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Business Analyst - Solar Hybrid (based in Johannesburg or Cape Town)
Shaw Energy Recruitment Ltd is a world leader and one of the few companies that specialise in solar and wind sector recruitment. We proudly offer a professional & personal service providing expert knowledge supporting our clients projects and candidate opportunities ranging from due diligence consultancy, engineering expertise, manufacturing, r&d, project management, sales & marketing and executive level positions.
We are pleased to announce that whilst in close cooperation with South Africa’s leading Renewable Energy Consortiums we are retained by Solar Capital (Pty) Ltd as the preferred specialist recruitment supplier. Solar Capital, South Africa’s leader in solar energy, recently signed its second Independent Power Purchase Agreement with the Department of Energy for R11.5 Billion and we will provide expert recruitment solutions during the companies projects
Scotland-based power and environmental consultant Aquatera Ltd. Has entered into a partnership with the Nagasaki Marine Industry Cluster Promotion Association in an effort to help Japan bolster its marine energy sector through international collaboration.
First U.S. Grid-Connected OTEC Plant Goes Live on Hawaii
Hawaii Governor David Ige on Aug. 21 joined executives from the Office of Ocean Naval Research (ONR), Makai Ocean Engineering and other organizations on-site at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) in cutting the ribbon and commissioning the first U.S., and world's largest, grid-connected ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plant.
Renewable Energy Gains Greater Opportunity in US Clean Power Plan
After a year of being pummeled by opponents, Obama’s final carbon reduction plan emerged this week with an even stronger push for renewable energy.
Wind and solar energy are centerpieces of the Clean Power Plan, the United States’ first ever rule to reduce carbon dioxide from power plants.
The rule not only makes renewables one of the plan’s three central building blocks, but also creates special incentives to spur communities to build renewables more quickly than required.
The revised version of the rule comes after a year of review, hundreds of meetings and 4.3 million public comments delivered to EPA. It requires that states come up with plans to cut carbon pollution from power plants by 870 million tons, or 32 percent below 2005 levels, in 2030.
Here’s a nightmare for you: at night, when you’re asleep and you think things are quiet, there are vampires sucking power out of your house and increasing your electric bill. The fact of the matter is that every plugged in electrical device in your home uses a small amount of standby power -- even if you think these devices are off.
Major US Corporations Pledge To Increase Renewable Energy Usage,...
Executives from 13 major U.S. corporations are announcing at least $140 billion in new investments to decrease their carbon footprints as part of a White House initiative to recruit private commitments ahead of a United Nations climate-change summit later this year in Paris.
Companies including Apple Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co., and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. will join Secretary of State John Kerry and top administration officials at the White House for the announcement. In addition to pledges to cut emissions, provide financing to environmentally-focused companies, and reduce water consumption, the companies have said they will procure at least 1,600 MW of new, renewable energy. The White House said in a statement that it expects to announce a second round of similar pledges later this fall from additional companies.
The commitments are being announced as President Barack Obama is looking to build momentum toward a legacy-defining global climate accord in Paris. In addition to company-specific commitments, the corporate leaders on Monday will signal their support for a strong climate agreement out of the United Nations talks. They administration is using the pledges to set an example for companies to find ways to eliminate their carbon emissions.
Climate Talks
“As the world looks toward global climate negotiations in Paris this December, American leadership at all levels will be essential,” the White House said in a fact sheet detailing the announcement.
The administration’s actions are pushing the issue into the 2016 presidential debate. Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, released an energy strategy saying she would both defend and go beyond Obama’s efforts. Republican candidates have criticized the administration’s initiatives as costly to the economy and unnecessary.
Among the pledges, aluminum manufacturer Alcoa Inc. has agreed to reduce emissions by 50 percent from its 2005 levels, while agricultural giant Cargill Inc. says 18 percent of its total energy use will come from renewable sources.
Coca-Cola Co. said it would drive down the carbon footprint of its beverage production by 25 percent over the next five years, while Google says it plans to triple its purchases of renewable energy over the next decade. Berkshire Hathaway says it plans to invest up to an additional $15 billion in the construction and operation of renewable energy generators, while Bank of America Corp says it will increase its environmental business initiative by $75 billion over the next decade, according to the White House
Other participating firms include Wal-Mart, United Parcel Service Inc., PepsiCo Inc., Microsoft Corp., General Motors Inc.
The corporate commitments won’t be the administration’s only major climate announcement in the next few weeks. The Environmental Protection Agency is set to present final regulations that aim to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 later this week.
While visiting Kenya over the weekend, Obama repeatedly praised the country for its efforts to address climate change, saying its efforts tor educe emissions “has put it in the position of being a leader on the continent.” And next month, the president will travel to Alaska for an international summit on Arctic climate issues.
Some Hope for US Renewable Energy Tax Credits As Extension Bill...
In a lopsided 23-3 vote, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee voted yesterday to extend a number of renewable energy production tax credits through the end of 2016. The vote allows developers of wind, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, incremental hydroelectric, and ocean energy to take advantage of federal tax credits for projects begun before December 31, 2016.
Chief among big renewable winners was the wind energy industry, which received extensions to the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). If passed, wind farms would qualify for a 2.3-cent-per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) credit through the end of 2016.
The headline figure from the authoritative REN21 Renewables Global Status Report 2015 (GSR) states renewables accounted for more than 59 percent of all new electricity generating capacity installed worldwide during 2014.
Mid-Year Celebrations: Fireworks, A World Cup, And Clean Energy...
This month alone, we Americans celebrated our nation’s birthday, capped off perfectly by the USA women’s soccer team’s sensational 5-2 victory in the World Cup final. As we hit the halfway point of 2015, the clean-energy industry also has much to celebrate, much of it in the month of June alone and much of it financial.
Sandia Lab Program To Assist Small Clean Energy Companies
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chose Sandia National Laboratories as one of five leads in a pilot that will give small, clean-energy companies access to national laboratory expertise and resources. Sandia will receive $2.75 million of DOE’s $20 million investment to launch the voucher pilot for small business assistance and collaborative research.
Wave Energy Week Will Mix Marine Energy Developers with Traditional...
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Democrat, has proclaimed “July 13-17, 2015 to be Oregon Wave Week in Oregon and encourages all Oregonians to join in this observance.”
Germany Gives Dirtiest Coal Plants Six Years for Phase Out
German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said 13 percent of power stations burning lignite, a cheap form of coal, would be phased out by 2021 under a program to cut power industry pollution. The government abandoned talks on proposals to impose a climate-change fee that the industry said would have forced mines and plants to close, threatening jobs.
The Way Humans Get Electricity Is About to Change Forever
Trillions of dollars will be invested in renewable energy over the next 25 years, driving some of the most profound changes yet in how humans get their electricity. That's according to a new forecast by Bloomberg New Energy Finance that plots out global power markets to 2040.
Where Coal Was King, Pope's Climate Warning Faces a Tricky Sell
In West Virginia, where workers have harvested coal seams for centuries, Pope Francis’ new warning about the risks of fossil fuels will find skepticism even among the faithful.
Renewable Energy Responsible for First Ever Carbon Emissions...
Carbon emissions in 2014 remained at the previous year’s levels of 32.3 billion metric tons — a milestone that points to the impact worldwide renewable energy investment is having in the face of a 1.5 percent annual increase in global energy consumption, according to a new report from REN21. The tenth annual Renewables 2015 Global Status Report cites “increased penetration of renewable energy” and improvements in energy efficiency as the chief reasons for the noted emissions stabilization.
EU Raises Concern That UK, France Won't Meet Renewables Goal
The European Commission raised concern that the U.K. and France may not meet their 2020 renewable energy targets, saying the two countries should examine whether they’re doing enough to reach the goals.
Wednesday morning’s 'Regulation and the Marketplace' panel discussion at POWER-GEN Europe in Amsterdam got off to a lively start with a presentation from Randy Mott, president of Polish biogas- and geothermal-based combined heat and power (CHP) project developer CEERES and vice-president of Poland's biogas association.
Energy is Europe’s quiet crisis. While the clamour of failing economies, desperate migrants and political clashes grabs the headlines, energy policy is rarely front-page news, but it should be — the statistics are shocking.
State and Metro Governments, Consumer Actions Drive Dramatic Shift in...
The United States is experiencing a significant shift in its energy landscape. Last year, utility-scale wind and solar power combined for 47 percent of new generation capacity in the U.S. Based on this expansion, 11 states now generate more than 10 percent of their electricity from solar, wind, and geothermal power, with three of these states — Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas — exceeding 20 percent. In 2014, California became the first state in the nation to garner 5 percent of its electricity from utility-scale solar. When including hydropower, four states —Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and South Dakota — now exceed 70 percent renewables generation.
Managing the Risks of Renewable Energy Projects in Developing...
Driven by rapid expansion in developing countries, renewables are becoming a significant source of the world’s power. According to the United Nations Environmental Programme’s (UNEP) 9th “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2015,” investment in developing countries was up 36 percent in 2014, totaling $131.3 billion.
US Clean Power Plan Will Double Coal Plant Closures
A new government analysis of President Barack Obama’s signature effort to fight climate change affirms what critics suspected: the proposal could further weaken an already battered coal industry.
Global Renewable Energy Employment Surges 18 Percent to 7.7 Million
Ongoing growth in renewable energy investment and deployment is creating jobs worldwide — and lots of them. This job growth is helping governments address a fundamental economic problem plaguing developed and developing countries alike. Deploying renewables rather than fossil fuel capacity is also reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental pollution that holds the threat of a sixth great extinction.
Last week, Canada has announced its contribution to the global effort to reduce greenhouse gases by announcing its post-2020 target. The target announced today is off-track to the 80 percent cut by 2050 they committed to in 2009 and significantly higher than the U.S. target. They also announced a series of new measures, but failed to address their largest source of growing emissions — tar sands.
Alternative energy became a serious market player after the turn of the millennium. Since that time, solar, wind, smart grid and other alternative energy stocks have experienced both strong up and down trends. The forces at work driving these markets are complex, counterintuitive, and sometimes mysterious. This article looks at what has been driving the price of alternative energy markets, and as a result, alternative energy company stocks.
With the UK general election now over and a majority Conservative Party government in place, the re-elected Prime Minister David Cameron has now named key members of the government charged with steering the UK’s clean energy policy over the coming years.
Germany's Powerhouse Feels Pinch of Merkel’s Shift to Renewables
North Rhine-Westphalia, the German state that’s home to utilities RWE AG and EON SE, is losing its standing as the country’s powerhouse as wind and solar energy begin to displace conventional sources.
Electricity consumers in the western state, which has one-third of Germany’s installed conventional power capacity, last year paid 3.1 billion euros ($3.5 billion) more to subsidize clean energy generation than producers there were awarded, the BDEW utility lobby said in a report Tuesday. The biggest recipient was Brandenburg in the east with a positive balance of 838 million euros.
UK Conservative Victory Sparks Climate and Renewable Energy Concerns
The surprise Conservative victory in the recent UK elections have some worrying about the future of renewable and climate progress, but officials are now calming those fears.
Carbon Market Overhaul Closer After EU Lawmakers Approve Plan
European Union negotiators are endorsing an accelerated overhaul of the bloc’s carbon market after the price of emission rights fell to levels that fail to deter polluters.
The New Normal? Renewables, Efficiency, And “Too Much...
Just over a decade ago, the state of California faced serious concerns about whether its utilities could generate and/or buy enough power to assure that the world’s seventh-largest economy could keep the lights on. The infamous California energy crisis, which affected several other western states as well, was a complex tangle of poorly structured deregulation, significant market manipulation (remember Enron?), and other causes. Along with rolling blackouts, California endured an official state of emergency that lasted 34 months, led to the recall and replacement of Gov. Gray Davis, and cost the state and its ratepayers billions of dollars — a cautionary tale for all states of electricity supply unable to meet demand.
Lawrence Summers famously wrote, “there are idiots, look around” in an attack on the theory that markets are rational. What some have called “Summers’ Law” certainly applies to the markets’ response to the slide in the price of oil as it relates to stocks of renewable energy companies.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is shunned by the environmentalists that laud renewable energy sources. However, by not supporting both initiatives, they may be working at cross purposes. Natural gas, booming largely because of fracking, complements renewable energies on the grid. The two seemingly opposite technologies are, for the moment, inextricably linked.
Engineering Possibilities Versus Practical Implementation: Utility...
Europe’s utilities are re-evaluating their business models due to the energy transition. Members of POWER-GEN Europe’s Advisory Board consider how a reliance on fossil fuels is no longer politically desirable, forcing utilities to transform their portfolios to adapt to radical change.
New World Bank Report: Chinese Clean-tech SMEs Embrace Opportunities
The World Bank indicated in its new report "Building Competitive Green Industries: The Climate and Clean Technology Opportunity for Developing Countries" that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries are set to undergo significant growth and create more jobs in the field of clean technology. Anabel Gonzalez, senior director for the World Bank's Global Practice on Trade and Competitiveness, said developing home-grown clean-tech industries will help developing countries more effectively increase the adoption of low-cost clean energy and drive sustainable economic development.
