News for June 2009

News Archive

IRENA HQ heads to Abu Dhabi

At the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) second session of the Preparatory Commission in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Signatories designated Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, as the interim headquarters.

French candidate Hélène Pelosse appointed as the first Interim Director-General of IRENA.

Four candidates with strong backgrounds in the field of renewable energy were nominated by the Member States for the position.

Tanaka: renewables have a "key role to play"

Speaking at the Renewable Energy Finance Forum in New York City, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka, said that renewable energy sources have a "key role to play with respect to both energy security and climate change".

UK government proposes US$100bn manifesto ahead of COP15 global climate talks

The UK has set out its official position ahead of the crucial COP15 summit in Copenhagen later this year.

Riverstone acquires Babcock & Brown’s North American Energy Group

Riverstone Holdings LLC and the management team of Babcock & Brown’s North American Energy Group today jointly announced the purchase of the wind development portfolio from Babcock & Brown LP to form Pattern Energy Group LP.

Obama Administration announces US$3.9 billion for smart grid technologies and transmission

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) is soliciting applications for US$3.9 billion in grants to support efforts to modernise the electric grid.

Buildings seeking LEED to provide performance data

As part of LEED v3, the latest version of the US Green Building Council’s program for green building design, construction, operations and maintenance, buildings seeking LEED certification will begin submitting operational performance data on a recurring basis as a precondition to certification.

Offshore wind has potential to "meet more than a quarter" of the UK's electricity needs

An extra 25GW of offshore wind energy could be accommodated around the UK’s shores, in addition to the 8GW already built or planned, UK Energy Minister Lord Hunt says.

DONG Energy buys A2SEA

DONG Energy has purchased A2SEA for the price of approximately DKK 700 million from Dansk Kapitalanlæg, Lønmodtagernes Dyrtidsfond and Clipper Projects, and a series of minor shareholders.

New report: "5 million US jobs possible in clean tech by 2020"

In a presentation before US policymakers and analysts, leading clean energy CEOs, venture capitalists and academics unveiled the “Gigaton Throwdown,” an assessment of the US’ clean energy potential.

EPIA report: PV set to "join mainstream by 2020"

Photovoltaic (PV) solar electricity is poised to become a significant and competitive supplier to the European electricity market, concludes a study conducted by the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) with the strategic management consultancy A.T. Kearney.

Compact solution for wind industry Compact solution for wind industry

UK manufacturer Boltight Ltd has developed an electric pump designed specifically for bolt tensioner applications in the wind turbine industry.

California regulators green light SCE's ambitous solar plans

A plan proposed by Southern California Edison (SCE) for the largest US installation of advanced solar panels on otherwise unused large commercial rooftops across Southern California was approved today by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Negative dead layer provides route to thin film devices

The development of smaller ferroelectric capacitors with additional capacity is at least partly held up by the presence of a ‘dead layer’ at the surface.

China expects 20% of renewable energy by 2020

China could generate 20% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020, according to Zhang Xiaoqiang, Vice Chairman of China’s national development and reform commission.

SCE earmarks more green power development

Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed agreements with wind and solar suppliers for up to 960 MW of clean, renewable power.

Oerlikon simplifies manufacturing of crystalline solar cells

German Oerlikon Systems demonstrated SOLARIS, last month, a new production solution that, according to the company, simplifies the manufacturing of crystalline solar cells.

National Semiconductor and Suntech collaborate on SolarMagic solar PV systems

Californian National Semiconductor and the crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, Suntech Power Holdings, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to evaluate National Semiconductor’s SolarMagic™ technology for enhancing solar efficiencies.

Riversimple fuel cell car to be ‘open source’

The manufacturer of the Riversimple hydrogen car, unveiled recently in London, is to make its designs available online, so the cars can be built and improved locally. The company aims to run 10 prototypes of the two-seater city car next year, in a UK city which will be confirmed later.

GM, Regione Piemonte explore fuel cell vehicle demonstration program

General Motors and the Italian regional government Regione Piemonte have outlined a framework agreement between GM, Politecnico di Torino and Regione Piemonte, under which they will collaborate on sustainable mobility research and education projects. The agreement may also include the launch of a fuel cell vehicle demonstration program in Italy.

Europe’s wind potential almost 20 times energy demand in 2020 – report

The European Environmental Agency (EEA) says European onshore and offshore wind energy potential is equivalent to almost 20 times energy demand in 2020.

Enerqos constructs solar farms for NextEnergy Capital in Italy

Italian turnkey supplier of solar systems and plants, Enerqos, has started the construction of four 1 MW solar farms representing €1 billion of investment, in Apulia, Italy, for NextEnergy Capital, the European merchant bank specialising in renewable energy.

