News for January 2009

News Archive

Obama calls for energy independence

In a speech on 26 January, US President Barack Obama called for US energy independence whilst further outlining his plans for renewables and the environment.

International Renewable Energy Agency

The official ceremony for the signing of the Statute marked the birth of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on 26 January 2009.

US House and Senate proposals for renewable energy

Just before the House of Representatives passed the US$819 billion economic stimulus package at the end of January, both the House and the Senate issued proposals for renewable energy incentives.

UK public investment in bioenergy

The biggest ever single UK public investment in bioenergy research has been announced by the main UK funding agency for the biosciences - the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

SunEdison acquires Business Institute Solar Strategy

SunEdison has acquired Business Institute Solar Strategy GmbH (BISS) providing SunEdison with 38 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects under development in Italy and Spain.

Tidal energy projects to be developed in Nova Scotia

Marine Current Turbines (MCT) has agreed a partnership with Canada’s Minas Basin Pulp and Power Company (MBPP) to demonstrate and develop tidal power technology and facilities in Nova Scotia, Canada.

AMSC system for Long Island power grid

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has received an order for a large-scale dynamic reactive compensation solution for the Long Island power grid.

UK could see 5-7000 more offshore wind turbines

A study of the UK’s shores recommends there’s scope for 5-7000 more offshore wind turbines in the UK.

REC Wafer and LG Electronics sign multi crystalline wafers supply agreement

REC Wafer has signed a long-term agreement with LG Electronics Inc in Korea for the supply of multi crystalline wafers.

Vestas delivers 67 3 MW wind turbines to Romania

Vestas has received an order for delivery of 67 x V90-3.0 MW wind turbines for Romania from S.C. Ewind S.R.L and S.C. Wind Power Park S.R.L., Romania.

Stetson Wind project begins commercial operation

The 57 MW Stetson Wind project has begun commercial operation, according to First Wind, a North American wind power company

Suntech Power Holdings reports full year results

Suntech Power Holdings Co, a photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, has reported preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter (Q4) and full year 2008.

Siader wave energy project gets consent

The Scottish Government has granted consent for the Siadar wave energy project on the Scottish island of Lewis.

Fraunhofer: 41.1% efficiency multi-junction solar cells Fraunhofer: 41.1% efficiency multi-junction solar cells

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has achieved a record efficiency of 41.1% for multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) solar cells.

Econcern could boost Italy’s solar capacity

Econcern plans to install 42 MW of solar capacity in Puglia, southern Italy boosting Italy’s solar capacity by 15%.

Severn tidal power projects shortlist

A proposed shortlist of schemes for tidal power in the Severn estuary, UK, including barrages and lagoon schemes, has been unveiled by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Combined heat and power for whisky distillers

A joint development between Helius Energy and The Combination of Rothes Distillers Limited (CoRD) and will see the installation of a biomass-fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) plant at CoRD.

Carbon Trust calls for switch to biomass heating

The UK Carbon Trust is calling for businesses to make a “massive switch” to biomass heating in its report Biomass Heating, A Practical Guide.

PV law introduced in Greece

A new photovoltaic (PV) law has been introduced in Greece amending the current legislation and setting new feed-in-tariffs.

ACORE calls for action in US renewables industry

The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) calls for a national response to President Barack Obama’s commitment to Double Renewable Energy in America (“DREAM”).

Torresol gets €171 million solar thermal plant funding

Torresol Energy, the strategic alliance between SENER and Masdar, has announced a €171 million financing deal for Spanish solar thermal plant Gemasolar.

EWEA: Wind energy jobs to double by 2020

The number of jobs in the European wind energy industry will more than double by 2020, according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

CSR-ZELRI orders wind turbine components from AMSC

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has received a multi-million-dollar order for 100 sets of its wind turbine core electrical components from China’s CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute Co.

PSE and RES Americas co-develop wind

Utility Puget Sound Energy and wind power developer RES Americas have entered into an agreement to jointly develop and construct new wind energy facilities in Washington State.

Turkana plans 300 MW windfarm in Kenya

A 300 MW windfarm is being planned in Kenya by Turkana Wind Power Consortium (LTWP).

New York aims for 45% renewables by 2015

New York could produce 45% of its electricity from renewables by 2015, according to New York Governor David A. Paterson.

Solar staff hit by financial situation

Oerlikon is planning around 1,000 layoffs following other similar announcement in the solar industry.

Waste to energy / fuel cell venture launched

Using a combination of alkaline fuel cells with plasma gasification and other existing technologies makes waste to energy viable, according to recently launched Waste2Tricity.

Process heat from biomass

Around 100 process industry sites in the Northwest of England could switch to biomass for process heat, according to regional development agency Envirolink Northwest.

Enviromena constructs 10 MW on-grid solar plant

Masdar and Environmena Power Systems are constructing a 10 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Isofoton installs PV in Morocco

Isofoton will set up 1215 photovoltaic (PV) grid-integrated installations in Errachidia and Ben Guerir, Morocco.