US Power Grid’s $2 Trillion Upgrade Needs European Efficiency
A $2 trillion push in the U.S. to blend renewable energy into the power supply and fortify transmission lines against extreme weather means that Americans must act more like Europeans to keep their power costs down.
The Government of Egypt has said that it must invest US$12 billion in the electricity sector over the next five years in order to meet that country’s urgent electricity demands — and renewable energy will be a key component.
Renewables Account for 75 Percent of New US Generating Capacity in...
According to the latest "Energy Infrastructure Update" report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Office of Energy Projects, wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower combined provided over 75 percent (75.43 percent) of the 1,229 megawatts (MW) of new U.S. electrical generating capacity placed into service during the first quarter of 2015. The balance (302 MW) was provided by natural gas.
Experts Agree: We Can Preserve Electric Reliability and Protect...
Last June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first ever national carbon pollution standards for existing power plants. Fossil fuel-fired power plants account for almost 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, making them the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation and one of the single largest categories of greenhouse gas sources in the world.
Australia’s Biggest Power Producer Sees Future without Coal
Australia’s largest electricity producer committed to close its coal-fired power plants within 35 years as part of an effort to cut the nation’s dependence on the fossil fuel.
Brazil to Offer Ambitious Climate Plan With More Renewables
Brazil will increase the use of renewable energy, target zero net deforestation and push for low-carbon agriculture as part of its climate proposal, Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira said in an interview.
Reflecting the azure skies of the Caribbean, solar panels on private houses, hotels and businesses are an increasingly common sight across all the islands. Many Caribbean customers are seeking a degree of energy independence, which is not surprising given that many pay five or six times as much for their grid-provided electricity than their neighbours in mainland USA.
Fossil Fuels Just Lost the Race Against Renewables
The race for renewable energy has passed a turning point. The world is now adding more capacity for renewable power each year than coal, natural gas, and oil combined. And there's no going back.
The Dark Horse in the Global Solar Race: India’s 100-GW Solar...
A "dark horse" is defined as a little-known entity that emerges to prominence in the face of competition — a contestant that seems unlikely to succeed. I borrow the term from a conversation last week, wherein India was referred to as the dark horse in the global race to go solar.
Marine Energy Sector Continues Growing Worldwide, Despite Economic...
A report released recently by the International Energy Agency's Ocean Energy Systems shows that the marine and hydrokinetic sector moved closer to commercial viability through 2014.
Australian Clean Energy Deadlock Spurs Companies to Focus Abroad
Political deadlock over Australia’s clean energy future is prompting companies such as Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Acciona SA to increasingly turn to rival markets for growth.
We've made great progress with renewable energy — but from an almost zero base we still have a long way to go. Fortunately, the path is clear. California is already over 12 percent with a combination of hydroelectric, wind and solar (unfortunately not much hydro this year). Getting to 50 percent only requires the deployment of existing technology. But can we get to 100 percent?
Clean Energy Spending Drops 15 Percent to Reach Lowest Level Since...
Global investment in clean energy slumped 15 percent in the first quarter to the lowest level in two years because of a decline in wind and utility-scale projects.
Yale Students Cited at Fossil Fuel-Divestment Protest
Yale University police cited 19 students after they staged a sit-in outside President Peter Salovey’s office to push for divestment from fossil-fuel companies.
It Turns Out That You Can’t Divide Americans Over Renewable...
In our second annual survey on American homeowners’ attitudes toward clean energy, one thing is resoundingly clear. In a nation divided on climate change, immigration policy, and so many other issues, Americans are overwhelmingly united in their support of renewable energy.
Alternative energy mutual funds are continuing to recover from a slump which started in fall 2014. Annual returns range greatly, though, from a high of 15.6 percent for Brown Advisory Sustainable Growth (BIAWX), to a low of -15.8 percent for Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy (GAAEX). The large 12-month drop by GAAEX was precipitated by painful losses in some of its top weighted holdings.
My Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2015 model portfolio added a second month to its winning streak, with a 6.1 percent gain for the month and a 5.7 percent gain for the year, despite a continued drag by the strong dollar. If measured in terms of the companies' local currencies, the portfolio would have been up 7.5 percent for the month and 10.5 percent for the quarter or year to date. For comparison, the broad universe of US small cap stocks rose 1.5 percent for the month and 4.0 percent for quarter, as measured by IWM, the Russell 2000 index ETF.
US Climate Commitment Should Spur Other Countries to Act
The proposed U.S. commitment to tackling climate change in support of a new international climate agreement is a serious and achievable plan that demonstrates the United States is ready to take significant action. Coming today, eight months before the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties in Paris this December, known as COP 21, the U.S. submission adds momentum toglobal climate negotiations and should help spur other countries to act.
Republican Texas Bows to California and Backs Energy Finance Plan
Jim Keffer is Republican state lawmaker in Texas with a permit to carry a concealed weapon and doubts about whether human activity is causing global warming.
Fix the EU Emissions Trading System, And Carbon Markets Can Be...
What do the following have in common: New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Quebec, Alberta, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, California, Beijing, Guangdong, Hubei, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Tianjin, Tokyo, Kyoto, Saitama and 28 countries in Europe?
Mexico Pledges to Cut Emissions 25 Percent in Climate Change Milestone
Mexico has become the first developing nation to formally promise to cut its global-warming pollution, a potential milestone in efforts to reach a worldwide agreement on tackling climate change.
New York Launches Innovation Lab To Study Renewable Energy and the...
This week New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the signing of an agreement between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and State University of New York Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Polytechnic) that aims “to create a world-class facility devoted to energy technology innovation and the rapid deployment of smart-grid technology to modernize New York's electric grid.”
Clean Energy Makes Up Record Share of UK Power with Coal-to-Biomass...
U.K. electricity from low-carbon sources accounted for almost a quarter of the country’s generation in the fourth quarter as Drax Group Plc converted a second coal-power plant to burn wood.
Beijing to Shut All Major Coal Power Plants to Cut Pollution
Beijing, where pollution averaged more than twice China’s national standard last year, will close the last of its four major coal-fired power plants next year.
Ex-Employees Accuse Ormat of Lying to Receive 1603 Cash Grant Awards
Ormat is a successful developer of geothermal energy projects. Two former employees have brought a lawsuit alleging that Ormat made inaccurate 1603 Cash Grant submissions to obtain grants for projects that should not have qualified for such grants.
Financing Climate-concious Investments in Latin America
Following the conclusion of the United Nations climate negotiations in Lima, Peru, last December, a busy schedule of breakout sessions has begun for Latin American business and political leaders in early 2015.
Obama Orders US Agencies to Cut Carbon Emissions 40 Percent by 2025
President Barack Obama ordered the federal government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 2008 levels over the next 10 years by shifting to renewable energy sources such as solar power.
Texas Senator Seeks to Dismantle What He Helped Create: The Renewable...
Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) has filed a bill that would eliminate Texas’ Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) – a policy that has catapulted Texas to world leadership in wind energy and strengthened Texas’ energy diversity. In addition to terminating the RPS at the end of the year, SB 931would make it more difficult to build renewable energy infrastructure. The argument behind the bill is that because Texas has achieved its RPS goals it’s time to move on. Sounds reasonable, right? Well…
Germany's Powerhouse Feels Pinch of Merkel’s Shift to Renewables
North Rhine-Westphalia, the German state that’s home to utilities RWE AG and EON SE, is losing its standing as the country’s powerhouse as wind and solar energy begin to displace conventional sources.
Electricity consumers in the western state, which has one-third of Germany’s installed conventional power capacity, last year paid 3.1 billion euros ($3.5 billion) more to subsidize clean energy generation than producers there were awarded, the BDEW utility lobby said in a report Tuesday. The biggest recipient was Brandenburg in the east with a positive balance of 838 million euros.
Sweden, Norway Increase Renewable Target Amid Power Glut Concern
Sweden and Norway agreed to boost their target for renewable energy production amid concerns the additional capacity will exacerbate a power glut and strain the region’s electricity grid.
Carbon Emissions Stop Rising for First Time in 40 Years
Global emissions were unchanged last year, the first time that’s happened amid economic growth in four decades, according to the International Energy Agency.
Market Forces Signal Clean Energy’s Watershed Moment
Business leaders have an important decision to make this year: to continue operating under the status quo or to join the list of successful companies creating a more sustainable future by contracting or investing in renewable energy and making a positive impact on their brand, customers, employees and bottom line.
Chile Gets Cleaner at a Profit with Renewable Energy Push
Policies favoring clean energy and increased competition would normally dim prospects for existing producers. Not in Chile, where foreign investors are driving a renewable boom at a time of surging returns by local utilities.
From the Fossil-Fuel Center of the World, A Call for Renewables and...
In a must-read report released this week on fast-changing energy markets, the National Bank of Abu Dhabi signals a once-in-a-lifetime opening for investors in Middle Eastern renewables and energy efficiency.
The Big Question: Where Do You See Renewable Energy Growth Potential...
The annual outlook issue of Renewable Energy World magazine is our attempt to predict what will happen within the renewable energy industry over the course of the year. To do this, we went straight to the top of major renewable energy companies, asking CEOs and presidents to tell us where they are devoting their company resources in order to capitalize on some of the market growth that they expect to see in 2015.
Many businesses can now perform the traditional functions of an electric utility — provide affordable, reliable, resilient power to homes and businesses. The barriers to entry in the business have fallen. For instance, a home with rooftop solar panels, batteries, and gas-based generators may choose to be grid-independent. Even when homes decide to remain grid-tied, utilities face falling demand and revenue, and the possibility of future grid-defection. Further, competing electricity solutions can emerge quickly, and not one-home-at-a-time — microgrids can offer community, village, or campus-level solutions.
The European Commission has unveiled “A Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy,” which is a key plank in the development of its plans for Europe’s energy sector through 2030.
Clean Energy Is Just Smart Business for Leaders like Apple and Google
Apple and Google have changed our lives forever, both because of their technological innovations and sheer size as global corporations. Now, they’re aiming to reshape the energy landscape.
Wave and Tidal Energy in 2015: Finally Emerging from the Labs
Technologies to harness wave and tidal power have been under development for over 40 years, but up until quite recently the center of technology development has been in Europe, where the resource intensity is greater than the United States’ coasts. However, in an effort to nurture the country’s sector, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Program has invested in a broad portfolio of technologies and Alison Labonte, DOE Marine and Hydrokinetic Technology Manager, revealed that it has recently increased its focus on “innovative, game changing technologies that utilize the most abundant marine resources and that have the greatest potential for achieving economic viability.”
Harvard’s Star Alumni Urge Week of Fossil Fuel Protests
Actress Natalie Portman, environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and other high-profile Harvard University alumni are calling for demonstrations to urge divestment from fossil fuels.
Renewable Energy Roundtable: Production and Investment Tax Policy to...
The renewable energy industry has come a long way in relatively little time. The costs of renewable technologies continue to go down, while renewable capacities at many utilities continue to go up. Although, in many cases, renewable technology is mature and ready for utility-scale deployment, state and federal production and investment tax policies appear less evolved.
Protecting Workers and Communities During the Clean Energy Transition
When I worked at the New York Attorney General's Office, we sued coal-fired power plants because their air pollution was making people sick. But in some towns, I saw that the reliance on coal really had people in a bind. The coal plant was making them sick, but it was also a major tax generator for the town. If the plant closed, the town might have to lay off teachers and cops, in addition to losing the plant jobs.
India Renewables Boom Aided by International Funds
India said cheaper credit along with foreign investment will help the world’s third-largest polluter fund an ambitious renewable energy program that would build green power plants faster than China.
Will Lower Oil Prices Dampen the Mining Industry’s Appetite for...
For many mining companies, the rallying cry for investigating solar or wind energy options has been that the price of oil and other conventional fuels is too high — and will almost certainly rise over time. Now, though, with oil prices having taken a dramatic nosedive, this argument no longer packs quite the same punch that it once did.
Reports Clash Over Concerns about the US EPA Clean Power Plan
Last year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed its aggressive Clean Power Plan (CPP), which calls to reduce carbon emissions 30 percent by 2030 over 2005 levels. States are required to submit reduction plans that can include increasing renewables, efficiency, and cap and trade programs by June 2016.
In a crammed Washington conference room last week, speaker after speaker seemed to apologize for their ‘broken record’ talking points as Bloomberg New Energy Finance and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy unveiled their annual Factbook. But, of course, they were only being honest — like 2013 before it, 2014 had been an unprecedented year for clean energy.
Former FERC Chief Jon Wellinghoff Speaks Out on Grid Security and...
In a previous article, I had a conversation with former-CIA chief Jim Woolsey to discuss one of America’s greatest national security vulnerabilities, its power grid. The issues that Woolsey has been concerned with for over a decade has been the ease in which a terrorist group or other actor (think North Korea for example) could attack the grid and plunge the country into darkness for months, if not years. And if that seems far-fetched, just recall how a tree limb fell in Ohio in 2003 and blacked out the entire Northeast and part of Canada for several days.
