Policy, investment and markets News for February 2009

Policy, investment and markets News Archive

Australian renewables legislation falls short

The draft Australian renewable energy target legislation falls short on election promises, says the Australian Clean Energy Council (CEC).

The Crown Estate funds marine energy R&D

The UK Crown Estate plans to match fund option fees paid by developers in order to de-risk and accelerate the development of tidal and wave energy projects in the Pentland Firth Strategic Area.

Canberra amends FiT

Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) Minister for Energy, Simon Corbell, has released details of Stage 1 of the ACT’s electricity feed-in-tariff (FiT) scheme for households and commercial buildings.

Portugal with FiT for micro energy

Portugal is introducing a special feed-in-tariff (FiT) for small wind turbines and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with a maximum installed power of 5.75 kW.

Green New Deal offers a route out of the recession

A national Green New Deal that invests in jobs, carbon-free electricity and innovative green technology is the way to beat the recession, says Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the UK Environment Agency.

Bridging the wind investment gap to 2010

After a record year for new installations in 2008, the global wind industry faces greater near-term uncertainty as the deteriorating economic conditions in the USA threaten to dampen growth prospects and wind turbine supply chain investments globally, writes Emerging Energy Research (EER) Research Director Joshua Magee.

New Jersey introduces renewables incentives

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has launched a Renewable Energy Incentive Program for 2009.

US stimulus bill passed

The US$789 billion economic stimulus bill, which includes provision for renewable energy, has been passed by the US Congress and endorsed by President Barack Obama.

More scope for solar energy in South Africa

The Danish Government will be providing R60 million to support renewable energy projects at local government level in South Africa.

Up to US$25m for biomass research

The US Departments of Energy (DoE) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have announced up to US$25 million in funding for research and development of technologies and processes to produce biofuels, bioenergy, and high-value bio-based products.

Transmission investment needed to unlock US wind

The electric transmission investments proposed in the Obama administration’s stimulus plan could have a major impact on wind power development in the US, according to Emerging Energy Research (EER).

Utility solar tax manual from SEPA

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has released its Utility Solar Tax Manual, to clarify the solar tax credit changes for the utility and solar industries.

Geothermal energy in East Africa

Geothermal energy generation in Africa could take a leap forward in 2009 after exploratory studies in Kenya “exceeded all expectations”, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).