Policy, investment and markets News for January 2013

Policy, investment and markets News Archive

New blog: 10 clean energy investments from Google

The past few years has seen Google embark on an ambitous program of investment in the renewables space, the most recent announcement seeing Google investing $200 million in a Texas wind farm. So where else has Google been putting its money?

Car giants join forces to develop affordable FCEVs

Three of the world’s biggest car manufacturers – Ford, Nissan and Daimler, the company behind Mercedes Benz, have signed a three-way hydrogen fuel cell development agreement in an effort to bring affordable, mass market fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to market by 2017.

Develop energy policy or lose out to foreign competitors, US government told

The US risks losing out to its foreign competitors in the clean energy marketplace because of the government’s failure to develop a long-term, consistent energy policy...

First UK integrated hydrogen transport system to launch in London and South East First UK integrated hydrogen transport system to launch in London and South East

A consortium of companies in the UK with expertise in hydrogen transport infrastructure is launching the London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LHNE) project, to roll out the UK’s first hydrogen powered transport system across London and the South East.

UK, Ireland seal renewable electricity trade deal UK, Ireland seal renewable electricity trade deal

The UK and the Republic of Ireland have signed a key agreement that will enable the two countries to trade renewable power with each other by 2020.

USA hot on Europe’s heels as global utility PV hits 9GW

The global installed capacity of utility-scale solar power stations hit the 9GW mark in 2012 after another record year of installations of power stations rated 10MW and higher, analysis from Wiki-Solar has revealed.

Juwi plans flood protected Thai PV projects

German energy group Juwi is set to construct five PV projects with a total capacity of 48MW in two provinces in northwestern and eastern Thailand - and in response to Thailand’s 2011 floods it plans to make the projects flood-protected.

An inconvenient truth - Editorial leader from the January/February 2013 issue of Renewable Energy Focus

The global growth of renewable energy over the last few years cannot be disputed, but can it really play a major role in the world of large-scale electricity generation?

Obama opens door for renewable energy push in US Obama opens door for renewable energy push in US

In his inaugural speech for his second term in office, U.S. President Barack Obama has upped the ante, promising to show global leadership on climate change and support the development of clean energy...

Google invests $200 million in Texas wind farm

The 161 MW Spinning Spur Wind Project is located in Oldham County in the Texas Panhandle, and was built by EDF Renewable Energy

New Blog: EWEA 2013 conference - hot topics

EWEA 2013 is just a few weeks away. So what can conference delegates expect to be the main topics up for debate?

New Blog: We bid an Austrian farewell to EWEA’s man at the top...

EWEA CEO Christian Kjaer has been an ever-present force for the premier wind power lobbying organisation EWEA as it has driven the wind industry forward in Europe over the past decade or so. He will leave the post later this year...

New WWF report says land requirements for PV are "insignificant"

A new report released on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit claims that even if all electricity is to be generated through renewable energy (RE) sources, and with solar photovoltaics (PV) alone, it would take up only an "insignificant" amount of total land area, contrary to common perception.

NPD Solarbuzz: China consumed 33% of global PV panel shipments in Q4 2012

The Chinese end-market dominated shipments of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels during the final quarter of 2012 with 33% of global end-market demand, according to new research released in the NPD Solarbuzz Quarterly report.

Ocean Power Technologies (OPT) awarded contract by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding in Japan

The ¥70 million (approximately US $900,000) contract from Mitsui (MES) will be to further develop the Company’s PowerBuoy technology for Japanese sea conditions.

Half of new US power capacity in 2012 renewable – FERC

Almost half of all new generating capacity installed in the United States during 2012 was renewable, a new report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has said.

Kyocera to supply Japan’s first community solar project

Kyocera is to supply solar panels and services to Japan’s first community solar power project in the Wakayama Prefecture and Kyoto city, after signing a supply agreement with the project developers, Kyocera said late last week.

Germany: Trina Solar supplies PV to former military airfield

Trina Solar has supplied 61MW of PV modules to a large-scale solar project on a former military airfield in the state of Brandenburg, Germany.

UK launches national PV centre to deliver 20GW target

The UK has launched a national centre for solar PV, in an effort to deliver the government’s goal of 20GW of installed capacity by 2020, up from 1.4GW at present.

EWEA gears up for 2013 event in Austria

Despite the uncertain global economy, attendance figures for EWEA 2013 are up on 2012...

Energy leaders urge for greater investments in renewables and low carbon projects

In a discussion during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), leaders focused on the growing opportunities for sovereign wealth funds, development banks and pension funds to view the new energy industry as a growth opportunity, especially in developing economies.

China to join International Renewable Energy Agency

China has announced it will join the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a milestone in international efforts to double the share of renewable energy worldwide by 2030.

IEA-RETD launches new policy action plan IEA-RETD launches new policy action plan

A new publication from Elsevier, developed by the IEA Implementing Agreement for Renewable Energy Technology Deployment (IEA-RETD), explores six policy categories that are "essential" for the acceleration of renewable energy deployment.

DP CleanTech to build US$34.1 million straw-fired plant in Poland

Danish biomass firm DP CleanTech has agreed a deal with Polish Energy Partners (PEP) to build a 30MW straw-fired power plant in Winsko, south west Poland.

MidAmerican scoops huge Californian solar projects

MidAmerican Renewables has acquired two adjacent solar projects in southern California – together the “largest permitted solar PV development in the world” - from SunPower Corp.

Wind and bioenergy industries celebrate as US renewable energy tax credits saved

The renewable energy industry’s new year has kicked off to a good start after the United States’ Congress extended the wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) by one year as part of a package of measures to avert a “fiscal cliff” in the US budget.

UK Green Investment Bank agrees its first offshore wind farm finance package

The UK’s state-backed Green Investment Bank (GIB) has struck its first deal in the offshore wind sector, contributing to a £224 million re-financing of OPW’s 24.8% stake in the 367 MW Walney offshore wind farm.