Cleantech investing has taken quite a hit in recent years. Last year, CBS News highlighted the “cleantech crash” on U.S. primetime television, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a Bloomberg-owned energy data firm, has tracked the multi-year decline in cleantech investing. However, there are additional trends that tell another side of the cleantech story and suggest innovation and hope for a low-cost, low-carbon future are far from gone.
Broad Coalition Coalesces for Clean Energy Jobs in Illinois
Labor, business, and environmental leaders have formed a unique coalition that will urge Illinois lawmakers to pass new standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy, leading to tens of thousands of new, local jobs.
Carpe Diem: Low Oil and Gas Prices Could Be a Clean-Energy Opportunity
The recent dramatic plunge in oil and natural gas prices, to their lowest level since the global recession in 2009, has some observers worried about the effect on clean tech. Conventional wisdom has it that renewables have a tougher time competing when fossil fuels are cheap, making grid parity (in the case of natural gas-fired electricity) more elusive for solar and wind power.
Renewables Beat Natural Gas, Provide Half of New US Generating...
Ending a year-long race that had been nip-and tuck every month, renewable energy sources cumulatively provided more new electric generating capacity in 2014 than did natural gas.
California's Clean Tech Industry Best in US for Jobs and Investment
California’s bet on green energy is paying off, with clean technology companies creating more jobs and investing more money than competitors in any other state.
Obama Proposes $4 Billion for States Beating Climate Goals
The Obama administration is proposing a $4 billion fund to reward states that exceed cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions, and wants Congress to back steeper royalty rates for oil, gas and coal extraction from public land.
Want to Buy a Used German Power Plant? Shipping Is Included
Germany’s utilities, battered by the country’s shift to wind turbines and solar panels, would be glad to sell you a power plant on the cheap. They’ll even pack it up and ship it to another country.
Carbon Nanoballs Can Transform the Renewable Energy Supply
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have discovered that the insulation plastic used in high-voltage cables can withstand a 26 per cent higher voltage if nanometer-sized carbon balls are added. This could result in enormous efficiency gains in the power grids of the future, which are needed to achieve a sustainable energy system.
Oil prices have fallen by more than half since July. Just five years ago, such a plunge in fossil fuels would have put the renewable-energy industry on bankruptcy watch. Today: Meh.
Demand Response: A Valuable Tool that Can Help California Realize its...
A tool only has value if it’s used. For example, you could be the sort of person who’s set a goal of wanting to exercise more. If someone gives you a nifty little Fitbit to help you do that, and you never open the box, how useful, then, is this little device? The same is true about smart energy management solutions: good tools exist, but whether it’s calories or energy use that you want to cut, at some point those helpful devices need to be unpacked.
Climate Change: The Need for a More Consistent Baseline and Immediate...
The UN climate conference in Lima set the stage for Paris in 2015. Next year’s accord is to provide a working, albeit not a final, answer to the question: Is it possible to keep global warming at or below the 2 degree Celsius limit? This limit is considered the boundary beyond which the negative climatic, economic and social consequences of climate change are thought to become intolerably severe and potentially irreversible.
Obama's State of the Union Speech Highlights US Renewable...
President Obama has been under intense scrutiny for what he would do about climate change ever since he was elected in 2008. Part of that scrutiny takes place during his State of the Union Speech, when renewable energy proponents search for key words about solar and wind energy and count how often he mentions "climate change."
Reflections from Breakthrough Marine Energy Trials
The lush hills of Strangford Lough are truly a place of magic scenery. Portaferry, a small fishing village, is located one hour’s drive from Belfast in Northern Ireland, and is today perhaps most famous for being close to the location where blockbuster Games of Thrones is filmed. In this idyllic fishing village, struggling with a high unemployment rate and a diminishing population, something new and prosperous is growing. Looking out over the calm waters of Strangford Lough, one could hardly believe that under the ocean surface — that electricity can be produced.
Renewable Energy Will Shrug Off Oil Slump, Say Analysts
Spending on renewable energy, which surged 16 percent in 2014, will remain strong this year, largely unaffected by the slumping oil prices that have artificially depressed their shares.
For the past 13 years, Clean Edge has published the annual Clean Energy Trends report that has sized the global market for solar, wind, and biofuels and tracked everything from venture capital and stock market activity to total global investments. This year, instead of issuing one single report, we'll be producing infographics, tables, charts, and webinars throughout the year – so be on the lookout in the coming weeks and months.
Utility GDF Suez Plans to Double European Renewable Capacity by 2025
GDF Suez SA plans to double renewable power production capacity in Europe over the next decade as the utility shifts its focus away from developing more historic natural gas and nuclear energy sources in the region.
As an industrial powerhouse and the world’s largest energy consumer, China is fortunate to have abundant coal and hydropower resources. However, to meet demand in the east and south of the country, planners continue to seek new ways to generate local energy. In addition, plans call for development that reduces the use of fossil fuels as a way to also reduce air pollution.
A 2013 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) found 3.4 million green jobs in the United States at the end of 2011. This is the latest data available from BLS, due to the elimination of its Green Careers program. On March 1, 2013, the across-the board spending cuts referred to as sequestration, required by the amended Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, came into effect. As part of those budget cuts, BLS stopped offering all “measuring green jobs” products.
Ten Clean Energy Stocks: Past Performance and Predictions for 2015
The last two months have not been kind to clean energy stocks. Most commentators attribute the weakness to declining oil prices and the Republicans' strong showing in the midterm elections.
The Big Question: What Do the Proposed EPA Regulations Mean for the...
In June, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule to restrict the amount of carbon dioxide released from power plants. The rule calls for reducing carbon 30 percent by 2030 over 2005 levels. Many have praised the aggressive proposal, while others are less favorable.
We Should be Looking to CEOs, Not Politicians, for Climate Change...
In May of 2014, Speaker of the House John Boehner responded to a climate change question with, “listen, I’m not qualified to debate the science over climate change. I am astute to understand that every proposal that has come out of this administration to deal with climate change involves hurting our economy and killing American jobs. That can’t be the prescription for dealing with changes to our climate.” Speaker Boehner is not the only one reluctant to enter into the debate on climate change. In a March interview Mitch McConnell responded to a climate change remark with, “For everybody who thinks it's warming, I can find somebody who thinks it isn't…”
Movie Time! The Most Watched Videos on RenewableEnergyWorld.com in...
As the holidays wind to a close and we ring in the new year, sit back and relax with your favorite libation and enjoy our most popular videos of the year. We guarantee you will learn something new.
Developers, manufacturers, investors and other renewable energy industry stakeholders need to know where the next big market is going to be so that they can adjust their business decisions accordingly.
RenewableEnergyWorld.com's Most-read Articles of 2014
At the close of each year, we like to take a look back to see which stories made an impact on our readers. This year's most read articles show the many twists and turns that the industry took this year and reveal interesting trends for us as editors and for other industry insiders.
Serbia Seeks to Boost Renewable Energy Investment With New Law
Serbia seeks to unblock investment in renewable energy after adopting legislation that opens gas and power markets in line with European Union guidelines.
Energy Storage and Biofuels Top RenewableEnergyWorld.com’s Most...
The online community of readers who visit RenewableEnergyWorld.com is an important aspect of the news and information that we offer renewable energy stakeholders. We often post news that we feel will get people to view important topics from new angles, offering insights and opinions about technology, policy and more. Often that leads to engaging and informative discussions that add even more value to the article that we have posted.
Developers, manufacturers, investors and other renewable energy industry stakeholders need to know where the next big market is going to be so that they can adjust their business decisions accordingly.
Sweden, Norway Increase Renewable Target Amid Power Glut Concern
Sweden and Norway agreed to boost their target for renewable energy production amid concerns the additional capacity will exacerbate a power glut and strain the region’s electricity grid.
Developers, manufacturers, investors and other renewable energy industry stakeholders need updates on the latest and greatest finance mechanisms available today. Since 2003, global consultancy Ernst & Young has released its Country Attractiveness Indices, which ranks global renewable energy markets by analyzing investment strategies and resource availability.
We here at RenewableEnergyWorld.com would like to send a big "thank you" to our blogging community. Year after year, bloggers contribute content that is filled with valuable insights, up-to-date news, innovative project highlights and cool new technology updates. RenewableEnergyWorld.com bloggers are truly a crucial part of our website.
Developers, manufacturers, investors and other renewable energy industry stakeholders need to know where the next big market is going to be so that they can adjust their business decisions accordingly.
Earlier this month, when EPA proposed a new health-protective air quality standard for the pollutants that form “ozone,” some critics predictably pounced on it as another example of a long string of “job-killing EPA regulations.” Yet last week, we learned that the U.S. economy created about 320,000 new jobs in November, and average wages are starting to rise as the labor market tightens.
Developers, manufacturers, investors and other renewable energy industry stakeholders need to know where the next big market is going to be so that they can adjust their business decisions accordingly.
Developers, manufacturers, investors and other renewable energy industry stakeholders need to know where the next big market is going to be so that they can adjust their business decisions accordingly.
Solar Tariffs: Throttling America's Biggest Job Creation Machine
The U.S. Department of Commerce just announced that it will add high tariffs for solar modules imported from China. The Canadian government is also investigating the adoption of similar measures, following recent complaints filed by Ontario-based solar manufacturers. With the solar industry in hypergrowth, it’s not a surprise that these governments are interested in boosting new jobs, protecting their economies, and fostering the solar sector. The problem is that tariffs are a short-sighted approach that actually attack the future of North American solar on its home soil, and likely destroy more jobs than they create.
Japan Toughens Rules for Renewable Energy Incentive Payments
Japan’s trade ministry is setting stricter rules for production and sales of renewable energy in what it says is a drive to speed up development of projects and ensure stable power supply.
Renewable Energy Is Driving the Energy Transformation: REWNA Recap...
Renewable energy stakeholders are well aware that clean energy is slowly but steadily transforming the energy landscape and that message couldn’t have been more clear at the recently concluded Power-Gen International, the largest show for the traditional power generation industry. Since all forms of power generation are represented at the show through the four co-located conferences, PennWell calls the second week in December "Power Generation Week."
Buffett Testing Smart Grid Technology for Home Energy Management
Warren Buffett wants to tell you the best time to wash your clothes. Or at least his energy company in the U.K does. Buffett’s Northern Powergrid Holdings Co. is working with Siemens AG to test a so-called smart grid that has the ability to control when consumer appliances will be used in the home.
Japan's Prime Minister Re-Election Risks Undercutting Clean Energy...
Shinzo Abe’s re-election as prime minister risks undercutting Japan’s commitment to clean energy at a time when incentives are under review and the nation’s utilities say they can’t accommodate capacity already planned.
Renewable Energy Matchmaking: Newest Key to Reaching 2020...
The siren call of 2020 corporate environmental sustainability goals is quickly getting louder, as corporate leaders realize they must go further today to achieve their sustainability targets for tomorrow. Increased use of renewable energy is an ambitious goal for some of the world’s largest companies, as 59 percent of the Fortune 100 and nearly two-thirds of the Global 100 have set GHG emissions reduction commitments, renewable energy commitments or both, according to a recent Ceres’ report, Power Forward: Why the World’s Largest Companies Are Investing in Renewable Energy. One global consumer products company, for example, plans to derive 30 percent of its energy from clean sources by 2020.
India Plans Renewables Splurge, But Will Not Commit to Carbon Plan
India, the world’s third-largest polluter, will spend at least $100 billion on climate-related projects but isn’t ready to follow China and the U.S., the top two emitters, in promising to limit its fossil-fuel emissions.
Sage Advice is the Highlight of the Women in Power Luncheon
The advice that Pennwell’s 2014 Woman of the Year, Mary Powell, gave to women in the power industry during Tuesday’s Women in Power Luncheon might come as a surprise to some. It was this: Stop undercutting each other. Powell said the most difficult obstacles she has encountered in her various leadership roles have not come from men, but rather from other women. Small comments like “I don’t know how you do it [being a mom and holding a high-level job]”, serve to bring doubt and uncertainty to high achieving women in any industry, and ultimately can lead to women exiting their careers in order to fit what they perceive is the societal norm.
The National Hydropower Association and Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition have announced the formation of the Marine Energy Council, which will offer a new home for marine energies at NHA.
Marine Power May Suffer More Casualties After Siemens Tidal Sale
The downfall of two leading marine- energy developers is damping hope that the emerging industry, which has already lost almost $1 billion, will ever get the technology to market.
Leaked Internal Presentation Details the Oil Industry's Campaign to...
The Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) — whose members include Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips, BP, and others — was caught red-handed late last month when a leaked internal presentation revealed a coordinated campaign to stomp out climate and clean energy progress in California, Oregon and Washington by propping up over 15 front groups that purport to represent the views of concerned citizens and the broader business community.
