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Quiet wind turbine for decentralised energy systems

Suited to grid and non-grid connections, the turbine is extremely versatile and has great appeal for commercial sites, urban environments, such as industrial parks, airports, community groups, universities, councils, ports and manufacturing facilities…..

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http://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=15749   Australian Company Launches World’s Quietest Wind Turbine, AZO CleanTech October 26, 2011   Australian renewable energy innovation continues to lead the way with the launch of the worlds’ quietest wind turbine, released to market this week. The cutting edge turbine stands 21 metres high and features a unique, intuitive blade design that is virtually silent.

The Eco Whisper Turbine is set to revolutionise delivery of renewable electricity supply for urban and rural applications, Continue reading →

October 29, 2011 Posted by | AUSTRALIA, renewable | Leave a comment

Germany putting serious money into renewable energy

Germany sets aside $130 billion for renewable energy, Online Opinion, By John Daly -, 24 October 2011 German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on 30 May that Germany, the world’s fourth-largest economy and Europe’s biggest, would shutter all of its 17 nuclear power plants between 2015 and 2022, an extraordinary commitment, given that they currently produce about 28 percent of the country’s electricity.

Underlining the government’s seriousness in changing the country’s energy matrix, Germany’s Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (German Development Bank) is to underwrite renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in Germany with $137.3 billion over the next five years, Germany Trade and Invest reported. Overall, the German government’s 6th Energy Research Program has made an extraordinary $274.6 billion available for joint funding initiatives in energy storage research over the next three years. Continue reading →

October 25, 2011 Posted by | Germany, politics, renewable | Leave a comment

Breakthroughs in electric car design

Charge a car in time it takes for a coffee, SMH, Stephen Ottley, October 22, 2011 ELECTRIC cars are a big step closer to mainstream acceptance thanks to two breakthroughs. Long battery recharging has been the biggest hurdle for the car industry to overcome. But a technology being developed by Nissan and Japan’s Kansai University could solve the problem.

It has reportedly created a charger that can replenish a car’s batteries in 10 minutes, without any adverse affect on the batteries. Currently it can take up to eight hours to recharge an electric car…..

At present so-called fast chargers require 30 minutes to restore batteries to just 80 per cent capacity and cost more than $30,000.

The industry has been struggling to come up with a solution to long charging times as electric cars fight to become a viable alternative to petrol cars….Another hurdle cleared by the industry is an agreed standard of recharging plugs.

The move is seen as crucial to the implementation of public charging infrastructure. Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have all agreed to work together on the universal system for plug outlets, voltage and cables….http://smh.drive.com.au/charge-a-car-in-time-it-takes-for-a-coffee-20111021-1mcaf.html

October 23, 2011 Posted by | energy storage, Japan | Leave a comment

With Federal govt paralysed, USA States take up renewal energy challenge

While Washington bickers, green tech goes local, CNet News, by   October 16, 2011  As dark clouds form over solar in Washington, a handful of U.S. states are taking the lead in a global economic race to develop green technologies. Continue reading →

October 16, 2011 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Solar feed in tariffs working for Germany, Japan, China

Feed in Tariffs: Investing in a Renewable Energy Future, Policy Shop, 16 Oct 11     Mijin Cha Clean energy skeptics have seized on the failure of Solyndra to argue that scaling up renewable sources is a pipe dream.

They should visit Germany.

In the first quarter of 2011, Germany’s renewable energy output accounted for 19.2 percent of its total electricity consumption. Germany installed more solar PV in 2010 than the whole rest of the world and is well on its way to meeting the target of 35 percent of its electricity coming from renewables by 2020. And, in 2010, almost 370,000 people were employed in the renewable energy sector.

So how does Germany gets lots of clean energy and green jobs?

The key to this success is an incentive called a feed-in-tariff. Continue reading →

October 16, 2011 Posted by | Germany, renewable | Leave a comment

Employment prospects bright in renewable energy and sustainability

Focus on Renewable Energy May Be One Bright Spot in Today’s Job Market  Market Watch, HOUSTON, Oct. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The 2011 jobs market has certainly left much to be desired for many Americans. Rising jobless reports and a bleak economic forecast can make finding a career that feeds a person’s passion and their wallet seem beyond reach. However, for those committed to the environment, green living and sustainability, the outlook may be brighter than you might think, according to MXenergy, a Constellation company and leading energy provider.