Grassohol – biofuel from grass

A ‘Grassohol’ research project is underway in Wales to develop commercially and economically viable processes to make ethanol biofuel from perennial ryegrass – the most commonly sown grass in the UK which is normally used for grazing or silage.

Wind Power Works!

In connection with the Global Wind Day on 15 June, the global wind energy industry launched a public awareness campaign called Wind Power Works… Pass it on, which aims to catalyse wide spread support for wind energy and call on policy makers to commit to significant carbon emissions reductions to combat climate change.

Oerlikon listed as "number one worldwide solar turnkey line supplier"

Solar thin-film silicon photovoltaic (PV) production equipment provider, Oerlikon Solar, it has been listed as the number one solar turnkey line supplier globally by market research and economic analysis company VLSI.

Lockheed Martin and Starwood Energy: 290 MW CSP plant in Arizona

Lockheed Martin will take part in the designing and building of a 290 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in Arizona, USA, following the signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) between Starwood Energy Group Global and Arizona Public Service Co.

Proton and Deutsche Mechatronics to produce 5000 fuel cell systems annually

Proton Power Systems’s subsidiary, Proton Motor GmbH, has signed an exclusive, five-year framework collaboration agreement with Deutsche Mechatronics GmbH to facilitate volume production of Proton’s fuel cell systems in Germany.

Floating offshore wind turbine installed by Siemens and StatoilHydro Floating offshore wind turbine installed by Siemens and StatoilHydro

What could be the world’s first large-scale floating offshore wind turbine has been installed by Siemens and StatoilHydro off the coast of Norway.

Phoenix Solar builds 5.8 MWp PV power plant in Germany

Phoenix Solar is building a 5.8 MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant on behalf of utility Enovos Group in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.

CENTROSOLAR has found new partner for Itarion solar cell company

CENTROSOLAR has found a new partner for the continuation of the Itarion solar cell company and the planned solar cell plant located near Porto, Portugal.

Pentland Firth wave and tidal energy leasing round gets 42 applications Pentland Firth wave and tidal energy leasing round gets 42 applications

The UK Crown Estate has received a total of 42 applications from 20 bidders for wave and tidal energy leases for the Pentland Firth Strategic Area – the world’s first large scale commercial wave and tidal energy leasing round.

E.ON sells 300 MW of hydropower capacity to Austrian utility

E.ON will sell 13 hydropower plants with an aggregate capacity of 312 MW and an annual output of 1800 GWh on the Inn River in southeast Germany, to Austrian utility Verbund.

AMSC’s licenses wind turbine design to India

American Superconductor Corporation’s (AMSC) wholly-owned AMSC Windtec subsidiary, has licensed its 2 MW doubly-fed induction wind turbine design to Inox Wind Limited, part of India’s Inox Group of Companies.

DoE: US$50m for geothermal heat pumps

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced nearly US$50 million from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to advance commercial deployment of the renewable heating and cooling systems, geothermal heat pumps.

US wind will see a surge in 2010 US wind will see a surge in 2010

The US wind energy market could bounce back in 2010 after a slower 2009, predicts analyst Emerging Energy Research (EER).

E.ON inaugurates its first solar farm near Marseille

E.ON has inaugurated its first solar farm near the southern French town of Le Lauzet, some 150 km north of Marseille with a capacity of 5 MW and distributed across a 20 hectares area.

Sharp encourages South Africa to include solar PV in renewable energy law

Sharp is urging South Africa to include solar photovoltaics (PV) into its recent renewable energy feed-in tariff.

Good times for sustainable water and wastewater treatment technology? Good times for sustainable water and wastewater treatment technology?

Despite the recession, Frost & Sullivan believe that there are huge opportunities for sustainable water and wastewater treatment. Is water the new oil? Or is investment in sustainable water and wastewater treatment money down the drain?

Daimler launches hybrid fuel cell bus

Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz division has launched its first fuel cell hybrid bus. The FuelCELL Hybrid Bus was unveiled at the UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition, which took place recently in Vienna, Austria.

CENTROSOLAR closes solar module plant due to Econcern crisis

CENTROSOLAR is closing the solar module plant in Doesburg, the Netherlands, run by its 100% subsidiary Ubbink Solar Modules BV (USM), as a repercussion to the financing problems at renewable energy developer Econcern.

Transmission greatest barrier to US wind energy – industry poll

For the second year in a row, transmission / interconnection constraints were identified as the greatest barrier to wind energy development according to a poll conducted by wind measurement provider NRG Systems.

