The credit crunch is starting to make an impact on smaller European green energy projects, but cash-rich utilities and the bigger lending institutions will continue to get deals done, green power experts say. “The main problem for the smaller developers is the short-term freeze on lending,” said Christian Kjaer of the European Wind Energy Association… Read more »
Developers from DEGERenergie have created a so-called design tool which planners and operators of solar plants can use to safeguard against storm damage – providing a standard of safety that is currently not demanded by legislators or insurance companies. Tracking systems from the company increase the energy yield of photovoltaic systems by up to 45… Read more »
An embryonic movement is growing in Europe to build “smart cities” that will challenge the status quo. Such cities would become self-contained units, their buildings gleaning energy from the powerful weather systems sweeping across their roofs and feeding it down to homes below and vehicles in the streets. Electric cars in the garages would double… Read more »
Plans to build 10 wind farms off the coast of Scotland moved a step forward this week, after Britain’s Crown Estate gave companies the green light to explore the sites. Scottish Power and E.ON are among the nine firms to be awarded “exclusivity agreements” for locations which include the Solway Firth and Wigtown Bay. This… Read more »
A new piece of software is set to revolutionise how sites for offshore wind energy are selected, by providing accurate data on wind speed and direction for the first time. The Offshore Wind Speed Database, which has been developed by the UK’s leading renewable energy and environmental consultancy, Atmos Consulting, will provide accurate, site-specific data… Read more »
One of the world’s largest manufacturing companies has formed a renewable-energy division to increase its presence in the growing solar and other alternative-energy markets and offset pressures on its other businesses. While traditional businesses are being crippled by the economic downturn, the overall solar market is growing. 3M Chief Executive George W. Buckley said last… Read more »
A summit regarding Europe’s future energy policy last week has seen MEPs backing proposals for new EU targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% before 2050. And, the meetings of the full EU Parliament in Strasbourg saw support for a 60% renewable energy target. {pagebreak} As Europe continues to re-draft its energy policy following… Read more »
The Swedish government heralded a dramatic change in power generation, when it gave the green light to new nuclear reactors last week. Plans have been announced to overturn a near 30-year ban on atomic plants as part of a new drive to increase energy security and combat global warming. Ministers said they would present a… Read more »
The UK has the capacity for up to 7,000 more offshore wind turbines, according to a government study, but observers say this potential may not be realised. The UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment, published last week, concluded that there is scope for between 5,000 and 7,000 more offshore wind turbines in British waters, more… Read more »
E.ON believes industrial standards and strong partnerships are essential to deliver ambitious renewable growth Dr. Frank Mastiaux, CEO of E.ON’s renewable energy business, has recently outlined the massive potential of working in partnership across industry and government to ensure wind energy grows at the ambitious rate required to meet worldwide targets. {pagebreak} Speaking at the… Read more »
3S Industries AG develops new soldering technology to connect the cells for Solar Impulse Engineers from all fields are working together on the first prototype of the solar airplane planned to fly night and day with no fuel and zero polluting emissions. Important know-how for the solar propulsion system is being supplied by 3S Industries… Read more »
Clean energy investment needs to more than triple to US$515 billion a year to prevent planet-warming emissions reaching levels deemed unsustainable by scientists, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said in a report last week. {pagebreak} The massive investments required in renewable energy sectors such as solar and wind energy need to be made between now… Read more »
Inspired by the beauty industry, scientists have devised a way to make solar panels cheaper and more efficient – by spraying them on. Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU), solar company Spark Solar Australia, and Finnish materials company Braggone Oy are collaborating on a three-year project that could transform the production of solar cells…. Read more »
Technological advances are driving down photovoltaic panel prices by as much as 10% each year, Dutch sustainable energy provider Econcern recently announced. The company claimed that system prices are decreasing by 7% to 10% a year as a result of technological innovation and increased production capacity. {pagebreak} According to Econcern board member Kees van der… Read more »
According to research done by The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), in 2008, over 5,000 megawatts of new photovoltaic and concentrating solar power projects were announced, and with the eight-year extension of the US federal investment tax credit (ITC), the market is expected to grow significantly. {pagebreak} Along with the tax credit extension, the revised… Read more »
DEGERenergie (www.DEGERenergie.com), global market leader in the field of tracking systems for solar plants, is actively participating in the World Future Energy Summit 2009 in Abu Dhabi. The summit is considered a major event worldwide for eco-friendly technologies and renewable energies. Tracking systems from DEGERenergie increase the energy yield of photovoltaic systems by up to… Read more »
One million people will be employed in the world wind-power industry by the end of the decade, despite the impact of the financial crisis, it was forecast this week. Despite predictions that the world would need to install one new turbine every 30 minutes to reach global renewables targets, energy experts maintain that the sector… Read more »
Somont, a 100% subsidiary of 3S Industries AG, has received from the Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) an order for delivery of its “RAPID” automatic string soldering systems. The machines with a total value of 14.5 million Euros will be delivered to Singapore where REC is setting up a new, world class, integrated photovoltaic production… Read more »
