News for August 2009

News Archive

Terra Firma confirms US$350 million acquisition of Everpower

Private equity firm Terra Firma has announced its planned acquisition of US wind energy developer Everpower Wind Holdings.

Analyst ranks top 10, 2008 suppliers of solar PV manufacturing equipment

VLSI Research Inc has ranked the top 10 suppliers of solar photovotalic (PV) manufacturing equipment worldwide for 2008.

Langlee Wave Power provides 24 MW wave power system to Turkey

Norwegian wave power system provider Langlee Wave Power has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Turkish energy company Ünmaksan to build a 24 MW wave power facility worth approximately NOK1 billion following pilot facility testing.

Nevada Geothermal Power completes Blue Mountain geothermal power plant

Nevada Geothermal Power has completed construction of the 49.5 MW Blue Mountain 'Faulkner 1' geothermal power plant in Nevada, USA.

DoE to invest nearly US$300m in clean vehicles initiatives

The US Department of Energy (DoE) is investing nearly US$300 million in its Clean Cities Grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support clean fuels, vehicles and infrastructure development.

First Solar to build 55 MW thin-film solar project for LADWP

First Solar has entered a contract with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to build a 55 MW thin-film solar power project in Imperial County, California, USA.

Flexible CdTe thin-film solar cells reach efficiency of 12.4%

An efficiency of 12.4% has been reached with flexible cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar cells by EMPA, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research in Dubendorf, Switzerland.

2010 CRC scheme high on agenda at the UK's Energy Event 2009

What effect will the UK’s carbon reduction commitment (CRC) have on UK plc, and can the UK’s 2020 emissions targets be met in light of the economy’s uncertain pace of recovery? These questions are set to be addressed at the UK’s “Energy Event 2009”, taking place on 9-10 September 2009 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.

Cyprus windfarm closes financing deals

A Cyprus windfarm has reached a €170 million financial close and construction is already underway.

Europe falls behind North America on clean energy investment

Europe has fallen drastically behind North America on investment levels into the clean energy sector since 2003, the UK Carbon Trust says in its report Investment Trends in European and North American Clean Energy 2003 to 2008 – The Rise and Fall of Clean Energy Investment, carried out by analyst New Energy Finance.

UK invests more in coal than in marine renewables

The UK government has spent 20 times more on subsidising the coal industry than on investment in marine renewable energy, says UK main opposition party, the Conservatives.

First Solar builds 550 MW of solar PV for SCE

First Solar will build two thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totalling 550 MW with an annual output of 1.2 TWh for Southern California Edison (SCE) in Southern California.

Intertape Polymer Group develops products for renewable energy market

Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) has announced plans to develop further products designed for the wind, solar, geothermal and biofuel generation markets.

Vestas’ profit down 34% in Q2

Danish wind turbine producer Vestas has reported a 34% fall in profit after tax to €43 million in the second quarter (Q2) of 2009.

Siemens opens wind training centre in Germany

Siemens has opened a wind power training centre in Bremen, Germany, for customer personnel and wind turbine service technicians.

Quantum effects slash hydrogen storage potential Quantum effects slash hydrogen storage potential

Today's technology is capable of powering a car using hydrogen reducing harmful emissions to zero.

Suntech achieves 15.6% conversion efficiency for a multi-crystalline solar PV module

Suntech Power Holdings, a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, has achieved a conversion efficiency of 15.6% on a commercial grade multi-crystalline silicon solar PV module.

Nordex USA completes its largest US windfarm to date

Nordex USA has completed its largest American wind project to date, the 25 wind turbines Highland windfarm, for EverPower Wind Holdings, connecting 62.5 MW of wind power to the grid in Pennsylvania.

Australia passes 20% renewables by 2020 bill

Australia has passed a bill targeting 20% of stationary energy to come from renewables by 2020.

DoE awards over US$119m for energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has allocated over US$119 million in funding from the American Recovery and Investment Act to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in seven states and territories in the USA.

