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General Electric finds nuclear, fossil fuels, soon costlier than solar

new technology breakthroughs are making it possible for solar generated electricity to be the most economical choice within the next three to five years.

Report: GE says fossil fuels, nuclear soon costlier than solar power, SmartPlanet,  By David Worthington | May 27, 2011  General Electric is forecasting that solar power could soon be a more affordable than fossil fuels and nuclear power, the company’s global research director told Bloomberg. Continue reading →

May 28, 2011 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Small scale renewable energy is challenging big utilities

Small-scale renewable energy is more accessible to new entrants compared with the forward purchase of huge amounts of baseload generation from burning fossil fuels, which is the routine business of big utilities.

Change so far is happening slowly and from a tiny base but the cost of small-scale renewable technologies is falling.

Micro-Power Presents Slow-Burn Threat to Utilities  Planet Ark: 27-May-11 SPAIN AND U.K. : Martin Roberts and Gerard Wynn  A wide rollout of small-scale renewable energy poses a long-term challenge to utilities as households switch to home generation and the supply market opens, executives at green specialists and independents say. Continue reading →

May 28, 2011 Posted by | decentralised, Spain, UK | Leave a comment

Offshore renewable energy innovation centre for UK

UK Government invests in offshore renewables innovation centre | Energy Efficiency News, 28 May 11, The UK Government yesterday announced plans to invest in an offshore renewable energy technology and innovation centre to help businesses commercialise wind, wave and tidal power. Continue reading →

May 28, 2011 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Around the world in solar-powered boat

World’s largest solar boat to arrive in Brisbane  cnet AustraliaBy   May 27, 2011  The MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, the world’s largest solar boat, is circumnavigating the globe and will arrive in Australia this weekend. 

According to PlanetSolar, it is attempting to break the world record by travelling around the world (approx 27,000 nautical miles) to show that renewable energy technologies are effective and can be relied upon, as well as to demonstrate the potential of environmentally friendly modes of transport…..World’s largest solar boat to arrive in Brisbane – Travel Tech

May 28, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

Renewable energy makes good economic sense forAustralia

Renewable energy will only get cheaper: study, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, By Michael Edwards    May 26, 2011  A new study has found the future prices of wind, thermal and solar power will only keep falling as more alternative power sources are switched into the energy grid. Researchers say it proves the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources makes good economic sense. Continue reading →

May 27, 2011 Posted by | AUSTRALIA, renewable | Leave a comment

Germany managing well teh transition away from nuclear power

Germany copes without bulk of nuclear power,  By Vera Ecket and Muriel Boselli, FRANKFURT, May 23 (Reuters) – Germany is coping without about three quarters of its nuclear power capacity by burning more climate-warming coal, reaping the rewards of renewables investments, and importing more French atomic energy. Continue reading →

May 24, 2011 Posted by | ENERGY, Germany | Leave a comment

Solar panels plan for all new buildings in Japan

Japan ‘plans solar panels for all new buildings’, Google News, (AFP) – 23 May 11TOKYO — Japan is considering a plan that would make it compulsory for all new buildings and houses to come fitted with solar panels by 2030, a business daily said Sunday.The plan, expected to be unveiled at the upcoming G8 Summit in France, aims to show Japan’s resolve to encourage technological innovation and promote the wider use of renewable energy, the Nikkei daily said……
AFP: Japan ‘plans solar panels for all new buildings’

May 23, 2011 Posted by | decentralised, Japan | Leave a comment

Decentralised solar energy a boon for local companies

“We’re recommending it to everyone,” ….. “We’ve certainly got our money’s worth.”

Many local companies laud effects of renewable energy efforts By Marc Munroe DionHerald News Staff Reporter 22 May 11, FALL RIVER — It’s been 15 months since linen manufacturer Matouk, 925 Airport Road, installed about 200 solar panels atop its building, which houses the company’s offices, manufacturing space and factory store.

Matouk Controller Peter Brust said it’s been a good deal for the company. Continue reading →

May 23, 2011 Posted by | decentralised, USA | Leave a comment

A good business move for Japan – from nuclear to solar?

new solutions for solar power installation in Japan’s relatively small geographic areas. “The [irradiated] agricultural land near the Fukushima power plant is no longer usable, so why don’t we convert that into solar plants?” …alculation from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology: “Rice produced on one hectare of land yields a yearly revenue of 1.58 million yen, while a solar plant on the same surface would generate a revenue of 7.5 million yen.”

