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USA ahead of China as global investment in renewable energy booms

The indications of a rise in global investment in clean energy follows the pact by major greenhouse-emitting countries in Durban last month on a road map that would lead to a global climate change deal by 2015. Erwin Jackson, deputy CEO of the Climate Institute, said: ”There are all these myths of the world not acting on climate change. All you have to do is follow the money.”

Global investment in clean energy hits record levels SMH David Wroe, Canberra January 14, 2012 DESPITE the turbulence in the global economy, the world invested a record $251 billion in clean energy last year, with the US streaking ahead of China in green spending and boosting confidence among climate action advocates.
New figures from Bloomberg New Energy Finance showed the US spent $54 billion on clean energy, retaking the No. 1 spot it lost to China in 2009 and defying assumptions that the world’s largest economy is flagging on greenhouse gas reductions. Continue reading →

January 14, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

Renewables supply 39% of Philippines energy needs, and thousands of jobs

Aquino optimistic on renewable energy, Business World, Johanna D. Poblete, 13 Jan 12, PRESIDENT BENIGNO S.C. Aquino III is optimistic the Energy department will achieve an increase in the production of alternative renewable energy that would redound to an increase in employment by 2015.
He noted, for instance, that nearly 39% of the country’s energy requirements are now provided by renewable sources, namely, hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind and biomass.
“We project that the contribution of the biomass sector will increase from 39 megawatts of energy in 2010 to more than 300 megawatts by 2015,” Mr. Aquino said in his speech at the opening of the 1st Philippine International BioEnergy Conference on Thursday.
“Our projections also indicate that in achieving this goal, around 89,000 more jobs will be generated for Filipinos,” he added.
The President said that the development of the industry has a “multiplier effect” not just in terms of empowering consumers, but also by stimulating attendant sectors. “The effects of advancing the biomass sector will also reach close to 577,000 farm families who can benefit, for example, by gaining additional income [from] the sale of agriwaste or forest residues that
can be used in the development of biomass resources,” Mr. Aquino said…. http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Aquino-optimistic-on-renewable-energy&id=44991

January 13, 2012 Posted by | Philippines, renewable | 1 Comment

Solar energy for e-books, iPad, iPhone, other mobile phones and USB devices

Solar Panel Cover For The Kindle E-reader, by Energy Matters, 9 Jan 12 Using solar energy to provide power for hand-held devices has huge potential and while solar panels embedded in mobile phones mightn’t be much chop (yet) in terms of performance; it seems a new solar cover for the Kindle e-reader delivers.

The SolarKindle, weighing just 215 grams, incorporates a flexible, lightweight triple junction amorphous solar panel and is able to provide some level of charging even in the shade.  A one hour charge in direct sunlight can provide almost three days worth of reading time according to the company that created the device, SolarFocus Technology.

After fully charging the Kindle, the solar panel automatically switches to charge the SolarKindle’s 1500mA reserve battery. A fully charged reserve battery requires around eight hours of direct sunlight and provides up to 80% of backup power to the Kindle.

……. sticking your SolarKindle enshrouded e-reader out in the sun on a 40 degree day for extended periods may be unwise.

The SolarKindle also incorporates an 800 lux LED reading lamp. If the reserve battery is used for lighting alone, it can power the light for up to 50 hours. An LED indicator incorporated in the SolarKindle shows battery power level and status of charging and discharging.

The SolarKindle can be purchased online for around AUD $80, plus delivery.
SolarFocus was named an International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for its SolarKindle Lighted Cover. The company says it holds several solar technology patents with their products used in extreme environments such as the Himalayas and the North Pole.