German Fossil Fuel Giant Jumps on Renewables Bandwagon
Germany’s biggest utility E.ON — long a pillar of the country’s fossil fuel and nuclear industry — dropped a bombshell on Europe’s business world with the announcement that the multinational was exiting the conventional energy market in favor of a new business model based on renewables, intelligent grid systems, energy management and other services. Indeed, the company seems finally to have drawn the logical consequences from the Energiewende, Germany’s renewable energy transition, after years of resisting the ambitious transformation of the nation’s energy supply.
German Utility EON To Ditch Fossil Fuel Arm, Focus on Renewables
EON SE’s plan to spin off its fossil fuel plants marks a watershed moment in Germany’s renewables effort that will likely bolster the country’s already leading position in clean energy.
Energy Efficiency and Renewables Are Lowest Risk/Cost Investments for...
A new report by utility and finance experts contains positive news for the environment, our air and our (and our utilities’) pocketbooks — the economics of electric power resources have made zero-emissions energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies the most financially attractive options to meet the nation’s future energy demands.
Gas and Coal To Replace Hydropower in Brazil, Pollution to Follow
The Brazilian government is seeking to award contracts in an auction tomorrow for natural gas- and coal-fueled power plants, reversing a drive that previously favored renewable-energy projects. It would lead to the first new thermal plants in three years, after the government scaled back such projects and awarded wind contracts starting in 2009 and solar energy earlier this year.
The power sector crisis in Japan has entered a new stage. The recent refusal of Japanese utilities to grant grid access to new renewable energy projects should not be seen as a failure of Japan’s renewable energy policy, but as a consequential and necessary phase to extend Japan’s technological leadership into the power sector.
EPA's Plan to Curb Carbon Pollution Can Save Billions
The news about the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants just got even better: the proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP) can save the power industry and its customers — us — as much as $2 to $4 billion in 2020 and $6 to 9 billion in 2030, while cleaning our air and modernizing the electricity sector.
Investing in Innovative Ideas for a Clean Energy Future
The clean energy revolution is now, and the U.S. Energy Department is stepping up its commitment to help innovators commercialize their best ideas. At the recent Industry Growth Forum (IGF) in Denver, Colorado, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson announced the new Lab-Corps program to accelerate the transfer of clean energy technologies from the national laboratories to the marketplace, so that game-changing innovations don't languish for lack of money and equipment.
Siemens Announces Plan to Exit Marine Power Sector
Technology and equipment giant Siemens AG has decided to sell its tidal energy company, Marine Current Turbines Ltd., citing slow development in the marine and hydrokinetics sector.
Wind Energy Provides More Than Two-Thirds of New US Generating...
According to the latest "Energy Infrastructure Update" report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Office of Energy Projects, wind power provided over two-thirds (68.41 percent) of new U.S. electrical generating capacity in October 2014. Specifically, five wind farms in Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, and Texas came on line last month, accounting for 574 MW of new capacity.
Shining a Light on Women Leaders in the Power Industry
In early 2013, a group of women, dubbed the Women in Power committee, assembled in Orlando, Florida to figure out how to honor women who have dedicated their careers to the power industry. The industry is male-dominated with men making up more than 75 percent of the workforce, according to estimates.
Halifax Water Generates Power from a 32-kW In-pipe Small...
Halifax Regional Municipality of Nova Scotia, Canada, is the first Canadian city to use an in-pipe hydroelectric generation system within a pressurized water distribution pipeline, according to Halifax Water. On Nov. 13, a 32-kW generating system within a drinking water distribution control chamber for Halifax Water began providing power.
Obama to Pledge $3 Billion for Climate Change Fund
President Barack Obama will pledge $3 billion to a United Nations climate-change fund that’s intended to help poor nations boost renewable energy and counter the ill effects of global warming.
Marine Energy Making Waves on Both Sides of the Pond
In recent months, a number of initiatives aimed at speeding up the development of the wave energy sector have been launched in the U.S. and Europe. As part of the ongoing work to establish a viable United States wave energy industry, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Sandia National Laboratories (SANDIA) are working on the creation of a sophisticated open-source modeling tool known as WEC-Sim — and the U.S. Department of Energy is also enlisting the coding community to help in its development. Meanwhile, the European WavePOD project is an industry-wide initiative that aims to solve the problem of converting captured wave energy into electricity by creating a "standardised self-contained offshore electricity generator for the wave industry."
DOE Loan Guarantee Program Vilified by Republicans Turns a Profit
The U.S. expects to earn $5 billion to $6 billion from a federal loan program, bolstering President Barack Obama’s decision to back low-carbon technologies.
IEA World Forecast: Stresses on Energy System Must Not Be Ignored
The world’s decision-makers must not let current events distract them from recognizing and addressing the longer-term signs of stress that are emerging in the global energy system, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned today at the launch of its annual World Energy Outlook 2014 report in London.
Carbon Breakthrough: US, China Make Milestone Agreement to Fight...
President Barack Obama pledged deeper U.S. cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions and China will for the first time set a target for capping carbon emissions under an agreement between the world’s two biggest economies.
Fossil Fuels Reap $550 Billion in Subsidies, Hindering Renewables...
Fossil fuels are reaping $550 billion a year in subsidies and holding back investment in cleaner forms of energy, the International Energy Agency said.
US Midyear Elections Offer Opportunities and Challenges for Renewable...
Every time the U.S. holds midyear elections, the country almost always goes against the incumbent President’s party, which is always sobering to whomever holds The White House. And this week’s elections were no exception.
October was a spooky month for clean energy stocks. My benchmark Powershares Wilderhill Clean Energy Index (PBW) cringed down 2.9 percent like the young Supergirl who jumped when a mechanical ghost startled her at my door Haloween night.
UN Sees Irreversible Damage to Climate Caused by Fossil Fuels
Humans are causing irreversible damage to the planet from burning fossil fuels, the biggest ever study of the available science concluded in a report designed to spur the fight against climate change.
Are Environmental Regulations Causing US Utility Bills to Surge?
U.S. electricity markets face years of higher prices as clean-air regulations shut more coal-fired power plants than earlier forecast, cutting supply and forcing producers to rely more on natural gas.
EU Leaders Agree To Tough Carbon Regulations to Spur Renewable Energy...
European Union leaders backed the most-ambitious carbon emissions goals of any major economy, in a bid to crank up pressure on the U.S. and China ahead of climate talks in December.
Australia Seeks to Reduce Renewable Energy Target to...
Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s government will negotiate with the opposition to cut Australia’s renewable energy target and exempt industries such as aluminum and copper smelting.
The Next Revolution: Discarding Dangerous Fossil Fuel Accounting...
The green revolution and, in particular, renewable energy products such as solar power, wind turbines, geothermal and algae-based fuels are not waiting for viable technology — it already exists in many forms. What they are waiting for is a massive sea change in our antiquated financial accounting systems.
Imagine a place where there is no electricity market. No rules, no policies, no market. A clean slate. This is what the Solar Energy Power Association (SEPA) calls the 51st State, a new initiative to get people to think outside the box when it comes to utility design and infrastructure.
New Poll: New Yorkers Overwhelmingly Support Fracking Moratorium...
Last month, NRDC engaged a nationally recognized opinion research firm to conduct polling in New York State to evaluate public attitudes about fracking and clean energy. Importantly, this is the first statewide poll in at least two years — and perhaps ever — to directly ask residents their views of the now six-year-old de facto moratorium on fracking.
UK Green Bank Set to Draw Offshore Wind Investors to $1.6 Billion Fund
The U.K. Green Investment Bank is set to tie up the first investments in a $1.6 billion fund by the end of March, part of Britain’s push to cement its dominance in offshore wind power.
Germany’s Clean Electricity Costs Decline for First Time
German electricity consumers will for the first time see a drop in the fee added to their bills to fund renewables, a boost for Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has pledged to curb the cost for voters.
Increased Study Requirements, Loss of DOE Backing End Admiralty Inlet...
Snohomish County Public Utility District announced it is abandoning plans to develop the 600-kW Admiralty Inlet Pilot tidal project in Washington's Puget Sound.
Latin America Report: 7 Renewable Energy Stories Worth Reading
The renewable energy market is fast-paced and growing with each passing day. It’s hard to keep up with every industry announcement and insight, so we decided to highlight interesting developments that took place during the past few weeks, and some valuable insights that are worth revisiting.
EU Nations Mull Funds to Aid Clean Energy in 2030 Climate Deal
European Union governments are considering the use of carbon-permit funds to help finance clean technologies and spur poorer nations toward a low-carbon economy under a planned deal on 2030 climate and energy policies.
Electrifying Keyna: How One African Country is Approaching Renewable...
Kenya’s renewable energy ambitions have attracted growing attention in recent months. There has been a strong uptick in interest in the country’s wind energy potential in particular. Last year, Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum said in an investment prospectus for 2013-2016 that it plans to boost wind power generation by 630 MW as part of its target to increase electricity levels by 5,000 MW by 2016. In March, the Kenyan government also signed a financing document for the largest private investment in Kenya.
Worries including the conflict with ISIL, Ebola, and economic slow-down in Europe, sent the stock market down in the month to October 3rd, with small cap stocks and clean energy stocks falling even farther than the large cap S&P 500.
EU Seeks Faster Renewable Energy Integration Amid Crisis in Ukraine
The European Union is seeking to speed up the creation of a common energy market to help its shift to a low-carbon economy and boost security of energy supplies amid a natural-gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine.
Over 95 percent of climate scientists have concluded that CO2 is the primary cause of global warming. Solving the problem requires a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions. Some people are altruistic, but almost all businesses are bottom line oriented and will not reduce their CO2 emissions unless they have an economic incentive to do so. There are two realistic incentives: taxing CO2 emissions or setting up a cap and trade program for CO2. Since increasing taxes is politically unfeasible, the most practical approach is with a cap and trade program.
Microgrid Economics: It Takes a Village, a University, and a Ship
As a businessman exploring investments, I need simple answers, however complicated the problem. I wish to know: Are microgrids economical? How much investment is needed and for what? What are the factors that principally affect profitability, within the system and in the environment? If microgrids are not profitable at the present, when will they be? I recognize that understanding microgrids as a system requires complicated mathematics and modeling. I’m sympathetic to and respect those who do that.
Japan Installs 11 GW of Renewable Energy in Two Years
Japan has added 11,090 megawatts of clean energy capacity since July 2012, when it began an incentive program to encourage investment in renewables, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Scotland Rejects Independence, But Concerns Linger for a Renewables...
Scotland’s decision to vote no to independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has elicited a collective sigh of relief from energy sector players. Those companies with significant investments in Scottish renewable energy assets had understandably been anxious over the uncertainty that an independent Scotland would engender, for example potentially changing the rules on support measures for renewable energy investment north of the border.
RGGI Chair Says States Won’t Leave Emissions Trading Market for...
California and Quebec, which together created the largest carbon market in North America this year, may come away empty-handed as they woo northeastern U.S. states to join their system.
UN Climate Summit Heats Up Discussion on Global Warming, Carbon...
More than 100 world leaders converged upon New York City today to discuss international efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change. The list of speakers at the UN Climate Summit included U.S. President Barack Obama, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, French President François Hollande, and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.
US-China Rifts Put Aside for Clean Energy Research
The threat of climate change is driving China and the U.S. — frequent rivals and the world’s two largest greenhouse-gas emitters — to collaborate on dozens of potential clean-energy breakthroughs.
Exploring Finance Options: Yield-cos Don’t Fit the Bill for...
Yield-cos have been grabbing headlines lately. Typically, large utilities spin off their high-yield alternative energy operations into separate smaller companies called yield-cos. These new companies are then taken public to attract individual and institutional investors.
Marine Current Turbines (MCT), the tidal energy company owned by German engineering giant Siemens has announced that it has suspended development of a planned 10 MW tidal array in Wales.
Obama’s International Climate Strategy: More Grease for...
It was good news for renewable energy when President Barack Obama in June proposed carbon dioxide restrictions on existing power plants. It is even better news now that he may use the plan to leverage an international climate accord.
Ten Clean Energy Stocks for 2014: September Update and Thoughts on...
Clean energy stocks and the market in general rebounded strongly in August. My broad market benchmark of small cap stocks, IWM, rose 4.5 percent, returning to positive territory up 1.7 percent for the year. My clean energy benchmark PBW also jumped back into the black with an 11.1 percent gain for the month and 10.8 percent for the year to date.
Eco Wave to Raise $5 Million to Accelerate Ocean Energy Plans
Eco Wave Power, based in Israel, plans to raise $5 million by the end of the year to further develop its technology and projects that harness the power of the ocean to generate electricity.
A new report written by Nathaniel Bullard at Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) highlights the difficulties large institutional investors would have divesting from fossil fuels. What it does not specifically discuss is that these difficulties could lead to large financial losses for investors who see the difficulty of divesting as a reason to delay.
Expect $1.6 Trillion in Clean Energy Investments Through 2020, Says...
Investments in new clean-energy capacity will total $1.61 trillion through 2020 even as the expansion of renewables is expected to slow, the International Energy Agency said.
South Africa Seeks to Improve Process for Renewable Energy Deals
South African Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said her department wants to address weaknesses in the process of commissioning renewable-power projects.
Where the river meets the sea, there is the potential to harness a significant amount of renewable energy, according to a team of mechanical engineers at MIT.
Australia Chills Hopes for $20 Billion Clean Energy Industry
Australia is frightening developers away from renewable energy even before the government decides whether to overhaul targets for the industry’s growth.
Power Shift in Cuba: Seven Reasons to Watch the Renewable Energy...
Opportunities and risks abound. Understanding why renewable energy should be developed in Cuba and what the major risks and policy obstacles are will be critical for international investors to assess their potential operations in the country.
Why the CPP’s Demise Doesn’t Mean a Wholesale Return to...
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan remains in limbo as to its ultimate fate, though talk of its demise has intensified of late with news that a multi-state coalition has requested that President Donald Trump not enforce the rule. If the CPP does indeed meet its end later this year, this by no means signifies a wholesale return to fossil fuels. However, we are likely to see much more of one fossil fuel in particular.
US Wind Power Capacity Exceeds Hydro for First Time, AWEA Says
Installed wind power capacity in the U.S. at the end of last year outpaced hydroelectric capacity for the first time ever, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2016 Market Report, released today.
A new year is upon us and the renewable energy community, like most industries impacted by federal energy and natural resource policies, approaches the coming year cautiously and with some concern. Biomass energy faced an uncertain future before the U.S. elections in November. Will its prospects improve as President Trump begins his tenure as commander and chief?
ENVIA Energy’s GTL Plant is Underway, Produces First Biofuels
In Oklahoma, the team behind the ENVIA Energy gas-to-liquids plant confirmed that the first Fischer-Tropsch product has been successfully produced at the company’s first commercial-scale plant in Oklahoma City.
U.S. railroads, including Warren Buffett’s BNSF, are joining a corporate brawl over ethanol mandates that pits American corn farmers and fuel distributors against independent oil refiners like billionaire Carl Icahn.
Maryland’s Energy Storage Tax Credit: Gaining Momentum Across...
The General Assembly of Maryland just passed a bill that would provide a 30 percent tax credit to those who chose to utilize energy storage technology, making it the first state in the country to pass such legislation. The funds provided by the bill would last from 2018 to 2022.
Renewables Developments in Alberta and Saskatchewan: Market Update...
Energy experts and policy makers around the globe are following developments in Alberta and Saskatchewan as they begin the first round of their competitive procurements for renewable electricity. These procurement programs aim to help the provinces achieve their renewable energy targets for 2030.
Trump’s Plan for Clean Energy Will Damage Economy, National...
President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order to start the process of reviewing and, ultimately, attempting to disassemble the Clean Power Plan and its supposedly job-killing mandates.
Solar Module Manufacturer Suniva Files for Bankruptcy
The Board of Directors of Shunfeng International Clean Energy Ltd. (SICE) yesterday said that Atlanta-based solar cell and module manufacturer Suniva filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition for relief under the U.S. bankruptcy code.
Minnesota Cities Learn from Buying Community Solar Together
The nation’s first ever attempt to have municipal governments collectively buy power from community solar gardens was a modest success, according to a new report.
Walmart Secures 40 MWh of Energy Storage for Southern California...
Walmart is continuing its foray into energy storage ownership with new installations for its stores in Southern California. Advanced Microgrid Solutions last week said it will install 40 MWh of energy storage at 27 Walmart stores in the region.
Jenn Runyon, Chief Editor of Renewable Energy World and Paula Mints, Chief Market Research Analyst with SPV Market Research discuss three hot topics in the global solar industry for three minutes each. Today’s topics include the demise of the solar lease, the fall of the yieldco and microgrids. Check it out!
Electric Grid Study Ordered by US Energy Chief to Boost Baseload...
U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry is ordering a study of the U.S. electric grid, with an eye to examining whether policies that favor wind and solar energy are accelerating the retirement of coal and nuclear plants critical to ensuring steady, reliable power supplies.
Saudis Seek 30 Solar, Wind Projects in $50 Billion Pledge
Saudi Arabia will develop 30 solar and wind projects over the next 10 years as part of the kingdom’s $50 billion program to boost power generation and cut its oil consumption.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but you can have too many solar panels on your roof. With conventional net metering, your utility will not reimburse you at the end of the year if you produce more power than you consume.
What Will Remain of the Climate Challenge Conference? Part Two
If global warming is planetary, its negative impacts and consequences are visible everywhere, but are different in nature from region to region. It is more destructive for poor countries, especially African countries which contribute less than 4 percent of global GHG emissions.
Clean Energy and the Environment: Part Two — Victor or Victim...
No politician—not even The Donald—can expect to stay in power without being able to point to some accomplishments. Dystopian visions will only get you so far. Surrogates can only rationalize for so long.
EPA Seeks Public Comments on Environmental Regulation Reform
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published a notice in the Federal Register that it is seeking public comments on regulations that may be repealed, replaced or modified, in accordance with President Donald Trump’s executive order “Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda.”
The solar, wind and energy efficiency industries already employ millions of people in the U.S., and they’re poised to grow. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there are 374,000 American jobs in solar energy, 102,000 in wind energy and more than 2.2 million related to energy efficiency.
India Gets Record Low Bid to Build Solar Power, Minister Says
The price of solar power in India fell to a record low of 3.15 rupees (5 U.S. cents) a kilowatt-hour in a competitive tender where French firm Engie SA’s local arm won rights to develop 250 MW.
Clean Energy Investment Drops 17 Percent as China, US Scale Back
Clean-energy investment fell 17 percent in the first quarter, keeping pace with last year’s decline, as the U.S. and China both scaled back support for wind and solar farms.
What Will Remain of the Climate Challenge Conference? The Fate of the...
Under the rising tide of skeptical climatologists, particularly in the U.S., where they became the leaders of the White House, the return to the "COP21" and "COP22" conferences is necessary to measure the degree of hope to save what can be saved for this co-existence on a planet where its leaders quarrel about the reality of its fatal illnesses, while the doomsday clock is ticking.
Clean Energy and the Environment: Part One — Victor or Victim...
Welcome to the whacky and wonderful world of Washington politics. President Trump and Speaker Ryan lost the first big test of their budding bromance, Tryancare, their answer to Affordable Health Care, failed to make it on to the House floor after a long night of negotiations.
Schneider Electric Turns Boston HQ into Living Laboratory with...
Last week, Schneider Electric brought media, analysts and partners to its Boston One Campus (BOC), the company’s North American headquarters in Andover, Massachusetts, to unveil what it is calling its new “advanced microgrid.”
With the microgrid, the BOC is able to completely detach from the grid and draw all of its power from the onsite generation, which includes about 448 kW of rooftop and carport PV and a gas generator. During the media and analyst event, Andy Haun, the CTO of the company’s North American microgrid business unit, demonstrated how the system responds to signals from the grid and/or weather events that would cause it go into island mode. During lunch, the building went dark and then was repowered with onsite power.
Corporate Demand to Boost Renewable Energy Credits Market
With major corporations setting ambitious environmental targets, a surge in demand for renewable energy certificates (RECs)* is anticipated, according to the market players gathered at the RECS Market Meeting in Amsterdam on 21-22 March.
ComEd Project Targets Energy Storage at the Neighborhood Level
A new pilot project from Illinois’ largest utility is bringing energy storage out from behind the substation and into the neighborhood. Last month, ComEd deployed a 25-kilowatt-hour, lithium-ion battery in Beecher, Ill., about 40 miles south of Chicago. In the event of a power outage, the battery can supply about an hour of backup power to three houses selected for the project.
Scientist’s New Approach May Accelerate Design of High-power...
Research led by a Stanford scientist promises to increase the performance of high-power electrical storage devices, such as car batteries. In work published last week in Applied Physics Letters, the researchers describe a mathematical model for designing new materials for storing electricity.
Saudis to Seek Bids for 700 MW of Wind, Solar Projects
Saudi Arabia will begin seeking bids next week from renewable-energy companies to build wind and solar plants with a combined capacity of 700 MW as part of the kingdom’s $50 billion program to boost power generation and cut its oil consumption.
The photovoltaic industry has been low margin for so many periods in its history that the concept of a margin healthy enough to profitably run an entire company is anathema to it. Focus on the benefits of multi gigawatt economies of scale on margins belies the lengths that PV manufacturers have undergone to salvage margin; lengths that include sourcing lower cost and thus lower quality backsheets, EVA, glass, junction boxes and polysilicon.
Can you imagine a world in which you could spray on your power source and place it wherever you’d like? Maybe on the windows of your home or on the roof of your car. Perhaps on the sides of your tall business building.
With New Distributed Energy Rebate, Illinois Could Challenge New York...
How does the electric utility fit in to a rapidly-evolving energy system? That’s what the Illinois Commerce Commission is trying to determine with its new effort, “NextGrid.” Together, we’re rethinking the roles of the utility, the customer, and energy solution providers in a 21st century electric grid.
California Court of Appeals Upholds California’s Cap-and-Trade...
Last week, a 2-1 decision by the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento upheld California’s program to reduce carbon emissions. California’s controversial and signature cap-and-trade program creates a firm limit on carbon emissions and auctions allowances that permit companies to release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
Heeding the Call for Cybersecurity in the Renewable Energy Sector
Against the omnipresent threat of attack to digital assets and infrastructure, the burgeoning renewable energy industry is urged to establish an effective security culture. Renewable Energy World heard from Swiss Re and Swiss Re Corporate Solutions about the risks, consequences and solutions as the energy sector becomes evermore interconnected, automated and digitalized.
Nonprofit GRID Alternatives Receives Donation of 620 kW of Solar...
Nonprofit solar installer GRID Alternatives recently received a donation of about 620 kW of solar modules from JinkoSolar to help expand the organization’s efforts to bring solar power and job training to low-income communities in the U.S.
Germany's Merkel Encourages Spain, Portugal to Invest in Solar
German Chancellor Angela Merkel encouraged Spain and Portugal to invest more in solar energy and said they need a better link to France amid a push for a unified European power grid.
Renewables Providing Most New Power, As Solar, Wind Costs Continue to...
Renewables were the biggest new source of electricity last year as the cost of building new wind and solar farms fell. Clean energy provided 55 percent of all new capacity added worldwide, the most ever, and total investment was about double the amount for generators driven by fossil fuels, according to a report published Thursday by UN Environment, the Frankfurt School-UNEP Collaborating Centre and Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum in Benham, owned by Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, is switching to solar power to save money. The museum, which memorializes Kentucky's history in coal mining, is modernizing with a new form of cheaper energy.
Renewable energy is rapidly embracing the smart grid, given the specter of utility curtailments as more megawatts of power are added at the residential, commercial and industrial, and utility levels.
Why Corporate Demand Is Our Greatest Key to a Sustainable Future
Despite climate change deniers and oil company executives arguing to the contrary, most scientists (and citizens of the world) recognize how important it is for us to find more sustainable practices, including sources of energy.
How Companies Are Buying Clean Energy: 4 Lessons from India
India has some of the world’s most ambitious renewable energy goals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to boost India's solar energy generation capacity from 5.8 GW in 2014 to 100 GW by 2022. As part of the Paris Agreement, India set a goal to increase the share of non-fossil-based power capacity from 30 percent today to about 40 percent by 2030.
The Economic Case for Wind and Solar Energy in Africa
To meet skyrocketing demand for electricity, African countries may have to triple their energy output by 2030. While hydropower and fossil fuel power plants are favored approaches in some quarters, a new assessment by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has found that wind and solar can be economically and environmentally competitive options and can contribute significantly to the rising demand.
Liquid Storage of Solar Energy — More Effective Than Ever Before
Many consider the sun the energy source of the future. But one challenge is that it is difficult to store solar energy and deliver the energy 'on demand'.
Incentives for Change: Why Utilities Continue to Build and How...
Outdated utility financial incentives are inhibiting the transition to a clean energy future, increasing consumer costs, and stifling new technologies. Yet, this state of affairs is hardwired into the regulatory system.
Facebook, Microsoft Helping to Finance Green Power Microgrids
Facebook Inc., Microsoft Corp. and venture capitalists at Allotrope Partners set up a facility to finance energy access projects in Indonesia, India and East Africa.
Listen Up: Getting your Solar Investment Tax Credit
It’s that time of the year…tax time, that is. Every year we get questions from customers about filling out their solar investment tax credit (ITC) form. Now, we are not tax experts (so check with your accountant), but the rules are pretty straightforward for the solar ITC.
Spice Village (SV) is a resort in India’s Kerala province, adjacent to the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It is an eco-traveler’s destination, where “birdsong takes the place of television.” Its energy profile, however, was harsh. The regional electric grid was undependable and SV used a diesel-powered generator eight hours per day — noisy and expensive.
Australian Green Bank Supports Financing for Grid-Scale Energy Storage
Australian green bank Clean Energy Finance Corp. (CEFC) in March said it is working with the South Australian government to develop a financing package to support development of Australia's largest grid-scale energy storage project.
