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 »
A multi-billion dollar deal has been reached in Spain to provide wind energy technology to Spanish power utility Iberdrola Gamesa SA concluded the deal with Iberdrola Renovables SA to provide turbines and accessories. The agreement is the largest-ever wind-power deal, Iberdrola Renovables said. {pagebreak} The turbines will have a joint potential to generate 4,500 megawatts… Read more »
The UK government’s latest approach to tackling climate change has been welcomed by the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA). In a report, the government’s Committee on Climate Change recommends the rapid development of carbon capture and storage technology as one of the cornerstones of meeting the target for an 80 per cent reduction in… Read more »
Wind power supplied a record 43 percent of all electricity demand in rain and wind-lashed Spain for a brief period on November 23. Spanish wind farms generated 9,253 megawatts of the total demand of 21,264 megawatts at around 5 am, a moment when energy usage was low because most Spaniards were still asleep. {pagebreak} The… Read more »
Wind energy could be supplying 12 per cent of the world’s energy needs and saving 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2 a year by 2020. The claim has been made by a coalition of wind energy companies, associations and NGOs determined to find practical solutions to climate change. {pagebreak} With plans to launch a Wind Power… Read more »
UK Trade Minister Gareth Thomas has encouraged low-carbon tech business leaders to spark new waves of investment opportunities in China. The Minister has endorsing the ideas coming out of China for the creation of Low Carbon Development Zones; Chinese cities and regions acting as pilots for policies to invigorate the large scale economic transformation required… Read more »
A new ‘Solar Totem Tracker’, which makes it possible to track the progress of the sun and direct light to PV panels, has been unveiled in Italy. Enerqos plc, a leading photovoltaic system and solar power plant construction company and ESP, which designs and construction of metal structures for the photovoltaic sector, showcased their tracker… Read more »
The EU has agreed to adopt the Declaration of Budapest which will address wide ranging plans for renewable energy. The 8th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting (IPM8) organised by EUFORES – the European Forum for Renewable Energy Sources – {pagebreak} brought together more than 60 European and national Parliamentarians from 19 EU Member States. Parliamentarians discussed the negotiation… Read more »
Wind farms could be having a radical impact on North Sea wildlife, a new study warns. There are currently 167 operational wind turbines off the North Coast, with another 14 under construction, as part of the UK Government’s drive for renewable energy sources. The first of 60 giant wind turbines has just gone up in… Read more »
A UK partnership plans to turn more than a dozen former coal mine sites into renewable power plants, putting up wind turbines to generate up to 133 megawatts (MW) of power. In the deal, the Peel Company and UK Coal are looking at 14 former coal mining sites for the construction of 54 wind turbines…. Read more »
Spanish wind turbine maker Gamesa has received a €175-million order from energy group Endesa. Gamesa will supply the Spanish group with about 100 wind turbines generators, amounting to the installation of 190 megawatts of power. {pagebreak} The order includes “the delivery, start-up and installation of the wind turbines, along with their operation and maintenance,” Gamesa… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »