The winners of Colorado’s 2009 Governor’s Excellence in Renewable Energy awards, announced Tuesday, span wind energy, biofuels, and economic development in the sector. The awards are aimed at companies, utilities and other entities that work to protect Colorado’s environment, diversify the state’s energy portfolio and provide renewable energy. “Colorado is blessed with a creative and… Read more »
Following last year’s purchase of several PV1200 photovoltaic metallization lines from DEK Solar in 2009, Zhejiang Hongchen has started the New Year extremely positively by purchasing more lines from the screen printing specialist. Selected as part of Hongchen’s drive to substantially increase cell production through 2010 and beyond, the DEK lines are renowned for their… Read more »
CEPS AS, the Czech electricity-grid operator, said the pace of solar-power investment risks overloading the network and driving up prices for consumers. Output from solar panels may overwhelm the grid by 2011 and plants may need to be temporarily disconnected to prevent blackouts, CEPS Chief Executive Officer Petr Zeman said today. Total solar capacity may… Read more »
Mumbai: REpower, in which Suzlon Energy holds a majority stake, said it has got an order from France-based EOLE-RES SA to supply 26 wind turbines. REpower has entered into an agreement with EOLE-RES SA to supply 26 wind turbines of 2 MW each, generating a total capacity of 52 MW, Suzlon said in a filing… Read more »
A company in Spain that makes generators for high-tech wind turbines will put a new factory in Milwaukee. Mayor Tom Barrett confirmed in his \”state of the city\” address Monday that Ingeteam will locate in the Menomonee Valley between downtown Milwaukee and the Miller Park baseball stadium. Julia Taylor of the Greater Milwaukee Committee says… Read more »
General Electric Co., the biggest maker of wind turbines in the U.S., filed a new patent-infringement lawsuit against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and plans to appeal an earlier case it lost. The new complaint, filed Thursday in federal court in Dallas, claims Mitsubishi Heavy infringes two patents. One is related to the base frame supporting… Read more »
The Global Wind Energy Council, a trade association based in Brussels, estimates that wind power capacity grew by 31 percent worldwide in 2009, with 37.5 additional gigawatts installed, bringing global wind power capacity to 157.9 gigawatts. China accounted for a third of the new capacity, and the Chinese market experienced more than 100 percent growth…. Read more »
SANYO is pleased to announce that it will showcase its HIT Solar Technology at the SOLAR HUB at this year’s Eco Build show, taking place in London between 2nd and 4th March, 2010. The SOLAR HUB is one of 4 feature points at this year’s Eco Build. These feature points are designed to educate visitors… Read more »
The EU will meet its 2020 20% renewable energy target – slightly exceeding it – according to an analysis by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) of all 27 Member States’ national forecast documents. The EWEA analysis shows that EU member states are on course to achieve over 20% renewable energy by 2020, with 21… Read more »
Linde Nippon Sanso (LNS), a company of The Linde Group, and Bosch Solar Energy, have announced an extension of their collaboration at Bosch’s new crystalline Si solar cell manufacturing site in Arnstadt, Germany. Under the new agreement, LNS will supply silane and ammonia gas, both critical materials in the fabrication of Bosch’s high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) cells. Bosch currently operates three… Read more »
General Electric Co.’s energy finance unit said it may double the capacity of a wind farm in British Columbia, increasing its bet on renewable-power in Canada’s westernmost province. GE and Vancouver-based Plutonic Power Corp. last year bought the unfinished, 144-megawatt Dokie Ridge Wind Project, the first equity investment in wind energy in Canada for both… Read more »
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd said it is considering building a wind turbine plant in the United States, and will a make final decision after seeing how demand recovers. Mitsubishi is currently tussling with General Electric over wind turbine patents, with the GE this month filing patent suits against the Japanese company in a U.S. Court…. Read more »
Peak oil has been around for a while now. Energy specialists in India, specially those working in the renewable energy space, are now talking the same about coal: not quite peak coal but an increasing likelihood that coal will not always be available to run power plants. Will this mean that development as we know… Read more »
French energy company Areva (best known for its nuclear power business) has purchased solar thermal power company Ausra – yet another example of a promising Australian technology company ending up with foreign ownership. One possible positive interpretation of the news is that Areva are losing faith in the oft-predicted but unrealised “nuclear renaissance” and now… Read more »
Although Grand Canyon hikers may believe that the Grand Canyon has been solar-powered for eons, the fact is the Grand Canyon National Park has “gone solar” just recently. Eighty-four photovoltaic solar panels are now operational on the Grand Canyon Visitor Center located at the Canyon View Information Plaza near the south rim. Located both on… Read more »
US solar panel maker SunPower Corporation (SunPower) yesterday agreed to acquire SunRay Renewable Energy (SunRay), a leading European solar power firm for approximately $277 million, aiming at expanding its activities in Europe and the Middle East. SunPower will acquire SunRay from its shareholders, which include its management and Denham Capital, a leading global private equity… Read more »
Akeena Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKNS), a leading installer of solar power systems and designer of AC solar panels, today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. “2009 was a turning point for Akeena Solar as we diversified our revenue streams by launching the distribution sales of Andalay AC solar panels. Our… Read more »
Vestas Wind Systems has secured an order to help produce 33 new turbines for a New Hampshire wind farm, a contract that experts say should help sustain work at its Windsor plant. The Weld County operation, where the blades will be constructed, temporarily halted turbine work in December in light of weak sales. “The turbines… Read more »