One of the big questions for humanity’s future is: how will we supply enough clean and plentiful energy to sustain a growing global population? At face value, the big question has a simple answer: solar. In theory, the world’s demand could be met by just one thousandth of the sun’s energy landing on Earth.
Rethinking the Future of Sustainability: The Power of a Global Super...
Our forebearers have been integrating the electricity and extending the electric supply grid ever since the installation of the first public lighting by the Godalming Borough Lighting Committee in 1881 shortly followed by the first demonstration facility of transmission of direct current electrical energy by Miesbach-Munich Power Transmission in 1882 over a 57-km distance.
Stanford Researchers Recommend Changes to US Solar Policies,...
The rapidly expanding solar energy industry could meaningfully contribute to curbing climate change only if governments and the private sector approach it more economically and efficiently, according to a new Stanford study.
Sunrun Said to Seek $200 Million in Debt for Rooftop Solar
Sunrun Inc., the largest U.S. independent residential solar company, is seeking about $200 million in project-finance debt to build more rooftop power systems, according to people familiar with the deal.
Modi's Aim to Spread Solar to Poorer Nations Wins IEA Support
The International Energy Agency will help support Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal to spread solar power to more developing nations, especially those clustered around the Equator.
Ohio Legislators Move to Roll Back State Renewable Portfolio Standard
The Ohio House of Representatives yesterday voted 65-31 to pass a bill that would end the state’s current mandate for the amount of renewable energy utilities must provide customers in Ohio.
This Old Mine Is Now British Columbia’s Largest Solar Farm
For over a century, the landscape north of Kimberley, British Columbia, was used for intensive industrial hard-rock mining — but now it’s home to the largest solar farm in all of British Columbia. Over the decades, the site of Teck’s (formerly Cominco’s) Sullivan Mine hosted a steel mill, fertilizer plant and tailings ponds, rendering the area tree-less for the foreseeable future.
China’s Solar PV Industry Saw Continued Recovery in 2016
China’s solar PV industry continued its recovery in 2016, with gross output value reaching 336 billion yuan (US$49 billion), a rise of 27 percent compared to 2015, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China.
New Global Solar Capacity Outpaced Wind in 2016, IRENA Says
Last year marked the first time since 2013 that solar energy growth outpaced wind energy, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Solar saw a record 71 GW of new capacity in 2016, while wind increased by 51 GW.
The President’s Climate Change Executive Order: Wrong Pretense
The President announced on Tuesday, March 28th at the Environmental Protection Agency his new Executive Order based on protecting 75,000 US coal jobs by threatening over 3 million US clean energy jobs.
Some context:
According to MorningConsult
The order directs officials to review the Environmental Protection Agency regulations on new and existing power plants, withdraw the Obama administration’s “social cost of carbon,” which puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions, end a moratorium on new coal leases on federal land, review regulations on methane emissions from natural gas systems, end a guidance for agencies to consider climate change, and end Bureau of Land Management restrictions on hydraulic fracturing.
The Trump administration has not yet released the text of the order which is based solely on saving coal and other fossil jobs, but a senior White House official shared details with reporters in a call on March 27th.
As Trump Bows Out, States Set to Fill Void on Climate Change
As President Donald Trump scales down federal efforts to combat climate change, states are ramping up. California’s Air Resources Board broke with Trump and voted to uphold auto fuel efficiency rules, while Illinois offered a bail out to carbon-free nuclear producers. Iowa and Michigan have moved to increase incentives for renewable energy, and Maryland’s Republican Governor Larry Hogan is poised to sign a statewide ban on fracking.
Trump Slams Brakes on Obama’s Climate Plan, But There’s...
Badly looking for a political win that would both fulfill some campaign promises to his political base and satisfy the demands of rank-and-file Republicans in Congress, President Trump on March 28 signed an expansive Energy Independence and Economic Growth Executive Order.
China to Launch Green Certificates in Renewable Energy Sector
China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance and National Energy Administration recently jointly announced a pilot program for the issuance of green certificates to renewable energy producers coupled with a trading scheme running on a voluntary basis across the country.
3@3 on Solar PV: Trump, Citisuns, Manufacturing Numbers
Jenn Runyon, Chief Editor of Renewable Energy World and Paula Mints, Chief Market Research Analyst with SPV Market Research discuss three hot topics in the global solar industry for three minutes each. Today’s topics include President Donald Trump's "Energy Independence" executive order; solar "citisuns," what they are and how you can be one, too; and total installed capacity for solar including how much manufacturing capacity exists in the world today and what that means for solar businesses. Check it out.
Full Text of Presidential Executive Order on Promoting Energy...
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. (a) It is in the national interest to promote clean and safe development of our Nation's vast energy resources, while at the same time avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain economic growth, and prevent job creation. Moreover, the prudent development of these natural resources is essential to ensuring the Nation's geopolitical security.
The Old, Dirty US Electric Grid Would Cost $5 Trillion to Replace....
The electric grid is an amazing integrated system of machines spanning an entire continent. The National Academy of Engineering has called it one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 20th century.
A Low-Tech Approach To Energy Storage: Molten Metals
The ability to store energy promises to revolutionize the way we generate, transmit and use electricity - making renewable sources such as wind and solar cheaper and more dependable. Massachusetts is one of just three states requiring electric utilities to build battery facilities in the future.
Innovative Aggregation Expands Access to Large-scale Renewables
This week, the largest renewable energy project built in the U.S. through an alliance of diverse buyers reached commercial operation. The development of the 60-MW Summit Farms Solar project was driven by demand from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston Medical Center, and Post Office Square Redevelopment Corporation.
New Twist on Green Beer as Anheuser Busch Commits to 100 Percent...
Leading the way among major producers of consumer goods, Anheuser-Busch (ABInBev) on Tuesday announced its commitment to become 100 percent powered by renewable energy by 2025. According to the company it will then become the largest corporate direct purchaser of renewable electricity in the consumer goods sector.
In total, this will shift 6 terawatt-hours of electricity annually to renewable sources in the markets where AB InBev operates and will help transform the energy industry in countries like Argentina, Brazil, India and markets across the African continent.
As Energy Mix Becomes Cleaner, Minnesotans Paying Less for It
Consumers have seen flat or declining energy costs as renewable energy becomes a greater part of the energy mix of Minnesota and the nation. That’s one of the findings in the annual 2017 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook, published by Bloomberg New Energy Finance in partnership with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
SunEdison India Assets to Help Double Greenko Capacity
Greenko Energy Holdings, the green power developer backed by sovereign wealth funds, expects to double its capacity in India by 2019 with the help of assets acquired during the bankruptcy of SunEdison Inc.
Generation capacity should grow to about 5 gigawatts in the next two years as new projects come online and Greenko integrates 1.5 gigawatts of SunEdison assets into its portfolio, Mahesh Kolli, the founder of the company based in Hyderabad, India, said in a telephone interview.
Trump to Cancel Obama's Policies Aimed at Paris Climate Pledge
President Donald Trump is moving aggressively to undo policies designed to keep the carbon-cutting promises the U.S. made alongside nearly 200 other countries in Paris, while stopping short of a decision to formally withdraw from that landmark climate accord.
Trump will sign an executive order Tuesday that begins unraveling a raft of rules and directives to combat climate change, which President Barack Obama wove into the fabric of the federal government as he made addressing the issue a centerpiece of his second term.
Towards a Low-carbon Future: Bi-lateral Collaboration Between the UK...
There are significant differences between the clean energy and environmental outlooks of the May and Trump administrations. To-date the Prime Minister has given no indication of renouncing either the Paris accords or the UK’s pledged emission targets. The U.S. commitment to the accords and willingness to fulfill the promised GHG reductions of the Obama administration remain unclear.
First Solar to Deliver 48.5MW Manildra Solar Farm in Australia
First Solar this week announced that financial close has been reached for the Manildra Solar Farm in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. First Solar will leverage its expertise in utility-scale solar development to deliver the 48.5-MW (AC) project, which will utilize approximately 466,000 First Solar thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules and single-axis tracking technology expected to produce more than 120,000 megawatt-hours of electricity in its first year of operation. The Manildra Solar Farm will take First Solar's installed capacity in Australia to more than 400-MW (AC) when it is complete in 2018.
Dominion Announces Two Large-Scale Solar Energy Projects in South...
Dominion announced plans to construct, own and operate 81 megawatts (AC) of solar generating capacity in Jasper County, S.C. Two projects — a 71.4-megawatt facility that would be South Carolina's largest and a 10-megawatt array — are expected to enter service in 2017.
"Dominion is excited to work with a number of partners — including Solvay and South Carolina Electric & Gas — not only to bring additional non-carbon-emitting solar generation to the power grid but also to add to our South Carolina energy infrastructure portfolio," said Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Dominion. "We are proud of the work we are doing in South Carolina to help people, electric and gas distribution companies and industry access clean energy."
Large Scale Energy Storage: An Investment In Jobs, Reliability And...
The Andrews Labor Government will invest an additional $20 million to support large-scale energy storage initiatives across Victoria, creating jobs, protecting affordability and maintaining the reliability of our energy grid. Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Energy and Environment Lily D'A
Biting the Biggest Apple: New York’s New Plan to Reward...
How do we compensate those who add clean electricity to our shared power grid? This fundamental question has affected the rate at which the U.S. has adopted, deployed, and put into use clean, distributed energy resources.
The Wonder Material That May Make Spray-On Solar PV Reality
Imagine a future when solar cells can be sprayed or printed onto the windows of skyscrapers or atop sports utility vehicles -- and at prices potentially far cheaper than today’s silicon-based panels.
It’s not as far-fetched it seems. Solar researchers and company executives think there’s a good chance the economics of the $42 billion industry will soon be disrupted by something called perovskites, a range of materials that can be used to harvest light when turned into a crystalline structure.
The hope is that perovskites, which can be mixed into liquid solutions and deposited on a range of surfaces, could play a crucial role in the expansion of solar energy applications with cells as efficient as those currently made with silicon. One British company aims to have a thin-film perovskite solar cell commercially available by the end of 2018.
Big oil is starting to challenge the biggest utilities in the race to erect wind turbines at sea.
Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Statoil ASA and Eni SpA are moving into multi-billion-dollar offshore wind farms in the North Sea and beyond. They’re starting to score victories against leading power suppliers including Dong Energy A/S and Vattenfall AB in competitive auctions for power purchase contracts, which have developed a specialty in anchoring massive turbines on the seabed.
The oil companies have many reasons to move into the industry. They’ve spent decades building oil projects offshore, and that business is winding down in some areas where older fields have drained. Returns from wind farms are predictable and underpinned by government-regulated electricity prices. And fossil fuel executives want to get a piece of the clean-energy business as forecasts emerge that renewables will eat into their market.
Listen Up: Future Rooftop Solar Costs — Getting to $2.50/watt
The solar industry is one of our most obvious success stories. Our industry directly employs 261,000 people. We generate energy that is both clean and renewable. And we generate this energy at prices that are less than conventional utility power — as low as 6 cents per kwh.
Greening Artificial Intelligence: Sustainability Is the challenge,...
As the power of sensors and processing rise and their costs drop, those of us who study the “greening” of information and communications technology are looking ahead to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
Dubai Starts Desert Solar Plant as Part of World's Biggest Park
Dubai’s government-owned utility completed a 200-MW power plant one month ahead of schedule as part of a plan to build the world’s largest solar energy park by 2030.
Clean Cooking, Rural and Urban, the Next Frontier for Renewables
Historically, lighting was the driver for electricity systems. Edison lit up Manhattan, New York. But now, with solar panels and a variety of LED fixtures, from nightlights to lawn lights, street lamps to traffic lights to ceilings bulbs (if we may call them that), illumination at night, even for the poor, is largely a solved problem.
Traditionally, solar electricity generation has been driven by feed-in tariffs. Each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by a solar system has been given a fixed high value independent from the time of the day and location.
Scientists Harness Solar Power to Produce Hydrogen from Biomass
A team of scientists at the University of Cambridge has developed a way of using solar power to generate hydrogen from biomass, the U.K. university said last week.
Earnings season began in earnest in February. My Ten Clean Energy Stocks model portfolio gave back a little of its large January gains because a mix of good and bad earnings mostly offset each other. One pick (Seaspan Preferred) gave back its large January gains. Neither the original gain nor the loss were driven by news.
Energy and Environmental Regulation in the Age of Trump: The Role of...
Scott Pruitt has now been sworn in as the new Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Agency. It is likely the dismantling of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), and ultimately much of the Agency itself, will begin in short order.
Bills to Expand Solar Incentives in Maine Ready to Launch
The near-term future of rooftop solar energy in Maine is likely to be decided this spring, as lawmakers consider changes to a widely criticized rule approved in January by the Public Utilities Commission. Two major bills are pending that would supersede the PUC's approach to compensating homeowners for the solar power they generate, an incentive called net energy billing or net metering.
GreenWish to Invest $280 Million in Nigeria Solar Plants
GreenWish Partners, a Paris-based independent power producer, will invest $280 million to build solar power plants in Nigeria that are expected to start producing electricity in the first quarter of next year.
