Policy, investment and markets News for July 2010

Policy, investment and markets News Archive

Conergy gets loan extension

Solar manufacturer Conergy AG has reached an agreement with its financing banks to extend its loans to the end of 2011.

Sharp expands UK solar cell production to 500 MW

Sharp Corporation is doubling its annual production capacity for crystalline solar cell modules to 500 MW at Sharp Manufacturing Company of U.K. (SUKM).

Gamesa H1 profit tumbles 65% - ends Bard negotiations

Spanish wind turbine producer Gamesa saw a 65% tumble in net profit in the first half (H1) of 2010 to €22 million.

SolarWorld net profit up 6% in Q2 2010

SolarWorld AG has reported a 6% increase in profit after tax to €29.6 million for the second quarter (Q2) of 2010.

Industry reaction to DECC announcements

The renewable energy industry in the UK is positive overall, to the announcements from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

UK Government sets out low-carbon plan for 2050

The UK Government has announced its plans for the future of the UK’s low-carbon energy future, with action points towards 2050.

The 32 DECC action points for energy in the UK

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change has published a list of 32 action points for saving energy through the Green Deal, ensure energy security and a low-carbon energy future, manage the UK’s energy legacy and drive ambitious action on climate change domestically and internationally.

Solar to eclipse geothermal in output

Solar power will generate 126 TWh of renewable power around the world by 2020, more than the 108 TWh to be generated by geothermal facilities, according to the latest International Energy Outlook 2010 from the US Department of Energy.

Global energy industry remains buoyant Global energy industry remains buoyant

The global energy industry remains focused with encouraging levels of new projects emerging according to EIC Monitor, a quarterly report from the EIC, the trade association for UK companies that supply capital goods and services to the energy industries worldwide.

REpower Q1 result down 29%

Wind turbine manufacturer REpower says its result for the first quarter (Q1) of fiscal 2010/2011 fell 29% to €204 million.

Solar PV module market to decline in 2011 Solar PV module market to decline in 2011

The solar photovoltaic (PV) module market is set to decline from 2011, according to IMS Research.

£2.5m South West Cleantech Co-investment Fund set up

The UK South West RDA (regional development agency) has invested £2.5 million into the South West Cleantech Co-investment Fund.

SSE and Mitsubishi cooperate on low-carbon technology

Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Mitsubishi will cooperate on low-carbon energy developments.

Applied Materials cuts SunFab and 400-500 jobs

Applied Materials is discontinuing sales of its SunFab lines for thin-film solar panel manufacturing to new customers in a restructuring of its Energy and Environmental Solutions segment.

UK Parliamentary solar PV forum

The UK has launched a Parliamentary forum for solar photovoltaic (PV) technology.

REC goes from loss to profit in Q2 2010

REC Group has reported a net profit of NOK757 million in the second quarter (Q2) of 2010, compared to a loss of NOK684m in the same period in 2009.

UK Carbon Trust to stimulate low-carbon technology

The UK Carbon Trust has launched a service to stimulate investment in early-stage cleantech and low-carbon companies.

Harvey Norman to sell Ceramic Fuel Cells’ BlueGen solid oxide generators

Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd has appointed one of Australia’s leading retailers, Harvey Norman, to distribute its BlueGen™ solid oxide fuel cell gas-to-electricity generators, through the Harvey Norman Commercial Division.

China could invest $20b in renewable energy overseas

Up to $500 million could be invested in Canadian renewable energy following a recent meeting in China, says Canadian Bioenergy Association (CanBio) President and Executive Director, Douglas Bradley.

UK cuts renewable energy spending

The UK is cutting £34 million of low carbon and renewable energy spending, says the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Renewable energy surpasses fossil fuels second year in a row

Renewable energy topped fossil fuels and nuclear for the second year in a row in the USA and Europe in 2009, according to the Global Wind Energy Association (GWEC).

South Korea sets up 1.5tr won green fund

South Korea is setting up a 1.5 trillion won (~US$1.25 billion) green fund.