“The focus on renewable and clean energy and sustainability has led to tremendous growth in these industries over the past several years,” says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy managing director of marketing. “All indications are that growth is expected to continue which will mean the need for trained, experienced personnel.”

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, U.S. solar photovoltaic installation increased 64 percent between 2005 and 2010. The institute estimates that the U.S. already has more than 90,000 direct or indirect jobs in the manufacturing and installation of solar panels, with another 85,000 jobs in wind power.

Previously solar panel installation was too cost prohibitive for most homeowners. However many energy providers, including MXenergy’s parent company Constellation Energy, are now launching residential solar panel leasing programs making the transition to solar financially attainable to many homeowners for the first time.

“The increase in affordability and attainability through these programs is a benefit not only to homeowners but also to workers,” continues Kass. “As more people take advantage of solar leasing programs the need for licensed installers will increase as well.”…

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/focus-on-renewable-energy-may-be-one-bright-spot-in-todays-job-market-2011-10-14

October 15, 2011 Posted by | employment, renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Solar Energy Boom in Arizona

Solar-energy boom: Bright spot in Ariz. economy, Arizona Republic,  by Barry Broome – Oct. 10, 2011 With more than 400 companies manufacturing, installing and distributing solar-energy products in our state, solar is one of the brightest spots in the Arizona economy, along with other renewable energies and clean technology.

In fact, in the last year alone about 6,300 jobs have been added to the more than 22,000 existing jobs in the renewable-energy and clean-tech industries – jobs helping families regain economic stability and helping Arizona claim its share of a bright, vibrant market.

Today, Arizona has about 160 megawatts of solar-energy capacity, enough to power more than 30,000 homes. Continue reading →

October 11, 2011 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Renewables, energy efficiency Florida and Georgia’s cheaper options than nuclear

Why Go Nuclear When Efficiency, Renewables Fit the Bill? UK IB Times.com 09 October 2011,   What’s the likely result if the more than 20 applications for new or expanded nuclear plants are approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission? That’s the question addressed in the report, “Big Risks, Better Alternatives,” by Synapse Energy Economics on behalf of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The main thesis of the report is that forecasts for energy demand growth in the U.S. are now much lower than they were when these projects were initially proposed.

The report focuses on two proposed nuclear projects in Florida and Georgia, states which rank among the worst in the nation in energy efficiency, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). If either state were to pursue even modest efficiency goals, peak load energy levels could remain below those of 2006. Continue reading →

October 11, 2011 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

In 2011, UK’s record growth in renewable energy

UK Reports Record Level of Renewable Energy, October 10th, 2011 by Jenson Brayshaw According to new reports, the second quarter of 2011 has seen green energy contribute to about 9.6 percent of the UK’s total electricity supply. This is a huge rise on 2010 levels. This news was reported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Continue reading →

October 11, 2011 Posted by | renewable, UK | Leave a comment

Norway launches scheme to finance renewable energy in developing countries

 Only clean energy is good enough Energy portal EU, 10 Oct 11 Today the Norwegian government will launch Energy +, a global initiative to finance access to renewable energy, energy efficiency and low carbon development in developing countries. WWF welcomes this effort to bring clean and safe light, heat and energy to the approximate 3 billion people in the world without access to reliable energy, and applauds Norway’s leadership.

Norway will launch Energy + at a high-level conference co-organized by the International Energy Agency and attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The conference will include discussion of both renewables and fossil fuels as solutions to energy poverty.

