Policy, investment and markets News for November 2010

Policy, investment and markets News Archive

Online tool for clean energy technologies patents

The European Patent Office (EPO) has created a free online search tool providing unrestricted access to all patent documents related to clean energy technologies (CETs) worldwide.

SCHOTT Solar expands in Greece SCHOTT Solar expands in Greece

SCHOTT Solar AG is opening a new sales office in Thessaloniki, Greece, as the company continues its expansion initiative in Southern Europe.

Solar inverter shipments hit 7.3 GW in Q3 2010 Solar inverter shipments hit 7.3 GW in Q3 2010

Solar inverter shipments grew by 50% in the third quarter (Q3) 2010 to reach 7.3 GW, another record quarter for the industry, says IMS Research.

Aquamarine Power raises £11m Aquamarine Power raises £11m

Wave energy developer Aquamarine Power has raised £11 million, taking its Oyster wave device one step closer to commercialisation.

African feed-in tariffs in the spotlight

Since South Africa introduced a feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme last year the question of how to extend similar renewable energy schemes throughout the content is on the table.

Silfab buys 10% of hydropower developer Silfab buys 10% of hydropower developer

Silfab SpA is acquiring 10% of the share capital of Idrofin Srl, an Italian developer of hydropower plants in Eastern Europe with a core business in Romania.

Vestas revises 2010 forecast

In connection with a change in its accounting policies, Vestas has revised its forecast for 2010 to revenues of €6.8 billion.

EU ahead on CO2 schedule – behind on renewable energy

Capgemini says the EU is ahead of its 2020 targets for CO2 emissions, but that it lags behind on the expansion of renewable energy, in its twelfth edition of the European Energy Markets Observatory (EEMO) report.

Scotland publishes Low Carbon Economic Strategy

The new strategy outlines the Scottish Government’s plans to utilise Scotland’s natural resources with the aim of ensuring economic growth, securing an estimated 60,000 new green jobs and cutting emissions.

juwi Group plans 60 MW solar PV in Birmingham, UK

German juwi Group plans constructing solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants totalling over 60 MW over the next two years in Birmingham, UK, as it establishes an office in the city.

Global offshore wind market to spend €38bn

Energy business analysts Douglas-Westwood expects to see offshore wind expenditure of €38 billion over the next five years.

Renewed UK Government business plan clarifies renewable energy scheme

As part of coalition changes, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published a business plan confirming and clarifying commitments for the period up until 2015.

Low-carbon energy can meet needs by 2050 Low-carbon energy can meet needs by 2050

Taken as a whole, energy sources with low or no carbon emissions could easily cover the global energy supply in 2050, according to Risø Energy Report 9.

Suntech’s Q3 2010 net income up 10% - acquires wafer capacity

Suntech reported a net income of US$33.2 million in the third quarter (Q3) of 2010, a 10% increase on the same period last year.

Cost is king in solar power

With a clear edge in both efficiency and profit margin, crystalline silicon solar modules threaten to steal market share from thin-film solar technologies, says analyst Lux Research.

Solar PV needs a stable framework, EPIA

The European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) says all necessary national support instruments for renewable energy including solar photovoltaics (PV) must be preserved.

India and UK collaborate on low-carbon technologies

Business leaders from the UK and India have called for closer trade ties on low-carbon technologies with the aim of boosting economic growth at the same time as cutting carbon emissions.

SolarWorld submits offer for Solarparc AG

SolarWorld AG is submitting a voluntary public takeover offer to the shareholders of Solarparc AG.

Gamesa hit by uncertain markets – wind energy cushions fall

Gamesa has been hit by the financial and a difficult regulatory backdrop in the first 9 months of 2010, with its net profit tumbling 71% to €25 million.

Q-Cells loss narrows further in Q3 2010 – ups FY forecast

Q-Cells’ net loss has narrowed from €227 million in the third quarter (Q3) of 2009, to €20m in Q3 2010, as the restructuring efforts take effect.

