banet and her colleagues at the Eilat-Eilot Renewable Energy Administration in southern Israel are busy… Read more »

U.S. wind capacity has more than tripled: report

Wind capacity in the United States has tripled and is enough to meet U.S. electricity consumption, according to a new report co-authored by the Department of Energy. President Obama has promoted renewable energy sources such as wind as well as nuclear power plants as ways to generate carbon-free energy. The country’s wind could generate 37… Read more »

Wind powers the Falklands as oil drilling begins

The Falkland Islands are the focus of a double energy drive this weekend as explorers begin drilling for oil and three giant wind turbines start generating electricity. The Ocean Guardian rig begins drilling today off the north coast, amid hopes that reserves in the region could yield up to 60bn barrels of oil.At the same… Read more »

European research project for organic photovoltaic applications

Dr. Schenk GmbH, leading supplier of inspection and measurement solutions for the thin-film solar module production, proudly announces its participation in a trend-setting research project supported by the European Commission. The “HIFLEX” project aims to jointly develop a technology for highly flexible Organic Photovoltaics (OPV) modules. Due to the use of commercially viable printing and coating techniques on roll-to-roll material, this new… Read more »

Ice halts northern N.B. wind farm

Northern New Brunswick’s cold, icy weather is causing wind turbines to freeze and stop producing power at the Caribou Wind Park near Bathurst. The new wind farm’s 33 turbines have been generating power since November, but they have been forced to shut down for the past two days due to ice forming on some of… Read more »

Wyoming House sends wind energy tax to the Senate

The Wyoming House has approved a state excise tax on commercial wind energy generation and sent the measure to the Senate. House Bill 101 would impose a $1 per megawatt hour tax, generating an estimated $3.8 million annually under current production rates. The House approved the bill Thursday with two-thirds support. Representatives opposed to the… Read more »

eSolar and Ferrostaal AG Partner to Provide Turnkey Solar Thermal Plants

eSolar, a leading producer of modular, scalable concentrating solar thermal power technology, and Ferrostaal AG, one of the world’s largest power plant developers, announced today a partnership to deploy turnkey solar power plants in countries including Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa. Under the agreement, eSolar will provide solar field and receiver technology,… Read more »

Suntech provides solar panels to 19 remote schools in Lebanon

The world’s largest producer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules has supplied almost 20 Lebanese schools with supplies to let them utilize solar energy through the sponsorship of the Country Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Demonstration Project for the Recovery of Lebanon. Suntech Power Holdings provided the solar panels for 19 remote schools in the country… Read more »

AltaTerra Research: Solar Water Heating Gets Hot in 2010

AltaTerra Research is pleased to announce the web conference, “Heating Up in 2010?: The Outlook for U.S. Commercial and Industrial Solar Water Heating Markets,” to be held Wednesday, March 24th at 11:00 am Pacific / 2:00 pm Eastern. Participants will hear from Sue Kateley, Executive Director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), Les… Read more »

RI gets $22M in stimulus money to upgrade port

The port at Quonset Point will receive more than $22 million to improve its dock and buy cranes so it can accommodate a wind turbine developer, serve container cargo ships and create jobs in a state with nearly 13 percent unemployment, officials said Wednesday. The federal stimulus money is meant to support Deepwater Wind LLC,… Read more »

Renewable Energy to Supply 40% of Falklands Power

Annual wind power contribution in the Falkland Islands is set to rise to 40 per cent of total energy generated with the installation of three new wind turbines, which started going online on 15 February. The installation of the first three wind turbines in 2007 has resulted in the displacement of 26% of annual fuel… Read more »

Turbine factory plan for former Anglesey Aluminium site

Plans have emerged to turn the former Anglesey Aluminium site into a wind turbine factory. Smelting operations at the Holyhead metal plant, which was the largest employer in north Wales, ended in September last year. A turbine company is now looking at the possibility of using the site as a factory, although Anglesey council stresses… Read more »

Boom for small-scaled wind turbines at New Energy Husum

Small-scaled wind turbines are currently something of a renewable energy niche product in Germany at this time. But this situation can change very quickly – especially if you look at the market success and the potential of small-scaled wind turbines in other countries. The New Energy Husum trade fair now offers a worldwide overview. With… Read more »

Obama Says Safe Nuclear Power Plants are a Necessary Investment

President Obama today said that safe, new nuclear power plants are a “necessity” as he announced more than $8 billion in federal loan guarantees to build the first nuclear power plant in three decades. “Investing in nuclear energy remains a necessary step,” the president said today at the IBEW Local Headquarters in Lanham, Maryland, “What… Read more »

Timminco says to expand silicon metal production

Canada’s Timminco Ltd (TIM.TO) said on Tuesday it was in talks with Icelandic power company Orkuveita Reykjavikur for a power supply contract for its planned silicon metal facility in Iceland, sending its shares up as much as 24 percent. Timminco, a silicon producer, said it has secured about $1 million in convertible debt financing from… Read more »