German Coal Mine to Be Reborn as Giant Pumped Storage Hydro Facility
A coal-mine that powered German industry for almost half a century will get a new lease on life when it’s turned into a giant battery that stores excess solar and wind energy.
Nicaraguan Resort Turns to Solar+storage Solution to Reduce Utility...
Rancho Santana resort and residential community on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua is turning to solar and energy storage to alleviate the high cost of peak energy in the region.
Providing Value Throughout the Entire Solar PV Supply Chain
Within the past decade or two, the solar industry has experienced a great deal of evolution and expansion. In the U.S., one of the largest shakeups was in 2010 when PV panel prices dropped. The inverter market has also been subjected to changes, especially in terms of new topologies and increased functionalities.
According to a recent report "Beyond Four Hours: The Transition to a More Flexible, and Valuable, Long-duration Energy Storage Asset," 80 percent of market participants define long-duration energy storage (LDS) as an asset than can provide at least 3 hours of energy storage. But even that definition of LDS was not the same for everyone, according to Jason Deign, author of the report.
Google's Schmidt Highlights Promise of New Battery from John...
The 94-year-old creator of the lithium-ion battery has invented another breakthrough storage device that’s capturing the attention of industry heavyweights.
Sunrun Sees 1,000 Orders for Solar+storage in California, Hawaii
Sunrun has received about 1,000 orders for its recently launched BrightBox solar plus energy storage solution in California and Hawaii, Sunrun co-founder and CEO Lynn Jurich said during a March 8 4Q16 company earnings call.
Residential solar provider Sunnova Energy Corp. this week said it has entered the tax equity market through a funding deal with U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corp.
3@3 on Solar PV: Sungevity, Resi Business Models, Southeast Asia
Jenn Runyon, Chief Editor of Renewable Energy World and Paula Mints, Chief Market Research Analyst with SPV Market Research discuss three hot topics in the global solar industry for three minutes each. Today’s topics include the bankruptcy of Sungevity, the residential solar business model and solar manufacturing in Southeast Asia. Check it out!
Sungevity Bankrupt; Former Workers Mull Class-Action Lawsuit
Sungevity, which last week laid off more than two-thirds of its Kansas City staff, received only a fraction of the $11.8 million in potential tax breaks that were offered to attract the company here. The solar panel marketing company opened a sales office in downtown Kansas City in early 2015.
Engie Eyes Bid for $19.8 Billion Utility Firm Innogy
Engie SA is considering an offer for German renewable energy utility Innogy SE as its majority owner RWE AG weighs strategic options, people familiar with the matter said.
Throughout the Pacific, island communities are embracing ambitious renewable energy targets, many as high as 100 percent over the next decade or two. This isn't surprising, given that these islands are already experiencing significant climate change impacts, and recognize the environmental benefits of reducing or replacing carbon-intensive diesel power generation.
JinkoSolar, Marubeni Secure PPA for 1,177-MW Solar Plant in Abu Dhabi
JinkoSolar Holding Co. has signed a power purchase agreement in conjunction with Marubeni Corp. and Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Co. for the Solar PV Independent Power Project located at Sweihan, Abu Dhabi.
Corporations Key Demand Drivers for Wind, Solar, Moody’s Says
Contracts to sell electricity directly to corporate users are among the key demand drivers for wind and solar power, while the influence of state mandates wanes, according to a report Friday by Moody’s Investors Service.
Musk Call With Turnbull Sparks Battery Debate in Australia
Elon Musk’s brave bet to fix Australia’s energy crisis — or hand the money back — landed the tech entrepreneur an hour-long phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and quickly threw him into a debate over whether battery technology is the solution for a nation still wedded to coal for much of its power.
Companies Want Clean Energy — These 2 EPA Programs Help Them...
For companies, future planning is simply good business. This is why many in Corporate America — having long accepted that climate change is real — are continuing to transition towards low-carbon energy options and to work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Subsidies plummeted in the first of six tender rounds for large-scale ground-based solar power in France, results published by the energy ministry on Thursday showed. This is likely to squeeze profits for other sources of electricity as the cost of generation from ground-based solar comes close to parity with combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGTs).
Tesla Completes Hawaii Storage Project That Sells Solar at Night
Tesla Inc. has completed a solar project in Hawaii that incorporates batteries to sell power in the evening, part of a push by the electric car maker to provide more green power to the grid.
SolarReserve Receives Environmental Approval for Concentrating Solar...
Santa Monica, Calif.-based SolarReserve this week said it has received environmental approval from the Chilean government to build the Tamarugal concentrating solar power project in the Tarapacá region of Chile.
Solar Power May Get Boost From Africa's Biggest Oil Exporter
Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil exporter, may be about to turn sunward to generate more of its power. Senators in the capital of Abuja are debating allocation of $30 million to solar projects in this year’s budget, according to the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria.
Listen Up: Protecting Solar Consumers — Interview with Tom...
Please Listen Up to this week’s Energy Show as Tom Kimbis, the Executive Vice President of the Solar Energy Industries Association, talks about SEIA’s Consumer Protection and Ethics Committees, as well as SEIA’s “Consumer Guide to Solar Power” and Residential Disclosure Forms.
Distributed energy resources are fast becoming cost competitive with traditionally generated electricity.According to Rocky Mountain Institute, grid-connected solar-plus-battery systems will reach economic parity with grid electricity within the next 10-15 years. Despite near-term technical and financial challenges, more and more business will adopt on- and off-site generation, storage, community and wholesale projects.
Standard Solar Acquired By Canada’s Gaz Metro; Now Seeking...
On Tuesday morning, Standard Solar announced that it is being acquired by Gaz Metro, a Canadian diversified energy company that also owns Green Mountain Power (GMP) – the distribution utility for the majority of Vermont.
Together the companies will now be able to offer stable financing for the commercial and industrial solar sector, one that Scott Wiater, CEO of Standard Solar views as the next hot solar market.
“Having a Canadian company invest in a U.S. company [that is active] in a certain market segment is going to send signals that — and it’s been talked about quite a bit — the non-residential DG space is the next hot space for the market,” he said in an interview.
Energy and Environmental Regulation in the Age of Trump:Â The Role of...
It’s hardly surprising that many eyes are turning toward state capitals as Plan B targets of opportunity for maintaining the momentum of clean energy technologies and continued safeguard of the environment in the U.S.
Canadian Solar Inc. today said that it raised US$20 million to support the development of eligible projects in Brazil, including the 191-MW Pirapora I project in the state of Minas Gerais.
Saudi Aramco's Renewable Energy Push Seen Widening Appeal of IPO
Aramco is the world’s largest oil company, but when it sells shares next year, its foray into renewable energy is what may lure investors who would otherwise be forced to stay away.
Arizona Utility Files Rate Settlement Agreement with Solar Net...
Solar industry stakeholders in Arizona have reached an agreement with the state’s largest utility that improves on a decision made last year by state regulators that would have ended the existing net metering program for new solar owners.
Success Story—Supercharging Concentrating Solar Power Plant...
Supercritical carbon dioxide power cycles have the potential to reduce the cost of concentrating solar power by substantially improving the efficiency of converting high temperature solar heat into electricity. Through three SunShot Initiative-funded projects and six years of steady progress, GE Global Research and Southwest Research Institute have taken major steps toward commercializing the technology.
The Alberta Advantage: Solar Rebates Give Homeowners a Boost
Alberta’s residential solar industry has chugged along for decades without government support. That dry spell finally drew to a close on Monday, when the provincial NDP government announced a two-year, $36 million rebate program to help bring down the costs for residents, business and nonprofits who want to install solar projects.
Update: On March 2, 2017, U.S. Senators confirmed Rick Perry as the new Secretary of Energy of the United States. The vote was 62-37 with nine democratic senators casting "yes" votes.
3@3 on Solar PV: Utility Backlash, Blockchain, Diversity
Today’s topics include how utilities are crying foul about the price of PPAs - is this the beginning of a big backlash against solar? In addition, we'll discuss blockchain technology and diversity in the solar industry. Check it out!
2016 US Renewable Generation Blows Past EIA’s Earlier Forecasts
According to the latest issue of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) "Electric Power Monthly" report (with data through Dec. 31, 2016), renewable energy sources continued their rapid growth and accounted for 15.34 percent of domestic electrical generation in 2016 — compared to 13.65 percent in 2015.
Vitol in Joint Venture to Build Battery Storage Systems in UK
Units of the commodities trader Vitol Group and the renewables investment fund Low Carbon Ltd. said they’d invest 250 million pounds ($311 million) to develop energy storage and distributed power-generation projects in the U.K.
Environmental Regulation in the Age of Trump: The Endangerment Zone
The CPP has been a significant source of contention between climate defenders and deniers. President Trump and many in the Republican Congressional majority have targeted these regulations for rescission. The Donald, his cabinet nominees, transition staff and personal staff have all alluded to the significant reductions in federal environmental programs and policies that lie ahead.
Negotiating Corporate PPAs in the Middle East and Africa — Part...
Sizable reductions in the cost of solar equipment have created countless opportunities for developers operating in the Middle East and Africa to enter into power purchase agreements with commercial and industrial enterprises and to provide electricity at a lower rate than the local utility.
Panasonic Eyes Storage Boost as Japan Solar Incentives Wane
Japan’s scaling back of a program encouraging residential solar has Panasonic Corp. hopeful the market for home energy storage systems is about to receive a boost.
The meeco Group installed biggest solar power plant in Zimbabwe
The current installation of the so far largest solar power plant in Zimbabwe, with a total capacity of 216 kWp, marks a major turning point in the history of energy supply in Zimbabwe.
I first encountered induction cookers when I joined Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode, a graduate business school, as visiting professor of strategy in 2011. Having never heard of them in the U.S., I quizzed people about them.
The new year marked big changes for U.S. solar and not just because the new President of the United States is less enthusiastic about renewable energy than the previous President was. No, in addition to that big change, Abby Hopper took the helm of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), bringing with her a fresh perspective on how to support growth of solar in the country. Her goals for the industry range from the top of heap – maintaining support at the federal level – and run all the way down the end-user of solar, the rooftop solar customer.
5 Issues to Watch as India Reaches for Ambitious Energy Access Target
India’s electricity access challenge is formidable. About 300 million people lack electricity, while an additional 100 million have less than four hours of electricity per day, and possibly several million more suffer from unreliable supply. Population growth and an increase in electricity demand each year could further strain the grid.
My 2017 Solar Resolution — Inspiring Dialogue with Key Solar...
A funny thing happened recently: We wrote an article suggesting that a lower cost of capital, driven by increased debt in project finance transactions, would help to mitigate some of the new risk the solar industry faces in 2017. We didn’t anticipate that this would be a particularly controversial viewpoint. After all, paying a lower cost of capital is like paying off old credit card debt. Who could disagree with that?
Engineers Week Celebrates Women in Engineering with #GirlDay2017
It’s Engineers Week, and DiscoverE — formerly the National Engineers Week Foundation — is celebrating women in engineering today with Girl Day 2017, a campaign to introduce girls to the world of engineering.
The Energy Web Foundation: Bringing Blockchain Technology to the Grid
Blockchain technology—the technology underpinning the Bitcoin virtual currency—is being discussed as one of the most potentially disruptive technologies since the Internet. Blockchains are a combination of information technology, cryptography, and governance principles that
California Lawmakers Seek 100 Percent Renewables by 2045
California SB 584 would require 100 percent of all electricity sold in California at retail to be generated by eligible renewable energy resources by December 31, 2045.
More Than 3 Million in US Now Work in Clean Energy
National business groups, citing government statistics, say jobs providing cleaner energy options equal those in retail stores, twice those in building construction Washington, D.C., Feb.
The idea that giant batteries may someday revolutionize electrical grids has long enthralled clean-power advocates and environmentalists. Now it’s attracting bankers with the money to make it happen.
Blue Pillar Launches New Offering to Unlock the Value of...
Blue Pillar announced its new Aurora® Energy Network-as-a-Service (ENaaS) offering to advance the company's mission to simplify access to behind-the-meter data and control from any type of distributed energy resource that generates, stores, switches, consumes or measures energy.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, is relaunching its renewable energy program. Recent government communications suggest a determination to press ahead rapidly.
India's New Solar Auction Lights the Way to Modi's Green Targets
Record low Indian solar tariffs tendered at a groundbreaking auction may catalyze green investments and help tip the balance of new power to renewables and away from fossil fuels.
Could Rising Seas Yield Common Ground? Exploring Opportunities for...
In May 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump released his America First Energy Plan, including a number of measures to be taken within the first 100 days of his presidency. Broadly speaking, these commitments reflect the intent of the Trump administration to deregulate domestic U.S. energy production to drive private sector growth for coal, oil, and natural gas.
Europe to Lead Research Project for Energy Storage in Molten Silicon
The Technical University of Madrid last week said that it will work with seven European R&D institutions to develop a new generation of ultra-compact energy storage devices based in molten silicon and solid state heat-to-power converters.