A month after United Technologies Corp. announcing that it closed on a $270 million deal to acquire nearly half of a California wind turbine manufacturer, the chief financial officer says the conglomerate is interested in other investments in alternative energy. CFO Greg Hayes said at an analysts meeting Thursday that the acquisition of Clipper Windpower… Read more »
China Datang Corp, the country’s second-largest power producer, plans to float shares of its renewable energy unit in a Hong Kong IPO, which is expected to raise at least $1 billion, sources close to the deal said. Analysts expect a potential wave of issuance from the nation’s power producers at a time when valuations of… Read more »
DEK Solar is reflecting on an extremely positive Q4, having sold a record number of photovoltaic metallization lines in China. Most recently, the solar screen printing specialist completed a contract to supply a high-profile turnkey provider in the region with a large number of new metallization lines. DEK Solar’s current success in China is being… Read more »
The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) this week at a workshop in Turkey, said that Turkey must exploit its huge wind energy resources if it wants to meet its increasing power demand while becoming less dependent on energy imports. The workhop on integrating wind power was held in Ankara and organized by the European Wind… Read more »
With a surplus of both land and sunshine, Texas could easily be the nation’s leader in solar power generation but needs more help from state leaders, advocates said Wednesday. A coalition of environmentalists, politicians and more than 80 businesses held events around the state to release a letter urging Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas… Read more »
Funds from the $787 billion stimulus package and other federal assistance kept growth in the renewable energy sector strong in 2009, a trend that will probably persist as federal investment continues to pay off over the coming year, industry leaders said in a teleconference Tuesday. The picture was especially good for the solar industry, which… Read more »
Renewable Energy Corp. ASA, the Norwegian maker of solar-energy components, fell to a record low in Oslo trading after predicting lower earnings this quarter. Renewable Energy, known as REC, fell 6.87 kroner, or 20 percent, to 27.61 kroner, the lowest since the initial public offering in May 2006.Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization will… Read more »
Defying the impact of a depressed economy on market movements, the Linde Gases Division of The Linde Group closed 2009 with more than 6GWp (Gigawatt peak) of production capacity across its global photovoltaic (PV) customer base. Linde demonstrated increased market traction securing multiple new contract wins and renewals with leading thin-film and crystalline manufacturers worldwide… Read more »
Austin Energy has devised a new approach for incentivizing solar power among its commercial, multifamily, and non-profit customers. The municipal electric utility said the new approach saves $2.4 million over the life of the program compared to the old way of administering the program for those customers. Rather than provide an upfront rebate on the… Read more »
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (Nasdaq: ENER), the leading global manufacturer of thin-film flexible solar laminate products for the building-integrated and commercial rooftop markets, today announced financial results for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2010. Total consolidated revenues for the second quarter of fiscal 2010 were $52.9 million compared to $103.1 million in… Read more »
* Stimulus funds powered most renewables to expand in 2009 * Energy groups stress domestic job creation * Call for federal energy standard, extended tax credits By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) – U.S. industry executives from the wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal and biomass sectors pushed on Tuesday for a federal renewable… Read more »
A new bill modeled in part on successful solar energy programs in New Jersey and California was introduced in Congress last week with support from both of the Garden State’s Senators and U.S. Rep. Albio Sires. The bill – which has the somewhat clunky title of the 10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million Gallons… Read more »
International Battery, a U.S. manufacturer and developer of large-format lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, is partnering with system integrator HNU Energy to assess the effectiveness of storing solar energy using new, more-efficient battery technology. If successful, the solar power generation and energy storage project in Maui, Hawaii, could pave the way for small businesses and others that… Read more »
Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world’s biggest maker of wind turbines, lowered its full-year forecast after wind park developers delayed or canceled orders because of a lack of financing. Vestas expects 2010 sales of 7 billion euros ($9.6 billion), compared with a previous range of 7 billion to 8 billion euros, the Randers, Denmark-based company… Read more »
The world’s largest nuclear plant builder, Areva SA, is diversifying into solar power with the aim of becoming an industry leader, as it acquires U.S.-based solar thermal player Ausra, the company said on Monday.”This market is set to have 20 gigawatts by the year 2020. Areva has an objective to be a world leader in… Read more »
The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved two grants totaling about $1.7 million for studying the development of offshore wind technologies in the state. Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center and the University of Michigan’s Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute are getting $1.3 million for jointly researching offshore wind and ice data… Read more »
Ten years ago energy pundits said Portugal was wasting its rich renewable energy sources; now, the country generates 35.9% of its electricity from wind and solar energy. Portugal’s wind energy industry has led the country’s shift away from fossil fuels. Recently, the Portuguese wind industry displaced Spain as the wind industry that provides the second-largest… Read more »
It started as just an idea, but now the thought of a wind farm in mid-Missouri could become a reality. Mark Chamberlin is a chicken and dairy farmer who originally had the idea to put a wind turbine on his property. “You always have a lot of time to think when you’re in tractors,” Chamberlin… Read more »