Rasmus Hansson, CEO of WWF-Norway, says: “Ending energy poverty should be part of the solution to climate change, not part of the problem. WWF urges Norway, and other countries, to keep their focus on renewables, the energy of the future – not on the dirty fossil fuels of the past.”…

2012 will be the UN year of sustainable energy for all. “We urge the UN to focus on renewable energy, the only truly sustainable energy source. WWF’s Energy Report shows that we can meet all of the world’s energy needs with 100% renewable energy. We think this is a great focus for 2012, “said Samantha Smith.

http://energyportal.eu/latest-green-energy-news/9734-only-clean-energy-is-good-enough.html

October 11, 2011 Posted by | EUROPE, renewable | Leave a comment

Numerous renewable energy bills signed by California’s Governor Brown

Calif. Governor Brown Takes Action to Promote Renewable Energy and Protect the Environment, 09 Oct 2011 – SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced Saturday that he has taken action on legislation to protect California’s environment and natural resources.

The following bills have been signed by Governor Brown:: (A large number of bills listed )

For full text of the bills, visit: leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html.

http://californianewswire.com/2011/10/09/CNW10031_111229.php

October 10, 2011 Posted by | politics, renewable, USA | Leave a comment

USA subsidies for renewable energy: the facts

The Truth About Renewable Subsidies, the Motley fool, By Travis Hoium , October 6, 2011 The headlines will tell you that subsidies for renewable energy are outrageously high and like throwing money down the drain. But outside of some poor decisions (ahem, Solyndra), subsidies for renewable energy have been effective at lowering costs and require very little money from the government.

When you compare renewable subsidies to the growth stages of oil and gas, coal, nuclear energy, and biofuels, it becomes apparent that we’re nowhere near the support we gave to those energy sources. In a study done by Nancy Pfund and Ben Healey for DBL Investors (link opens PDF), some interesting statistics emerge. Continue reading →

October 8, 2011 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Automakers moving to renewable energy

as fossil fuels rise in price and consumers’ tastes evolve, the smart money is for more of these new cars to roll out, in part, manufactured thanks to the energy technologies of the future….

Why automakers are the new renewable energy investors, As the industry recovers from the financial crisis, firms such as General Motors and Ford have set up renewables projects.  , guardian.co.uk,  6 October 2011 The automobile industry, on life support during the global financial crisis, has recently been catching its breath. In America, many reasons are behind the slow resurgence: improved design and performance, painful restructuring, and new technologies such as hybrid or electric vehicles that push innovation. Continue reading →

October 7, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

Solar power could solve Texas’ electricity problems

The fastest way to shore up the Texas electrical grid is with home-generated solar electricity….

The real advantage to solar power is that it can be added to the grid as it is installed — in a matter of weeks or months. Solar power would not require water for cooling and would not harm the environment. 

Solar power could fill energy needs, use less water, Standard Times San Angelo, Larry Payne, October 5, 2011  An editorial in the Texas Co-op Magazine says Texas came close to electrical shutdown on two occasions this year. The first was in February when we had an abnormal cold spell. The second was during the record-setting hot spell in August when all air-conditioners were running 24/7. The article goes on to say that the drought has made the problem worse, causing some plants to be hobbled by lack of water to cool their turbines.

Current Texas energy plans call for two new nuclear plants and a coal-fired plant to be built in South Texas near Bay City. These plants cost billions, are bad for the environment and take years to get on line. They also will require massive amounts of cooling water and that would most likely need to come from the Highland Lakes via the Colorado River. Continue reading →

October 6, 2011 Posted by | decentralised, USA | Leave a comment

Cook Islands must develop renewable energy

The Cook Islands lacks major natural resources and regularly experiences natural disasters. Climate change spurred on by rapidly increasing levels of greenhouse gases is expected to heavily impact the region, with salt intrusion into ground water from rising seas a major concern.

Renewable Energy An Imperative For The Cook Islands, Renewable Energy News, by Energy Matters, 4 Oct 11 The Cook Islands, Japan and Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat have stated renewable energy is no longer an optional energy solution for the Pacific region, but an imperative.

Speaking at a signing ceremony for the Rakahanga $1m PV Project, a project designed to reduce the need for generator fuel, Cook Islands Prime Minister Hon Henry Puna, the Forum Deputy Secretary General and Ambassador of Japan said the region must invest heavily in renewable energy – and that investment must be backed by strong political will. Continue reading →

October 4, 2011 Posted by | climate change, OCEANIA, renewable | Leave a comment

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