Economic crisis hits EU and US clean energy, but investment still up

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says US$155 billion was invested in 2008 in clean energy companies and projects worldwide - not including large hydro – an increase over 2007, but growth is slowing with the economic crisis.

Consortium seeks US$425 million for CSP plant in Jordan

Jordan's BADR Investments is leading a consortium to raise up to US$425 million for a new 100 MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant - one of the largest in the world - in Ma'an, southern Jordan.

Blair supports UAE IRENA bid

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s bid to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is a major boost for the developing world in the global quest for a sustainable future, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

Masdar 10 MW solar PV plant connects to Abu Dhabi power grid

Abu Dhabi-based solar integrator Enviromena Power Systems has completed the Masdar 10 MW solar power plant, the largest grid-connected solar system in the Middle East and North Africa.

Iberdrola sells 10% stake in Gamesa

Spanish energy company Iberdrola has sold a 10% stake in wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa for €391.7 million resulting in a capital gain for Iberdrola of €112m.

South Australia aims for 33% renewables by 2020

Premier Mike Rann has announced that his State Budget will outline plans to create an even greater renewable industry in South Australia, and to increase the state’s renewable energy production target to 33% by 2020.

NREL and Dutch Energy Research Centre team up on renewables

The US Department of Energy’s (DoE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) will cooperate on renewable energy research areas such as policy studies, energy analysis, wind energy and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy.

English agricultural society educates farmers on anaerobic digestion

The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) says anaerobic digestion is “one of the key renewable energy options open to UK farmers” and that anaerobic digestion is set for “big growth in rural Britain.”

Energy Frontier Research Center established at NREL

The US Department of Energy’s (DoE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will be the home of the new Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC), which will pursue research on material discovery for energy.

Oerlikon Solar wins Intersolar cell award 2009

Oerlikon Solar, a leading supplier of thin-film silicon photovoltaic (PV) process and production equipment, has been named winner of the 2009 CELL AWARD, presented at the Intersolar 2009 Conference in Munich.

First Solar to supply Pfalzsolar with solar PV modules

First Solar will provide solar photovoltaic (PV) modules under a long-term supply agreement to Pfalzsolar, a German solar project developer owned by Rhineland-Palatinate public utility Pfalzwerke AG.

President Obama: US$467m for geothermal and solar energy

President Obama has pledged over US$467 million from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to expand and accelerate the development, deployment, and use of geothermal and solar energy throughout the USA.

SEPA releases 2008 Top Ten US Utility Solar Integration Rankings SEPA releases 2008 Top Ten US Utility Solar Integration Rankings

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has issued a report demonstrating that the solar industry has responded to SEPA Executive Director Julia Hamm’s challenge to the solar and utility industries to deploy solar power on a massive scale despite new economic barriers at Solar Power last autumn.

Applied Materials receives IEC Certification of “world’s largest solar panels”

Applied Materials’ 5.7m2 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules produced by its SunFab Thin Film Line™, using both single and more advanced tandem junction technologies, have been awarded International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) certification.

Intersolar: SCHOTT Solar launches InDaX 225 module series

SCHOTT Solar has announced a new generation of modules for roof-integrated solar systems at the Intersolar 2009 event in Munich, Germany.

Intersolar: Oerlikon’s Micromorph technology breaks 11% barrier

Oerlikon Solar reports that it has achieved a new record efficiency level for commercial thin-film silicon PV modules.

Trilliant acquires SkyPilot Networks

Trilliant Incorporated, which delivers smart grid solutions that enhance energy efficiency, utility operations, and renewable resource integration, has acquired Santa Clara-based SkyPilot Networks, Inc., a provider of long-range wireless mesh broadband equipment.

S.A.G. Solarstrom AG to build 13 MWp PV plant in Czech Republic

S.A.G. Solarstrom AG of Freiburg, Germany, is set to construct a 13 MWp photovoltaic (PV) plant at a former military site in Stríbro (district of Plzen), Czech Republic.

Yingli partnership to develop high efficiency N-type silicon solar cells

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, a vertically integrated photovoltaic (PV) product manufacturer, the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), and Amtech Systems, Inc. a supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, are to jointly develop next generation high efficiency solar cells.

Intersolar: Intersolar 2009 saw 60,000 visitors

Intersolar 2009, the trade show for solar technology, saw visitors numbers swell to around 60,000 representing 150 countries on 26-29 May in Munich, Germany.

Hydrogen road tour runs up West Coast

The 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour recently covered 1700 miles (2700 km) over nine days as it made its way from southern California to Vancouver, BC. The trip provided a unique opportunity to see what the transportation future holds for clean, efficient hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.