REpower’s H1 2010 net profit up 24.6% despite revenue fall

REpower Systems AG recorded a 24.6% increase in its net result to €21.8 million in the first half (H1) of the financial year 2010/2011.

Conergy continues recovery in Q3 2010

Conergy is continuing its recovery in the third quarter (Q3) 2010 with its net loss narrowing 82% to €5.1 million.

DONG Energy: revenues from wind and hydropower up 54%

DONG Energy’s 9 months report for 2010 shows a 54% increase in revenue from wind and hydropower.

SolarWorld’s net profit up 13% in Q3 2010 SolarWorld’s net profit up 13% in Q3 2010

SolarWorld AG has reported a net profit of €18.1 million in the third quarter (Q3) 2010, up 13% on the same period last year.

Solar PV module costs pressure from Asia Solar PV module costs pressure from Asia

Pricing pressure for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules will result in a growing share of production taking place in Asia as suppliers seek to drive down solar PV module manufacturing costs according to ongoing analysis from IMS Research.

EU: Up to €5bn for renewable energy and CCS EU: Up to €5bn for renewable energy and CCS

The European Commission has announced its first call under the New Entrants Reserve (NER300) for subsiding installations of renewable energy technology and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

LDK Solar’s net income doubles in Q3 2010

LDK Solar has reported a net income of US$93.4 million in the third quarter (Q3) of 2010, up 107% on the same period last year.

G20 countries urged to spur green jobs – by Vestas…

A working group for creating green jobs, lead by Vestas’ President and CEO Ditlev Engel, is calling on G20 heads of states to facilitate green job creation.

EU biofuels policy could create “major environmental pressure”

EU biofuels policy does not adequately protect the environment against negative consequences, according to a study reviewing the indirect land use change (ILUC) impact of the EU’s planned increase in biofuels use up to 2020.

PNE Wind’s Q3 2010 loss halves

PNE Wind AG’s third quarter (Q3) 2010 consolidated loss halved to €1.7 million as revenues soared nearly 280% to €15m.

Difficult times for solar inverters – Supply exceeds demand Difficult times for solar inverters – Supply exceeds demand

Solar inverter capacity will be ramped past 30 GW this year and production could thereby exceed demand by more than 2 GW in the fourth quarter, warns IMS Research.

RenewableUK 2010: Statkraft launches renewable power purchase business in the UK

Statkraft has entered into long-term power purchase agreements with two wind farms in Scotland and Wales as Statkraft launches its Renewable Power Purchase business in the UK.

Report calls for fairer way to calculate differential cost of PV

Phoenix Solar has released a new report - "The True Value of Photovoltaics in Germany", which investigates the differential cost of photovoltaic electricity, as well as its costs and benefits.

Gulf countries should invest in renewables, says expert

Jeroen van der Veer, former CEO of Royal Dutch Shell, said that investment in renewables or alternate sources of energy is essential from a long-term energy security perspective.

RenewableUK: £70m to build Scotland’s offshore green economy

An investment fund to help Scotland develop its global offshore wind industry has been announced by First Minister Alex Salmond.

CSP - is it time? CSP - is it time?

In our new blogs, Paula Mints reports back from the CSP Project Development USA Conference, and Elizabeth Block gives her take on the European Future Energy Forum (EFEF).

RenewableUK 2010: Oil and gas industry to collaborate on renewables

Senior oil and gas executives and leading figures from the renewable energy industry will gather in Aberdeen next month for a summit to drive forward collaboration between the two sectors.

Oerlikon to lead new PV materials research project

The aim of the project is to further enhance performance and decrease costs of thin film silicon modules within the next three years.

Mining essential for renewable energy future

Refining and smelting methods for new types of ores are needed to secure the supply of rare metals and minerals for the renewable energy industry, according to the Geological Society of America.

China’s growth in clean energy matches ambition

New Worldwatch report catalogues China’s dominance in renewables and future outlook.