Policy, investment and markets News for January 2009

Policy, investment and markets 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.

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”).

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.

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.

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.

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.

WFES09 reports 132 visiting solar companies

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

AMSC to supply Chinese power grid

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