Vestas closes wind turbine blade factory on Isle of Wight, UK

Vestas, the leading wind energy technology business, has confirmed that it will cease wind turbine blade production activities at the company's UK sites on the Isle of Wight and in Southampton, resulting in 425 employees being dismissed.

Suzlon enters Bulgarian wind market

Indian wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon Energy Ltd has signed an agreement with Technomash Bulgarian Industrial Group to deliver six Suzlon S88 2.1 MW wind turbines to a windfarm in the Varna region in Bulgaria.

Q-Cells cuts 500 solar jobs to save costs

German solar cell manufacturer Q-Cells says it will cut 500 jobs at its Thalheim solar cell production lines to cut costs following the negative results for the first half of 2009 announced earlier this summer.

ersol gets EU subsidies for solar cell production expansion

ersol Solar Energy AG has received approval of EU Commission subsidies towards investments ersol’s planned expansion of its solar cell production at Arnstadt, Germany.

Industry heavyweight HHI orders wind turbine electrical systems from AMSC

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC), a global energy technologies company, has received an initial order for 17 sets of full wind turbine electrical systems from Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Paper identifies R&D requirements for expansion of renewable energy

The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have collaborated to identify research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) requirements that would enable broad expansion of renewable energy.

Orecon has signed a construction agreement for three wave energy devices

Following a recent agreement with Portuguese developer Eneolica to develop a 4.5 MW wave energy site, Orecon has signed a letter of intent with the local shipyard Estaleiros Navais Do Mondego.

Biomass helps Scottish whisky production go green

Helius Energy and The Combination of Rothes Distillers (CoRD) have created a Joint Venture called Helius CoRDe, which will build and operate a biomass fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) plant for whisky production on Speyside.

3TIER expands leadership team

3TIER has expanded its leadership team with the addition of two technology veterans: Tom Hull as chief operating officer and Ed Mahlum as chief development officer.

Sunstroom to build 50 MW solar thermal plant in Spain

Sunstroom Energy Investments, a designer, builder and operator of renewable energy plants, announces that it is planning to build a 50 MW solar thermal electricity plant in Saucedilla, Cáceres, in the Extremadura province of Spain.

NST places 120 MW order with Oerlikon Solar for solar PV factory in Russia

Nano Solar Technology (NST), a newly formed Russian high-tech firm, has ordered a 120 MW Micromorph® line for production of thin-film solar modules from Oerlikon Solar. With the envisaged production capacity of one million solar modules annually, this could the largest production equipment order to-date in 2009 for the thin-film photovoltaic (PV) market.

First stage deployment of Oyster wave energy converter complete First stage deployment of Oyster wave energy converter complete

Oyster, a near shore wave energy converter being developed by Aquamarine Power, has completed the first phase of its deployment at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) at Billia Croo in Orkney, Scotland.

Australia signs new trade agreement with Korea

Australia’s Clean Energy Council (CEC) has signed a clean technology agreement with the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) – a first between the two countries.

DONG Energy targets more wind farms in Norway

DONG Energy is to build and run the Norwegian onshore wind farm Nygårdsfjell 2 in the Narvik municipality in Northern Norway.

Vestas receives order for 111 MW in Australia

Vestas has received an order for 37 units of its V90-3.0 MW wind turbine, for a wind farm project in South Australia.

Petratherm signs deal on Madrid geothermal project

Adelaide-based geothermal company, Petratherm, is working with the Spanish Federal government and the Madrid Regional government to advance an 8MW Madrid Geothermal District Heating (GDH) project.

ersol launches new micromorph thin film module

With the start of series production, ersol Thin Film GmbH, a subsidiary of ersol Solar Energy AG, is launching its first micromorph thin-film module, under the name Vega-T.

Sir Richard Branson going green?

Richard Branson says he is going green, and invests in research for renewables such as biofuels.

India plans massive increase in solar energy

India is targeting 20GW of solar power as part of its climate and energy strategy.