Solar PV module shipments continue to increase Solar PV module shipments continue to increase

Solar photovoltaic (PV) module shipments increased for the fifth consecutive quarter in Q2’10 to 3.7 GW, generating US$7.1 billion in revenues according to IMS Research’s latest quarterly report on the solar cell & module market.

RenewableUK: Renewable energy microgeneration strategy step in right direction

RenewableUK has welcomed the UK Government’s announced consultation process for a new Microgeneration Strategy, aimed at helping communities become more energy self-sufficient and use more renewable energy.

Updated: Italy revises renewable energy feed-in tariff

The revisions to the Italian feed-in tariff are welcome, according to Italian clean energy products company Acta.

UK microgeneration gets Government support

The UK Government will help communities become heat and power self-sufficient through the use of renewable microgeneration, amongst other things, says Climate Change Minister Greg Barker.

Centrosolar raises earnings forecast

Centrosolar Group AG says it is almost doubling its earnings forecast for 2010 from €14-16 million to €24-28m.

Global electricity demand grows

Global electricity demand growth is set to resume in 2010 following the temporary fall in demand in 2009.

Renewable energy EIS fund launched for UK

Downing Corporate Finance Ltd and Low Carbon Investors Ltd have launched the Downing Low Carbon EIS [enterprise investment scheme) Fund for renewable energy installations qualifying for UK feed-in tariffs.

2050: 97% of EU electricity from renewable energy

Renewable energy could supply 97% of the European Union’s electricity supply by 2050, according to the study ‘Energy [R]evolution – Towards a Fully Renewable Energy Supply in the EU 27’ by the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and Greenpeace.

UK overturns ban on councils selling green power to the grid

A ban on councils in the UK selling green electricity into the national grid is to be overturned, UK Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne announces.

Energy efficiency beats renewable energies: report

Energy efficiency could have twice the impact of renewable energy, nuclear and clean coal combined, according to the Energy Efficiency Council of Australia.

London Array wind farm gets cash boost

Denmark's Dong energy will receive a £250m loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to build the 1GW London Array offshore wind farm.

Asia and Pacific countries should transition to solar

Many countries are well-suited to solar power, and incentives and low-cost financing mechanisms should be offered to make the energy transition possible, says the head of the region’s largest funding agency.

Q1 2010: 714 MW of PV installed in Germany

The Federal Network Agency announcement shows a ten-fold increase in comparison to the previous year, reports EuPD Research.

Latest blog from analysts GlobalData

The regular blog provides insight and information on the biggest deals in alternative energy.

Suntech Power opens representative office in French region of Montbonnot (Isere)

The new office will features a solar product training centre for distributors and installers.

Share of renewables in new electricity generation capacity continues to rise

The "Renewable Energy Snapshots" report, published today by the EU Joint Research Centre's Institute for Energy (IE), shows that renewable energy sources accounted for 62% (17GW) of the new electricity generation capacity installed in the EU27 in 2009.

German Feed-in Tariff (FiT) to reduce in two phases?

Following weeks of discussion between the German Parliament and the Federal States on the funding of Solar Photovoltaic (PV), the mediation committee seems to be heading towards an agreement.

Solarbuzz raises global Photovoltaic 2010 market forecast to 15.2 GW

Global photovoltaic demand continues to soar in 2010 and is currently projected to double the rate of installations compared to last year, according to the international solar energy market research and consulting company

Hyundai Heavy Industries to double solar power production capacity

Korea’s conglomerate said it plans to almost double its annual module and cell production capacity from the current levels of 320MW and 370MW to 600MW, respectively, by early 2011.

IRENA celebrates first year anniversary

As of July, 8, 2010, the International Renewable Energy Association (IRENA) will be a fully fledged international organisation.

Renewables must generate 50% of global electricity: IEA

Renewable energies must generate almost half of the world’s power by 2050, up from the current level of 18%, says the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Ownergy: Simple Guide to Renewable Energy Tariffs

UK service provider of renewable energy systems, Ownergy, has launched an online ‘Simple Guide to Renewable Energy Tariffs.’