SolarFocus also manufactures a folding solar charger for the iPad, iPhone, other mobile phones and USB devices called the SolarMio Pro. While certainly not as compact as the embedded solar panel Nokia recently trialed, the 5 watt SolarMio Pro watt system can provide 6 hours of talk time on the iPhone 3Gs with just an hour of solar charging..   http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1972

January 12, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, decentralised | Leave a comment

Big investment in wind farms USA

Global Deal: BP, Sempra Energy to Invest $1 Billion in U.S. Wind Farms WSJ, JANUARY 11, 2012, By Cassandra Sweet of Dow Jones Newswires BP PLC and Sempra Energy said Tuesday that together they will invest more than $1 billion in two wind farms under development in Pennsylvania and Kansas. Continue reading →

January 12, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Renewable energy – wave power for India

Indian innovator harnesses sea waves for power, The Economic Times, 10 Jan 12,   NEW DELHI: An Indian innovator has come up with a technology that tweaks gravity power to harness sea waves for clean and affordable energy, a source more readily available than wind or solar power and, unlike fossil fuels, inexhaustible. Continue reading →

January 11, 2012 Posted by | India, renewable | Leave a comment

Solar energy boom in Germany helps lower prices

German Solar Boom Continues, As Subsidies Disappear, German Solar Stays On Top, Green Chip Stocks, By Abhishek Shah, January 8th, 2012 The German Solar Energy Market is biggest in the world and has installed the largest number of solar panels for the last few years. 2012 promises to be no different with Germany again set to the biggest solar market for solar panel manufacturers though Italy would give good competition.

The German Solar Subsidy program has been the best in the world unlike the start and stop feed in tariff programs of Spain,Czech,UK,Australia and other places. A stable step in cut of feed in tariffs has helped solar energy prices coming down by more than 50% in the last few years though demand has only increased.

The influx of cheap solar panels from China has let the December 2012 explode to almost 2-3 GW according to the German solar association BSW. The high rates of return of over 10% due to super cheap Chinese solar panels at 80-90c/watt has been the major reason for the explosion in demand which could be the biggest month in Germany ever. While German Solar Market has remained robust as ever,the German solar panel producers like Solon, Sunways have been vanquished with a number of major solar companies failing and getting acquired. The Asian solar companies have been the major beneficiaries of this demand growth in Germany and Europe.

The massive rise in demand will imply that according to the EEG ,there will be a 15% cut in July 2012 after a 15% cut in January 2011. This would bring the solar FIT prices quite low and provide a restraint to the galloping German solar energy installations which is reaching more than 25 GW . http://www.greenchipstocks.com/articles/german-solar-boom-continues/1475

January 10, 2012 Posted by | Germany, renewable | 1 Comment

Renewable energy deal between Scotland and Masdar

Scotland set for renewable energy deal in Abu Dhabi, BBC News 8 Jan 12, Mr Salmond said the deal would help develop university research into renewable energy Scotland is poised to sign a renewable energy technology research deal in the Middle East.

First Minister Alex Salmond is to travel to Abu Dhabi this week to sign a “ground-breaking” contract with renewables firm Masdar. Continue reading →

January 10, 2012 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Community renewable energy projects in UK

There are now 43 communities [across UK] who are in the process of or already producing renewable energy through co-operative structures. They are set up and run by everyday people – local residents mostly – who are investing their time and money and together installing solar panels, large wind turbines or hydro-electric power for their local communities.

The communities taking renewable energy into their own hands, Ecologist, Ed Mayo, 5th January, 2012 A new report by Co-operatives UK and The Co-operative Group examines those investing time and money in installing solar panels, wind turbines or hydro-electric power for their local communities

Late last year we – Co-operatives UK and The Co-operative Group – published a new report which reveals the growing number of people who are choosing to start renewable energy co-operatives in their communities, against all the odds.

What is exciting about the report is that it is the first and most comprehensive guide to what amounts to a new movement of communities who are taking action for greener energy into their own hands. Continue reading →

January 6, 2012 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Wind power may transform Mongolia’s energy supply

The group has six wind-power plant projects that are due to bring 1,000 megawatts online in the country by 2020. In the U.S., that would be enough to power about 800,000 homes. In Mongolia’s economy, it would stretch much further.

Mongolia’s Renewables Belittle World’s Nuclear Supply, Bloomberg, By Yuriy Humber Jan 5, 2012 Untapped mineral riches are fueling Mongolia’s ambition to compete with Australia and Brazil in Asia. The nation’s resource-based economy grew 21 percent last quarter alone.