Piloting silicon-ink solar cell production

The installation of a 10 MW silicon-ink based solar cell pilot production line has been completed by Roth & Rau AG and Innovalight.

Wind turbine siting is ‘key’ to viability

The importance of site assessment in deploying small wind systems has been reiterated by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) in the Warwick Wind Trial report.

Masdar PV and Parabel sign silicon thin-film deal

Masdar PV GmbH has signed a letter of intent for the delivery of over 50 MWp silicon based thin-film modules with Parabel AG until 2011.

ABB secures order for tidal turbines

ABB Ltd has secured an order in excess of £2 million for the engineering, supply, installation and commissioning of an electrical generating system for two tidal turbines, rated at 2.4 MW.

Phoenix Solar Energy Investments acquires Scarlatti SRL

Phoenix Solar Energy Investments AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix Solar AG, has acquired all the shares in Scarlatti Srl.

Phoenix Solar extends deal with KG Allgemeine Leasing

Phoenix Solar AG has raised the volume of the framework agreement signed in September 2007 with KG Allgemeine Leasing GmbH & Co by at least €50 million and extended it through the year 2011.

E.ON gets planning consent for Camster wind farm

E.ON has received planning consent for its Camster wind farm in Caithness, UK.

RES Americas' Hackberry Wind Project begins commercial operations

Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES Americas), which develops and constructs wind power projects, has announced completion and commencement of commercial operations of its Hackberry Wind Project, a US$350 million wind farm in Texas, USA.

EDF EN commissions 100.5 MW US windfarm

EDF Energies Nouvelles is commissioning its 100.5 MW Wapsipinicon windfarm in Minnesota, USA.

All eyes on the US for renewables in 2009

As 2009 gets underway, all eyes are turned towards the US, a market poised to begin a dramatic transition in energy and climate policy, but facing decisions still steeped in political wrangling, according to analyst Emerging Energy Research.

Renewables could receive £1.1 billion funding

Four projects have been given the go-ahead as part of a potential £1.1billion fund from the UK Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to promote renewables.

Clean energy investment up 4.4%

Total new investment in clean energy worldwide rose 4.4% during the course of 2008 and exceeded the US$150 billion mark for the first time, according to full-year figures from New Energy Finance.

DoE: US$200m for biorefinery projects

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has announced up to US$200 million over six years (2009-2014) to support the development of pilot and demonstration-scale biorefineries.

GE Drivetrain: 900 wind turbine gearboxes to A-Power

GE Drivetrain Technologies and A-Power Energy Generation Systems have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the delivery of 900 wind turbine gearboxes.

Vattenfall prepares for Irish ocean energy farms

Vattenfall has acquired 51% of Irish site development company for ocean energy, Pandion Ltd, for €500,000.

Spire receives 100 MW solar contract

Spire Corporation has received a contract to provide 100 MW module manufacturing equipment for Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente's new facility.

Elsevier site for energy researchers

Elsevier is launching a ‘one-stop’ site for energy researchers covering all aspects of energy including renewables.

Xcel Energy plans 1.3 GW RE

Xcel Energy will seek to acquire approximately 2.2 GW electricity, of which 1.3 GW are from renewables, for its Colorado customers between now and 2015.

Scottish Water plans anaerobic digestion plant

Scottish Water Waste Services has signed a contract for an anaerobic digestion plant at its Deerdykes facility outside Cumbernauld, Scotland.

Suntech reaches 1 GW production capacity

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd has reached 1GW photovoltaic (PV) cell and module production capacity and opened new headquarters in Wuxi, China, incorporating a 1 MW grid-connected building integrated solar facade.

Tata Power explores geothermal and solar

Tata Power will explore the possibility of setting up a 5 MW geothermal power plant and a 5 MW solar power plant in Gujarat, India.

Yingli Green Energy buys Cyber Power

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Ltd has completed the acquisition of solar polysilicon company Cyber Power Group Ltd.

SSE: consent for Dutch offshore windfarm

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), through its renewables development division Airtricity, has obtained consent for the construction of West Rijn offshore windfarm in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.

SEPA releases solar utility report

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has released a new report, Utility Procurement Study: Solar Electricity in the Utility Market, the first in a series of research reports to be released in 2009.

WFES09 reports 132 visiting solar companies

The World Future Energy Summit (WFES09) will see 132 solar-related companies exhibiting on January 19-21, 2009.

Statkraft and E.ON complete renewables asset swap

Statkraft AS and E.ON AG have completed an asset swap that could see Statkraft becoming Europe's largest generator of renewable energy.

Natural Power acquires Chilean LatWind

Natural Power, an international renewable energy consultancy, has acquired the Chilean firm LatWind Eolica Latinoamericana providing Natural Power with a base in Latin America to expand into the burgeoning renewables market there.

