Policy, investment and markets News for March 2013

Policy, investment and markets News Archive

UK renewable energy trade mission to Mongolia UK renewable energy trade mission to Mongolia

British renewable energy companies are being urged to join a UK government-backed trade mission to Mongolia. The country has a rapidly expanding economy, and its government is actively encouraging a renewable energy agenda.

OPIC looks to Pakistan and Peru wind markets

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has approved a total of US$288 million in financing for two wind power projects in Pakistan and Peru.

IMS names First Solar largest 2012 PV EPC as european companies falter

the first time First Solar became the world’s largest photovoltaic (PV) EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor in 2012, with more than 500 megawatts (MW) of projects completed.

Micro CHP report powers heated discussion about UK energy future

Leading companies in the micro combined heat and power (micro CHP) sector in the UK have set out a strategic vision for the role of micro CHP as a key component of an emerging smarter energy sector.

Bosch latest company to turn its back on solar

The company has announced it will sell or shut down its loss-making solar energy operations.

European and U.S. OEMs dominate global wind market as Chinese OEMs falter

Another day, another top ten turbine manufacturer list: this time it's MAKE Consulting, and it has Vestas at number 1.

Scotland to press on with wind plan despite Trump objection

The Scottish Government has given consent for the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen Bay.

Meyer Burger latest solar company to feel the heat

The Swiss solar equipment maker is expected to ask shareholders for 150 million Swiss francs (US$159.5 million) after a slump in demand for solar cells pushed it to a full-year loss.

More integration needed on European renewables, according to EU Energy Committee

Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Committee suggest that targets and milestones should be set for the period to 2050.

UK Green Investment Bank up and running UK Green Investment Bank up and running

The new organisation has made its first direct equity investment in offshore wind through acquiring a 24.95% stake in Rhyl Flats Wind Farm.

UK nuclear deal could "displace" precious renewables funding

Investment in renewable energy in the UK could be at risk if construction on EDF’s Hinkley Point nuclear power station – the first nuclear power station to receive planning approval in the UK since Sizewell B over two decades ago- is allowed to proceed, according to environmental group Greenpeace.

Stop press: Suntech bankrupt as top PV manufacturers lost over $2bn in 2012

Suntech Power Holdings, the China-based maker of solar panels, declared bankruptcy on Wednesday, the state news agency Xinhua said.

F&S: "renewable inverter market poised for growth"

Government incentives such as feed-in tariff systems, along with support mechanisms for energy independence, have promoted the use of renewable energy, thereby lending momentum to the inverter market for renewable energy systems in Europe, according to new research by Frost & Sullivan.

DSM acquires light trapping technology for solar modules

The SolarExcel company, based in Venray (Netherlands), has developed a proprietary light trapping technology that it says can significantly increase the efficiency of solar panels.

UK stop press: new nuclear power station gets planning permission

Planning consent was given today for construction of the first new nuclear power station in the UK since 1995.

Could "lifetime production" become key metric for renewables?

Analysis from Bloomberg New Energy Finance shows that the energy reserves contained in wind and bioenergy projects in the US and Brazil are significant compared to oil and gas.

Could Japan install more than 5 Gigawatts of PV systems in 2013?

A new report suggests that Japan could overtake Germany and the US

New UK renewables confidence report reflects a sector under pressure

The UK Renewable Energy Association has published its first ever industry confidence survey, finding "modest optimism" in the short term, but some doubts over key policies.

10 Solar Survival Strategies 10 Solar Survival Strategies

Check out our four-part article here...

Proposed EU sea planning law will "boost investor certainty" Proposed EU sea planning law will "boost investor certainty"

EU Member States will have to plan the use of their sea space and work together where they share a sea basin, according to a proposed European Commission Directive on maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management published today in Brussels.

Stop Press: European Parliament votes yes to 2030 renewable energy target

the European Parliament has called for the "successful" 2020 renewable energy target to be prolonged to 2030.

New report: U.S. Solar market grew 76% in 2012

The solar industry in the US added a record 3.3 GW of Capacity last year...

Fronius moves closer to hybrid storage inverter Fronius moves closer to hybrid storage inverter

The company says it will have a prototype ready for display at the Intersolar Munich event later this year.

Conergy supplies four UK solar farms totalling 15.3MWp for Solaer

The projects in Somerset, Devon and Buckinghamshire range from 2.2MW to 5.8MW

Can the Oil and Gas industry work with the offshore renewables industry?

Check out our four part analysis here...

Solar Frontier gets UniCredit Leasing seal of approval

Solar Frontier has announced today achievement of bankability with UniCredit Leasing, a leading European company for asset-based financing solutions.

UK Met Office Wind Review 2012 shows Europe’s windiest locations

The Wind Review’s wind index concludes that the windiest locations, compared against long-term average, were Iceland, the Baltic and Denmark.

Gehrlicher Solar America Corp expands US footprint Gehrlicher Solar America Corp expands US footprint

The company has opened a regional office in Boston to cover the US North-East markets.

Alstom enters Canadian wind market

Alstom and NaturEner Energy Canada will supply up to 414 MW of wind turbines for NaturEner’s Wild Rose Projects in Alberta.

UK's DECC awards £2.3 million in funding to High Voltage Partial Discharge, JDR Cable Systems and Principle Power

The award has been made as part of the Offshore Wind Component Technologies Development and Demonstration scheme, which is aimed at technologies that have the potential to reduce the cost of offshore wind.

Hanwha Q CELLS launches "new generation" module at Ecobuild Expo

The new polycrystalline module features cells based on Q.ANTUM technology, which the company says generates higher module power.