This largesse obscures a potential aboveground treasure also awaiting investors.

The world’s most sparsely populated nation has the potential to generate 2.6 million megawatts of wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower, based on data collected by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Mongolian National Renewable Energy Center.

That’s a fantastic figure. It’s seven times the capacity of all the world’s operable nuclear reactors combined, according to world nuclear association data. In contrast, Mongolia’s current power capacity is less than that of one large coal plant, just 878 megawatts.

That’s what Newcom Group’s acting Chief Executive Office Byambasaikhan Bayanjargal recently told investors in Hong Kong. Of that, close to 40 percent of the potential is in wind, and Bayanjargal is eager to harness it….. Continue reading →

January 6, 2012 Posted by | Mongolia, renewable | Leave a comment

In UK’s slow economy, renewable energy is coming up trumps

Renewable energy boosts UK economy by £2.5bn Renewable Energy Focus, 02 January 2012 Figures from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that companies have announced plans for almost £2.5 billion worth of renewable energy investment in the UK, with the potential to create almost 12,000 jobs, so far in the financial year 2011/12. By Kari Williamson

A separate report to the European Commission on renewable energy progress, shows that the UK:

Achieved a 27% increase in renewable energy consumption from 42.6 TWh in 2008 to 54 TWh in 2010 – representing 3.3% of total energy consumed;
Increased wind generation by 46% from 7 TWh in 2008 to 10.2 TWh in 2010, and in 2010 achieved 5 GW of offshore and onshore wind capacity; and
Saw a threefold increase in the use of biofuels in transport from 1% of total road transport fuel supply in 2007/8 to 3.33% in 2010……

Renewable energy saves £84 per person annually Continue reading →

January 3, 2012 Posted by | decentralised, UK | Leave a comment

USA’s big increase in wind and solar energy in past 2 years

Obama has Nearly Quadrupled Renewable Energy on Public Lands CLEAN TECHNICA, DECEMBER 31, 2011 BY   With two years of the Obama administration, almost four times as much clean energy has been put on the grid on public lands as in all the previous 40 years.

All the renewable energy ever permitted on public lands totaled 1,800 MW by the end of 2008. In the last two years, the Department of the Interior has approved 6,600 MW of new projects. Continue reading →

January 2, 2012 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Scotland’s success in renewable energy and energy efficiency

Scotland Cheers Record-Breaking Renewables Year Earth Techling,   by Lauren Craig, January 1st, 2012 There have been several big renewable energy news stories to come out of Scotland this year. The country commissioned its first grid-tied commercial scale tidal turbine; signed lease agreements for five new offshore wind farms; and dedicated £35 million ($54 million) to support the marine and tidal industry over the next three years. Since setting an ambitious goal to meet 100 percent of the country’s electricity needs with renewable energy by 2020, the Scottish government is keeping a close eye on the numbers. And, if things keep going the way they have been going, 2011 will be a record year for renewable electricity production in Scotland.

New figures recently released by the Scottish Department for Energy and Climate Change show that in the first nine months of 2011 Scotland had already generated 94 percent of the amount of renewable energy produced in 2010, and 83 percent of that produced during the old record year of 2009. The percentage of renewable electricity production had decreased from 27.4 percent in 2009 to 24.1 percent in 2010, but the figures indicate Scotland will bounce back in 2011 and produce enough renewable generation capacity to meet its 2011 interim target of 31 percent.

Part of the increase can be attributed to falling energy consumption. The figures show that energy consumption fell by 7.4 percent compared to 2008, and that Scotland is on track to meet its energy reduction target of 12 percent by 2020.

“These figures show that [2011] is on course to be truly the best year yet,” said Energy Minister Fergus Ewing. “This year projects were switched on representing £750 million of investment in renewables, and a staggering £46 billion of investment is in the pipeline. But most importantly, we have taken real steps to ensure that communities all over Scotland will benefit from the renewable energy generated in their area, with a community benefit register [and] loan projects to help them develop renewable energy projects of their own.”  http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/01/scotland-cheers-record-breaking-renewables-year/

January 2, 2012 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

China’s revolutionary new storage battery for renewable energy

China’s State Grid and BYD Launch World’s Largest Battery Energy Storage Station, Market Watch .  ZHANGBEI, China, Dec 30, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — BYD and the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) have finished construction on what may be the world’s largest battery energy storage station.