Sonnen GmbH, a German manufacturer of batteries for residential and commercial energy storage, plans to combine research and manufacturing at a new facility in Atlanta as part of a U.S. expansion.
Environmental Regulation in the Age of Trump — Knot as Easy as...
There is a lot of speculation surrounding the Trump administration’s intentions toward clean energy and environment policies and programs. Rumors abound of slashing budgets, firing personnel, gagging anyone left standing and ultimately dismantling EPA and federal renewable energy programs at the Department of Energy and elsewhere.
We’re in the middle of winter — and there’s some serious precipitation. It’s snowing in much of the country, and California is finally getting a lot of rain. Although these storms are good for replenishing our water supplies, wind, rain and snow are the biggest causes of power failures.
In the modern age of solar 4.5 MW is not a big power plant, generally occupying less than 50 acres of land. But from the perspective of a field technician, size is all relative.
Jenn Runyon, Chief Editor of Renewable Energy World and Paula Mints, Chief Market Research Analyst with SPV Market Research discuss three hot topics in the global solar industry for three minutes each. Today’s topics include the official numbers for China's annual installed capacity for 2016, how the solar industry deceives itself with "alternative facts," and some of the changes already underway with the new U.S. government in place. Check it out.
Solar Power Industry Conditions ‘Remain Challenging,’...
SunPower CEO Thomas Werner yesterday said that while long-term growth prospects for the solar power industry are compelling, the near-term conditions “remain challenging.”
Siemens, Bentley Systems Agree to Offer Planning and Design Solutions...
Siemens’ Energy Management Division and Bentley Systems have announced an agreement to jointly develop solutions to accelerate digitalization of planning, design, and operations for power utilities and industrial power customers.
Each year solar analysts take stock of the industry's accomplishments with the annual Solar Market Insight Report (SMI) and each time the performance numbers impress. This year, however, is jaw-dropping. TerraSmart is passionate about all things solar, and we couldn't wait to share the latest insights with this SMI preview.
Cleantech Aims to Capitalize on Energy Storage and Integrated Energy...
The Cleantech Forum, organized by the Cleantech Group, took place on January 23-25. President Trump’s inauguration provided the backdrop for entrepreneurs, investors and experts to emphasize the need for technological solutions that can accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon economy.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency Commits $4.1M to Advance Energy...
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency this week said it has committed $4.1 million in funding for Sydney-based company Ecoult to commercialize its battery technology.
Sandia National Laboratories last week said that its researchers are studying corrosion on solar panels to help industry develop long-lasting PV panels and increase PV system reliability.
The nation most identified with its massive oil reserves is turning to wind and solar to generate power at home and help extend the life of its crucial crude franchise.
New York's Energy Czar, Richard Kauffman, Receives SEIA Solar...
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) presented Richard Kauffman, New York's chairman of energy and finance and NYSERDA Board chair, with the prestigious SEIA Solar Champion Award, an honor bestowed upon entities or individuals who have helped strengthen solar energy in America.
Tiny metallic-gold particles are being used to convert sunlight into fuel.The technology is being developed in South Australia to store solar energy as an alternative to battery storage.
Last Word: The Great Challenge of the Electric Power Transition
2016 was the year that the U.S. installed its millionth solar array; storage started to become a game changer; and the Supreme Court ruled on the FERC 745 case, confirming distributed energy resources are integral to our power system.
5 Ways Cities Can Benefit from SunShot’s Latest Solar Prize...
The solar industry is growing fast. In 2016, solar energy was the largest source of new generating capacity in the United States. With more than 1 million U.S. solar projects now operating, the country has more than 35 gigawatts of total solar installed capacity—enough to power the equivalent of 6.5 million average American homes.
Offshore Wind Farms Offer Subsidy-Free Power for First Time
German’s electricity grid regulator approved bids to build what will be the first offshore wind farms that depend entirely on market prices instead of government support and subsidy.
Massachusetts Readies for First Offshore Wind Procurement in June
Massachusetts is drawing closer to its first solicitation for wind energy in state waters, with a call for bids due in June. The first solicitation of the 1,600 MW mandated in state legislation could be anywhere from 200 MW to 800 MW, according to Bill White, senior director, offshore wind development, for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).
Even After Avangrid’s Winning Bid, ‘No Urgency’ for...
After building North Carolina’s first commercial onshore wind development, Avangrid Renewables now has the rights to another first in the state: an offshore wind farm 27 miles from the Outer Banks.
E.ON Develops a Demonstration Site for Airborne Wind Technology in...
E.ON is strengthening its position as a frontrunner and early adopter in airborne wind energy, an emerging sector developing game changing technologies for renewable energy production.
British Investor Seeking to Buy Eletrobras Stakes in Wind Farms
A U.K. power utility is in talks with two local partners of Brazil’s state-run utility Eletrobras to acquire minority stakes in about 640 MW of operating wind farms. The U.K. company has signed memorandums of understanding to invest in the local operators, in exchange for the right to make a first offer on the wind assets when Eletrobras officially puts its holdings up for sale, according to Paulo Dalla Nora, a partner at FIR Capital, a Brazilian venture capital company that’s structuring the deals.
India Wind Power Primed for a Third Straight Record, Suzlon Says
India is expected to install record wind capacity for a third consecutive year, according to turbine maker Suzlon Energy Ltd. New installations will hit 6 GW in the fiscal year ending in March 2018, Suzlon founder Tulsi Tanti said in an emailed statement. The country added 5.4 GW capacity in fiscal 2017 and 3.4 GW the year before.
China’s Wind Power Investment Declines in 2016 for First Time
The China Electricity Council recently published the 2016-2017 Analysis and Forecast Report on Demand and Supply of China’s Power Industry, revealing that the country’s installed grid-connected wind power capacity had reached about 150 million kW by the end of 2016, advancing by just 13.2 percent from a year earlier and accounting for 9 percent of the total installed capacity.
Xcel Energy Plans Investment in 11 Wind Farms Across Seven States
Xcel Energy said it will invest in 11 new wind farms in seven states, bringing about 3,380 MW of new wind generation to its system by 2021. The investment will bring the total amount of wind power in Xcel’s energy mix to 35 percent, the utility said.
EU Backs 600-MW Kriegers Flak Wind Farm in Danish Waters
The European Commission on March 28 determined that its support of the 600-MW Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm in Danish territorial waters is in line with EU state aid rules. The commission said the project will help Denmark reduce CO2 emissions, in line with EU energy and climate goals, without unduly distorting competition.
FORESEA awards US$11.8 million to develop offshore renewable energy...
The user selection board of the €11 million (US$11.8 million) Funding Ocean Renewable Energy through Strategic European Action (FORESEA) project has awarded “Recommendations for Support” to 15 offshore renewable energy technologies, according to an announcement today from FORESEA.
Offshore Energies: Data Technology Transfer from O&G to Wind Power
Organizations are collecting more information than they ever have in the past, and energy companies are no exception. One estimate puts the amount of data collected on an offshore oil rig at 2 terabytes per day. More and more, these companies are turning to analytics service providers to make sense of their data within their business processes.
Sweden's state-owned utility Vattenfall will use 1,000 lithium ion batteries supplied by BMW Group to provide energy storage at some of the power company's wind power facilities.
Avangrid Winning Bidder in North Carolina Offshore Wind Energy Area...
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Acting Director Walter Cruickshank yesterday said that a wind energy area of 122,405 acres offshore Kitty Hawk, N.C. received the high bid of $9 million from Avangrid Renewables, the provisional winner in a competitive lease sale in federal waters.
Siemens low wind power prototype turbine installed in Drantum
Siemens' new direct-drive low wind turbine has reached the prototype testing stage. The onshore model SWT-3.15-142, with a rotor diameter of 142 meters passed prototype approval and was erected at the Drantum wind test site in Jutland, Denmark.
Oklahoma House Approves Bill to Reduce Time Frame for Wind Tax Credit...
The Oklahoma House of Representatives on March 9 passed by a vote of 74-24 a bill that would reduce the time frame in which wind power projects can qualify for the state’s clean energy tax credit.
This is the first event focused exclusively on bringing the well-established U.S. oil and gas industry together with the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry.
Massachusetts Preps for US Offshore Wind Construction Boom
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), a ratepayer funded research organization that works to accelerate the success of clean energy technologies, companies and projects in the state, last week announced plans to conduct a study of potential offshore wind construction facilities in Massachusetts. The Offshore Wind Ports & Infrastructure Assessment will review underdeveloped waterfront sites in Massachusetts that could potentially be acquired and developed through private investment to support both near-term and long-term offshore wind activities.
Developers Seek Leases for Offshore Wind Projects in New York,...
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on March 10 said that two developers submitted unsolicited lease requests for offshore wind farm developments off the coast of New York and Massachusetts.
British Columbia's Biggest Wind Farm Just Came Online — But...
On wind-swept ridgelines, surrounded by pine-beetle ravaged forests, the massive turbines at British Columbia’s largest wind power project have started turning. The Meikle Wind project, built by Pattern Development, will increase wind power capacity in the province by more than one third
Corporations are making major investments in wind power. In February, North Carolina commissioned its first commercial-scale wind farm. The Amazon Wind Farm U.S. East is made up of 104 wind turbines that can produce enough energy for 61,000 homes annually. The site is using this power to run its data centers and will help the company move closer toward its goal of achieving 50 percent renewable energy use by 2018.
Siemens to build EnBW Hohe See as first offshore wind power project...
Siemens Wind Power will, for the first time, provide complete offshore wind power plant solutions including foundations for the EnBW Hohe See offshore wind project.
JDR Selected By US Wind to Supply Cables to US Offshore Wind Farms
JDR, a leading supplier of subsea power cables and umbilicals to the global offshore energy industry, has been selected by US Wind Inc., as the preferred cable partner for its first offshore wind project.
US Offshore Wind Farms Will Be Constructed by US Oil and Gas Experts
Jeff Grybowski is CEO of Deepwater Wind, the company that built the first offshore wind farm in the United States, currently generating energy off the coast of Rhode Island. He’s not at all concerned about finding the supply chain to construct his next project, the 90-MW Deepwater ONE South Fork wind farm, which was approved last month by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA).
“No, I’m not worried about it at all,” he said in an interview last fall at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Offshore Wind Conference.
BP Plc is weighing plans to update as many as 200 of its U.S. wind turbines with newer, higher-capacity equipment, a move that would represent the company’s biggest investment in renewable energy since its last wind farm came online in 2012.
Geothermal, Small Wind Among Technologies to Benefit Under New Tax...
Reps. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) and Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) this week reintroduced legislation that would extend through 2021 commercial and residential installation tax credits for geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, microturbines, small wind and combined heat and power, according to the Geothermal Exchange Organization.
China installed almost three times more wind power than the U.S. last year, continuing its clean-energy investment blitz to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase air quality.
Wind Power: First electricity delivered from Dudgeon Offshore Wind...
Up to 6,000 homes in the U.K. are now receiving electricity from the first producing wind turbine on Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm. When fully operational later in 2017 the offshore wind power farm will provide electricity to over 400,000 homes.
Southwest Power Pool set a wind-penetration record of 52.1 percent at 4:30 a.m., Feb. 12, becoming the first regional transmission organization (RTO) in North America to serve more than 50 percent of its load at a given time with wind energy. The milestone beats a previous North American RTO record of 49.2 percent that SPP set April 24, 2016.
Around the Baseloads: What's New in the Geothermal, Biomass and...
No country will ever get to 100 percent renewable energy without using geothermal, biomass, hydropower or a combination of the three. These technologies are able to provide energy around the clock, (baseload) and do not depend on the sun shining or the wind blowing.
Fortum Enters JV for Waste-to-energy CHP Plant in Lithuania
Finland-based clean energy firm Fortum last week said that it has formed a joint venture with Lietuvos Energija to build a waste-to-energy combined heat and power plant in Kaunas, Lithuania.
China’s Jiangsu Province Expands Waste-to-energy Capacity
Local officials in China's Jiangsu Province will help expand waste-to-energy capacity in the region with an investment in a new facility with a processing capacity of 900 metric tons.
A report commissioned by the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has found that using biomass instead of coal is playing a positive part in decarbonizing the power sector.
Funding Secured for Nine Waste-to-energy Plants in China
Dynagreen Environmental Protection Group will build nine new waste-to-energy (WTE) plants in China by 2018 with the support of new funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization in recent comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it supports the inclusion of additional biofuel feedstocks and pathways under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard program.
Chinese Firm Prepares to Build 30-MW Biomass Plant in West Africa
Preliminary work for the construction of the biomass power plant in Mansoa, central Guinea-Bissau, will begin in March, with the arrival of Chinese technicians, announced the Guinean representative of Chinese company Shenyang Lan Sa Trading Co Ltd, which is financing the project.
University of Iowa Plans Coal-free Future; Biomass Program Ramping Up
University of Iowa (UI) President Bruce Harreld said this week that the UI campus will be coal-free by 2025, and biomass will be at the heart of the transition to increased renewable energy use.
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