While many small businesses struggle with tight credit and declining sales, one fledgling industry is experiencing a boom in investment and sales growth: renewable energy. Alternative-energy firms are reporting an influx of enquiries and business from a wide range of companies looking to increase their energy efficiency – especially from those that believe the Obama… Read more »
Faversham House Group, the organiser of Sustainabilitylive!, has opened The Environment and Energy Awards 2009 for entries, with two awards specifically aimed at the renewables industry. {pagebreak} The Renewable Energy Project of the Year Award is new for 2009 and will focus on the development or improvement of large scale renewable energy projects and initiatives… Read more »
Prior to the recent European Summit, the Austrian Government seemed to question the Austrian national objective of 34 % of renewable energy share in final energy consumption by 2020 and put at question the agreement on the RES Directive reached by the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission. {pagebreak} As one of the… Read more »
The EBRD and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, are supporting the development of sustainable energy sources in Bulgaria, providing €198 million in loans to construct a 156-megawatt wind farm that will help the country promote clean energy and reduce its dependency on fossil fuels. {pagebreak} This project will be the largest wind… Read more »
The EESC – the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee of the European Parliament – has called for a massive reduction of oil demand in Europe year by year over the next 40 years. The objective is to reduce demand by more than 50% by 2050. {pagebreak} “The two critical factors which will shape the… Read more »
Chinese solar panel maker, Suntech Power Holdings, has crossed the all-important milestone of being able to produce 1 gigawatt of solar panels a year. The company celebrated the accomplishment last week, along with the opening of a new headquarters in the city of Wuxi that comes with 1-megawatt solar panels built into building’s facade in… Read more »
A surge in investment in the renewable energy sector is expected to help Scotland through the economic difficulties expected in 2009, according to the Scottish Government. Over the past 18 months, around £1bn worth of projects have been announced, with 17 projects since May 2007. Another 31 are currently under consideration, including seven new hydro… Read more »
Aberdeen-based Subocean Ltd is poised to make waves with the announcement that its renewable energy contracts awards topped £100 million in 2008. This makes the company one of the largest providers to the marine renewable sector in Scotland. These contract wins confirm that Subocean has successfully transferred its oil and gas and subsea construction expertise… Read more »
Upgrading the current European electricity grid with smarter technologies is key to overcoming the infrastructure challenges presented by the EU’s energy and climate package, a foremost supplier of power generation technologies has recently announced. In Brussels last week, GE Energy’s Keith Redfearn (responsible for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India) {pagebreak} explained that the… Read more »
Horizon Wind Energy, owned by EDP Renovaveis, the fourth largest wind energy producer in the world, has announced the commercial operation of three further wind farms in the US. The three farms commissioned over 500 megawatts (MW) in December of last year. The 201 MW Meridian Way Wind Farm, situated in north central Kansas in… Read more »
Time to stop haggling and agree on carbon ‘Fair share’. Global research results released last week by the HSBC Climate Partnership reveal that consumers want governments to stop haggling on carbon concessions and act. The economic situation has not dampened enthusiasm for government action. Forty three per cent of people chose climate change ahead of… Read more »
In agreement with other trade fair organisers, Messe Husum has decided to postpone the 12th Husum WindEnergy, which was scheduled to be held from 7 to 11 September 2010, by two weeks. Therefore, the internationally leading trade fair of the wind energy industry will take place from 21 to 25 September 2010. {pagebreak} The Managing… Read more »
Stanley Fink, the driver behind Man Group’s growth to become the world’s largest hedge fund group, has announced the formation of Earth Capital Partners LLP (ECP), a new business with a specialist focus on environmental investment. “Our objective will be to deliver attractive returns by investing in projects, {pagebreak} companies and financial instruments, which address… Read more »
European Union leaders have reached a deal on a package of measures to fight global warming. The plan, agreed at the recent Brussels summit, sets out how 27 member-countries will cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the summit chairman, announced that “quite historic” had happened in… Read more »
Over the past year, DEGERenergie GmbH, Schopfloch, has set standards and established itself as global market leader with the technical finesse, innovative ideas and ongoing developments of its patented DEGERconecter controlled tracking systems. {pagebreak} The 20,000th DEGERtraker tracking system was delivered in June 2008 and turnover for 2008 is estimated at about 40 million Euros…. Read more »
A consortium of manufacturers is to invest almost $3 billion in Italian solar power ventures. Japan’s Sharp Corp, Italy’s Enel SpA and a third manufacturer hope to tap growing demand for cleaner energy. {pagebreak} Sharp, the world’s second largest maker of solar cells, said it and Italy’s largest power company Enel planned to spend about… Read more »
The Vatican, the world’s smallest sovereign state, has stepped up its fight against global warming by installing a huge rooftop solar energy system. More than 2,000 photovoltaic panels have been fixed to the roof of one of the city state’s main buildings, enabling the Holy See to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by about 225… Read more »
Wales’s plan to become the UK’s renewable energy leader has moved closer to reality with the granting of permission for a wind farm of its north coast. The 750MW Gwynt y Môr wind farm, when finished in 2014, will be the second largest in the world. The farm, to be built by the energy company… Read more »