Concentrix Solar achieves 25% system efficiency Concentrix Solar achieves 25% system efficiency

Concentrix Solar has increased the system efficiency (AC) of its concentrator systems to 25%. This record was achieved using its new, CX-75 generation of modules.

New tidal flume available in UK for offshore testing

A combined wave and tidal flume at the UK's University of Manchester can now be hired by engineering companies and consultancies looking to conduct physical tests of nearshore structures or renewable energy devices.

German company pushes organic PV boundaries

H.C. Starck Clevios GmbH reports that its Clevios materials have produced a new technology break conductivity record for organic solar cells.

UK Crown Estate offers area extensions to Round 1 & 2 offshore windfarms

The UK Crown Estate plans to offer Round 1 and 2 offshore windfarm operators with offshore wind projects in operation, under construction or awaiting construction, the opportunity to apply for area extensions.

More hydropower to England and Wales

The UK Environment Agency has stepped up its support for the development and growth of hydropower in England and Wales with new guidance to make hydropower schemes quicker and easier to implement.

UK Port of Tyne could see a 295 MW biomass power station by 2014

UK biomass developer MGT Power plans to develop a second biomass power generation project with an output of 295 MW at the Port of Tyne 10 km from Newcastle City Centre.

REC to build solar plant in Singapore

Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) ASA of Norway is building a solar panel manufacturing complex in Singapore’s Jurong, which will reportedly be one of the largest in the world.

July's top 5 stories

What were the top 5 stories at www.renewableenergyfocus.com during July?

UK regulator wants investment in smart grids

Ofgem has announced £6.5 billion worth of investments to boost customer service and cut carbon from regional electricity networks.

eSolar power tower plant unveiled eSolar power tower plant unveiled

The full-scale solar thermal power tower plant will produce electricity for utility Southern California Edison (SCE), and could power more than 4,000 homes in California's Antelope Valley.

F&S: South Africa set for "flood" of renewables projects

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan talks up the prospects for renewable energy in South Africa

Garrad Hassan set to merge with Germanischer Lloyd Garrad Hassan set to merge with Germanischer Lloyd

The companies will provide consulting, engineering, turbine design, certification, measurement, project management, strategic advice, inspection services and software products for renewable energies.

AMSC increases wind turbine component shipments to meet Chinese demand

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has amended its contract with Beijing-based Sinovel Wind Corporation, China’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, to enable Sinovel to meet increased demand in China for its 1.5 MW wind turbines.

Pump technology can reduce energy consumption of HVAC systems Pump technology can reduce energy consumption of HVAC systems

WILO USA’s new energy efficient pump technology can reduce energy consumption of HVAC systems, using up to 80% less electricity than single-speed circulators.

Centrosolar pulls out of solar cell JV

Negotiations on the continuation of Itarion Solar Lda, the solar photovolatic (PV) cells manufacturing joint venture (JV) launched by Centrosolar Group and Qimonda have halted – Itarion Solar has filed for insolvency.

Banks team up for £1bn of loans for wind power

Three UK-based banks are working with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on a programme to lend up to £1 billion to onshore windfarms over the next 3 years, the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced.

Toyota hybrid fuel cell vehicle achieves 430 mile range

Toyota’s US operation reports that its Highlander Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle – Advanced (FCHV-adv) sport utility vehicle achieved an estimated range of 431 miles (693 km) on a single tank of compressed hydrogen, in a recent collaborative range and fuel economy field evaluation. This represents an average fuel economy of 68.3 miles/kg (approximate mpg equivalent), and was achieved during a recent day-long trip down the southern California coast.

UK Wave Hub project is closer to installation and commissioning

The UK wave energy project, Wave Hub, has placed a £1 million contract for electrical equipment installation and commissioning to link the wave energy project to the National Grid.

Miliband responds to Vestas critics

UK energy and climate change secretary says he's done all he can for Vestas workers.

Isle of Wight council to block wind turbines

Despite denouncing the closure of Vestas' Isle of Wight blade facility, it has emerged that the conservative-led council has a history of blocking wind farm projects on the island.