Wind Energy Ltd secures North Rhins leases

UK law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has assisted Wind Energy (North Rhins) Limited in securing four leases, complete the Section 75 Agreement, negotiate the construction contract, and to enable financing for the 22 MW North Rhins wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway near Portpatrick, UK.

ersol and Renusol co-delevop thin-film mounting system

ersol Thin Film GmbH, a subsidiary of ersol Solar Energy AG, and Renusol GmbH, a company of CENTROSOLAR Group AG, have concluded a cooperative agreement to co-develop a special system to mount ersol's Nova®-T series of thin-film modules.

JV for 50 MW windfarm in Pakistan

Iran’s Sunir and Pakistan’s Planet Energy Pvt Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly develop a 50 MW windfarm in Pakistan.

NEF: Clean energy shares on the up after 61% battering in 2008?

Clean energy shares have been benefiting from an 'Obama Bounce', surging from their lows in November last year, according to leading analysis company New Energy Finance.

Low-temp fuel cell from Aberdeen Uni

Academics from the University of Aberdeen are investigating the possibility of a new type of low temperature fuel cell.

Solar streetlights

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy, has just completed the installation of solar-powered outdoor lighting.

Solar boat

The construction of what could be the biggest solar boat in the world has begun in Germany.

Air New Zealand tests jatropha biofuel

The first commercial aviation test flight powered by the second-generation biofuel jatropha has been successfully completed in Auckland, New Zealand.

UK's RE industry of growing importance

Recruitment company Resourcing Solutions predicts the renewable energy industry will have a growing importance in the UK job market.

New report disputes IEA's windpower "stagnation" prediction

A new study by independent research authority Energy Watch Group has tracked the exponential growth in wind power capacity since the early 1990s, and suggests that - contrary to IEA forecasts in its World Energy Outlook 2008 - there will be no downturn in new capacity after 2015.

Obama's green dollars

In a speech on 8 January, President-elect Barack Obama made it clear renewables would play an important part in saving the US economy.

VC investment in RE reaches US$2.5bn in Q4

Fourth quarter data from Greentech Media show that venture capital (VC) investment in green technologies exceeded US$2.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, down 1.4% from Q3.

Robot inspects composite wind turbines Robot inspects composite wind turbines

A robot has been developed to inspect composite wind turbine blades in minute detail on location.

AMSC to supply Chinese power grid

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) will provide static compensators for a substation connected to seven wind farms in China.

Wind turbine hit by "UFO"?

A wind-turbine at the Ecotricity Fen Farm wind park in Lincolnshire, UK, has been destroyed, with one blade being knocked off and the other disfigured.

CTDC to build 30 MW solar power station

China Technology Development Group Corporation (CTDC) and Qinghai New Energy Group (QNE) have signed an agreement with local government to build a 30 MW on-grid solar power station in the Qaidam Basin of north-western China.

Auria Solar uses Oerlikon's thin-film technology

Oerlikon Solar has announced that Auria Solar (Taiwan) is now the first customer in Asia to begin production of thin-film silicon solar modules using Oerlikon’s micromorph® technology.

SCHOTT Solar reports "record" 2007/2008 financial results

SCHOTT Solar AG has reported “record results” for the financial year 2007/2008 ending 30 September 2008.

Western GeoPower's geothermal wells satisfy financing requirements

Western GeoPower Corp has announced that the four wells drilled to date at the Western GeoPower Unit 1 project at The Geysers Geothermal Field in California are considered to have sufficient power capacity behind pipe to satisfy the minimum requirements for project financing.

Japan accepts applications for residential solar

According to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) will start accepting applications for the residential solar generation installation subsidies from mid-January as part of the implementation of the Japanese residential solar generation installation subsidy programme, which was incorporated in the supplementary budget for this fiscal year.

SgurrEnergy to advise on Chinese offshore wind

Renewable energy consultancy SgurrEnergy has been appointed by the EU-China Energy and Environment Programme to advise on the potential for China to exploit its offshore wind resource.

Alcoholic fuel cells?

Teams of researchers and scientists in New Mexico are exploring the possibility of using biofuels such as ethanol for fuel cells.

Aquamarine invests in Ocean Flow Energy

Aquamarine Power has made a “significant investment” in Ocean Flow Energy, to secure a new technology to produce energy from deep water tidal resource.

40 MW solar PV station connected to grid

The German juwi group has completed grid connection of its 40 MW Waldpolenz energy park in Brandis, near Leipzig in eastern Germany.

US solar PV activity rising

The US solar photovoltaic industry saw a 50% increase in shipments in 2007, according to a report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), part of the Department of Energy (DoE).

UK Round 3 offshore wind could cost £10.4 billion

A study into the potential for offshore grid connections for the planned 25 GW of Round 3 offshore windfarms by 2020, estimates the cost to £10.4 billion.

RWE Innogy plans 960 MW windfarm

RWE Innogy plans what could become the largest offshore windfarm off the German coast with an anticipated 960 MW capacity.

Vestas delivers 200 MW to China

At the end of 2008 Vestas recorded orders for wind turbines totalling 200 MW for the Chinese market.