Why Japan’s Shift Away from Nuclear Is Good for Business,  TIME,  By Lucy Birmingham / Tokyo Wednesday, May 18, 2011 “…….New legislation is expected to help diversify the nation’s energy portfolio. A new feed-in tariff (FIT) will oblige utility companies to buy all the power generated through renewable sources connected to a grid, at fixed, premium rates. Continue reading →

May 19, 2011 Posted by | decentralised, Japan | 1 Comment

Success with small scale solar energy and feed-in tariffs

“It might not seem like a lot if you look at one unit, but it’s like looking at ants,” ….. “If you look at one at a time, they seem tiny, but they build up into a large population.”

Green energy from city skylines, nwi.com, 15 May 11, While large wind and solar farms catch grief from nearby residents, engineers and designers have created ways to incorporate renewable energy systems into city skylines, including Chicago’s.

Across the United States, renewable energy developers are supplementing energy grids more discreetly, more affordably and on an urban-friendly scale. Continue reading →

May 16, 2011 Posted by | decentralised, USA | Leave a comment

Japan could, and should, move from nuclear power to renewables

Iida and ISEP researchers estimate that Chubu Electric can provide 30.59 million kilowatts without nuclear power, enough to cover this summer’s projected demand of 26.37 million kilowatts.

This can be done by operating all of its thermal power plants and buying surplus electricity from large manufacturers in the Chubu region, who run their own power stations, they say.

 Renewable’s time is now, expert says, Goal should be 100% reliance on alternative energy by 2050, Japan Times, By ERIKO ARITA, May 14, 2011Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s request that Chubu Electric Power Co. shut down the Hamaoka nuclear power plant was valuable, though he should have reached this decision much sooner after the Fukushima crisis, according to an expert on nuclear and renewable energy. “Kan’s decision was late, compared with that of German Chancellor (Angela) Merkel,” Tetsunari Iida, executive director of the Tokyo-based nonprofit organization Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, said this week in an interview. Continue reading →

May 15, 2011 Posted by | Japan, renewable | Leave a comment

Renewable energy making good business sense for Germany

Merkel’s big bet is that environmental technology will be one of Germany’s most important sources of income. Already, the country’s share in the green-tech world market is 16 percent, which means billions of Euros in business. Renewable energy has generated 300,000 ‘green collar’ new jobs in the past decade, Röttgen says. Big companies like Siemens and Bosch are determined to become “green multinationals.” Thousands of small- and medium-sized technology companies see green technology as an important part of their business and investment strategy.

How Angela Merkel became Germany’s unlikely green energy champion  Christian Schwägerl for Yale Environment 360, guardian uk   9 May 2011  Germany is in a good starting position,…. Since the 1990s, the Renewable Energy Sources Act has paved the way for billions of Euros flowing to consumers and investors for green power projects. The law guarantees that each kilowatt hour of green electricity is fed into the grid and bought at a favorable statutory rate by operators. The rate varies between green energy sources, but is considerably higher than normal electricity prices. Continue reading →

May 10, 2011 Posted by | Germany, renewable | 1 Comment

IPCC to discuss big world report on Renewable Energy

By far the most comprehensive UN assessment of the status and potential for the clean energy sector, the report weighs 164 separate development scenarios……

The report says there is virtually unlimited technical potential for renewables, with much of it coming from solar energy.

Renewables major part of 2050 world energy, Sydney Morning Herald, Marlowe Hood, May 7, 2011 Renewable power from the Sun, wind, water and biomass can and should generate a major portion of the planet’s energy supply by 2050, a leaked draft of a United Nations report says. Continue reading →

May 9, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

Potential of renewable energy to outstrip global need – UN report

“Scenarios are largely consistent in indicating widespread growth in renewable energy deployment around the globe,” 

UN Renewables ‘Bible’ Says Clean Energy Can Outstrip Demand, Bloomberg, By Alex Morales – May 4, 2011  Wind and solar power are among six renewable energy options that have the potential to outstrip total world energy needs and may grow as much as 20-fold over the next four decades, a draft United Nations report said. Continue reading →

May 5, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

New Zealand joins International Renewable Energy Agency

NZ becomes member of energy agency, NewsTalk ZB, 2/05/2011 , New Zealand has become a full member of the International Renewable Energy Agency, which is dedicated to the rapid development of renewable energy worldwide.

Acting energy minister Hekia Parata says we’re one of the leading countries in the area, with 74% of our electricity last year coming from renewable sources.

By joining this organisation, Ms Parata says, we have the opportunity to contribute to international efforts to increase the deployment of renewable energy technologies and drive down their costs… http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=195799

May 2, 2011 Posted by | New Zealand, renewable | Leave a comment

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