Features for January 2012

Features Archive

Corporates' venture Corporates' venture

Corporate venture capital could prove the vital lifeline for renewable energy developers facing an exodus of private equity investors from the market.

A Chinese fortune company: profile of Trina Solar A Chinese fortune company: profile of Trina Solar

How has Trina Solar got to where it is today, and where is it going in the future, as the market becomes even more competitive, and a potential backlash against China comes into sight?

Countdown to 2020: can the UK meet its renewables targets? Countdown to 2020: can the UK meet its renewables targets?

Part three: What is the industry’s role in the UK’s path to15% renewables by 2020, and what happens to 2030 and beyond?

How viable are biofuels? How viable are biofuels?

Part three: BP and Neste are looking to biofuels in the future.

How viable are biofuels? How viable are biofuels?

Part two: Biofuels Standards. For European players, sustainability requirements add extra pressure...

Wind turbine blade production – new products keep pace as scale increases Wind turbine blade production – new products keep pace as scale increases

The wind energy industry is one of the fastest-growing consumers of fibre reinforced plastics in the world. Production challenges are compounded as the scale of wind turbines continues to climb. Blades, among the most complex parts to mould, now exceed 80 m in length and are getting longer. We report on new products and processes developed to meet the needs of utility-scale blade producers.

How viable are biofuels? How viable are biofuels?

Part one: With an increased focus on biofuels as an energy solution, have policy makers been too optimistic about how soon second-generation biofuels can be developed?

Enhanced glass reinforcements for wind turbine blade manufacture Enhanced glass reinforcements for wind turbine blade manufacture

Reinforced Plastics asked Onur Tokgoz, Wind Energy Global Business Leader at 3B-the fibreglass company, about the company’s activities in the wind energy market and its new glass reinforcement for wind turbine blade manufacture, Advantex® SE2020.

Countdown to 2020: can the UK meet its renewables targets? Countdown to 2020: can the UK meet its renewables targets?

Part two: What are the main challenges the UK faces in reaching 15% renewables by 2020?

U.S. blade test facility to aid U.S. competitiveness U.S. blade test facility to aid U.S. competitiveness

America's first commercial large wind turbine blade test facility opened in May last year, its aim being to help the U.S. industry remain competitive with its overseas counterparts.

Exclusive interview: UK Minister defends December 12 feed-in tariff deadline Exclusive interview: UK Minister defends December 12 feed-in tariff deadline

UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry has defended the Government's decision to slash feed-in tariff rates for solar PV from 12 December, despite the fact that it landed the Government in the High Court.

Germany helps fund India’s largest solar power plant Germany helps fund India’s largest solar power plant

One of the world’s largest solar power projects is to be built in Sakri, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

Chinese solar PV equipment suppliers increase market-share Chinese solar PV equipment suppliers increase market-share

Ambitious solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing capacity investments across the Asia Pacific region during 2011 have provided substantial revenue growth for local solar PV equipment suppliers, according to the latest NPD Solarbuzz PV Equipment Quarterly report.

Wind Power: 200 BC to 2010... Wind Power: 200 BC to 2010...

Wind devices date all the way back to vertical axis wind mills from the Persian-Afghanistan borders around 200 BC, to today’s efforts to develop 10 MW wind turbines...

Solar in Hawaii: the Supernova Syndrome Solar in Hawaii: the Supernova Syndrome

Hawaii has been a red hot solar success story in recent times, but can this success continue without important Federal and State incentives?

Countdown to 2020: can the UK meet its renewables targets? Countdown to 2020: can the UK meet its renewables targets?

Part one: In the last days of 2011 the UK government submitted its first report to the European Union, detailing progress towards its 2020 renewables targets. So is it on the right path to achieving its legally binding targets?

Wind blade composites market grows as offshore wind energy advances

A review of the Wind Turbine Blade Manufacture conference organised by AMI in Germany last month.

Renewable energy project monitor Renewable energy project monitor

November/December: Our regular column, written by the Energy Industries Council, reports on project development in the renewable energy marketplace...

What is the outlook for solar PV in 2012? What is the outlook for solar PV in 2012?

In the first of a regular series of articles, Paula Mints looks at the outlook for Solar PV moving forward, as we leave behind a turbulent 2011…

Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures

Special report. Part eight: Ocean and tidal power transition continues...

Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures

Special report. Conclusion: how much renewable electricity capacity was installed worldwide at the end of 2010, and which technologies were the most popular?

Offshore coup, China style Offshore coup, China style

Despite some high profile WTO successes for the West, China plans to dominate its offshore wind sector in the long term.

Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures

Special report. Part seven: Geothermal power makes stuttering progress...

Company profile: 3M's new facility tests solar products Company profile: 3M's new facility tests solar products

With a range of products designed to help improve solar module performance, the addition of a new all-weather testing facility will help ensure 3M and its customers can bring more efficient products to market faster, the company tells Joyce Laird.

Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures

Special report. Part six: Setting the scene for biomass...

Book Review - Daniel Yergin: The Quest Book Review - Daniel Yergin: The Quest

In his new book, Daniel Yergin can't quite fully support wind, but tries hard.

Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures

Special report. Part five: Solar CSP – strong 2010, but at a crossroads...

Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures Renewable Power Generation - 2010 figures

Special report. Part four: Solar (PV) hit the heights in 2010 despite market concerns...

Comment: Unlikely coalition recommends changes to Ontario's feed-in tariff Comment: Unlikely coalition recommends changes to Ontario's feed-in tariff

Renewable energy advocates and a solar industry trade group filed a joint submission on December 14, 2011 as part of the province of Ontario's scheduled two-year review of its groundbreaking feed-in tariff (FIT) programme.