This large utility-scale project, located in Zhangbei, Hebei Province, combines 140 Mega-Watts of renewable energy generation (both wind & solar), 36 Mega-Watt-Hours (MWh) of energy storage and a smart power transmission system. While there are renewable generation systems of this scale in service today, there are no battery systems of this size.

The State Grid system is demonstrating a stable solution for transferring vast amounts of
renewable electricity safely to the grid on an unprecedented scale. Although BYD manufactures 1GW of solar panels annually, their role in this project was primarily providing energy storage batteries in arrays larger than a football field…. This new project with the
State Grid has outpaced other grid projects in China and, though independently designed by SGCC, is part of the national “Golden Sun” program. The first phase investment with 100MW of Wind, 40MW of Solar and 36MWh of Battery is worth over $500M USD (~3.3 Billion RMB). Continue reading →

December 31, 2011 Posted by | China, energy storage | Leave a comment

Renewable energy: Germany shows the way in new industrial revolution

Feldheim has zero unemployment ..

the technology already exists to allow people to be energy self-sufficient.

All eyes on German renewable energy efforts SF Gate, By MELISSA EDDY, Associated Press, December 29, 2011 “……Feldheim, a village of just 145 people, is already putting into practiceGermany’s vision of a future powered entirely by renewable energy……

In June, the nation passed the 20 percent mark for drawing electric power from a mix of wind, solar and other renewables. That compares with about 9 percent in the United States or Japan — both of which rely heavily on hydroelectric power, an energy source that has long
been used.

Expanding renewables depends on the right mix of resources, as well as government subsidies and investment incentive — and a willingness by taxpayers to shoulder their share of the burden. Germans currently pay a 3.5 euro cent per kilowatt-hour tax, roughly euro157 ($205) per year for a typical family of four, to support research and investment in and subsidize the production and consumption of energy from renewable sources.

That allows for homeowners who install solar panels on their rooftops, or communities like Feldheim that build their own biogas plants, to be paid above-market prices for selling back to the grid, to ensure that their investment at least breaks even……

Key to success of the transformation will be getting the nation’s powerful industries on board, to drive innovation in technology and create jobs. According to the Environment Ministry, overall investment in renewable energy production equipment more than doubled to euro29.4
billion ($38.44 billion) in 2011. Solid growth in the sector is projected through the next decade.

Some 370,000 people in Germany now have jobs in the renewable sector, more than double the number in 2004, a point used as proof that tax payers’ investment is paying off…… Continue reading →

December 30, 2011 Posted by | Germany, renewable | Leave a comment

Growth in UK jobs with steep increase in renewable energy

UK renewables climb steeply delivering jobs renews Europe, 29 December 2011 Renewable energy consumption in the UK increased 27% in the three years to end-2010 with plans announced in 2011 for £2.5bn of investment to continue the capacity build.

The government today published an update on progress to source 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020. A report to the European Commission showed that the UK achieved a 27% increase in renewable energy consumption from 42.6TWh in 2008 to 54TWh
in 2010 – representing 3.3% of total energy consumed.

Wind generation increased by 46% from 7TWh in 2008 to 10.2TWh in 2010 and in 2010 achieved 5GW of offshore and onshore wind capacity. There was a threefold increase in the use of biofuels in transport from 1% of total road transport fuel supply in 2007/8 to 3.33% in 2010.

Latest research from DECC shows that so far this financial year, companies have announced plans for almost £2.5billion worth of investment in renewable energy projects in the UK, with the potential to create almost 12,000 jobs across the country, DECC said.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne   said there was mounting evidence of the economic benefits of renewable energy: “Renewable energy is not just helping us increase our energy security and reduce our emissions. It is supporting jobs and growth across the country, and giving traditional industrial heartlands the opportunity to thrive again…. http://renews.biz/story.php?page_id=74&news_id=1171

December 30, 2011 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

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