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Urgent need for UK govt action on renewable energy

to secure the necessary infrastructure investment – which is estimated at up to £150bn – the Government must move quickly to finalise the regulatory arrangements for transmission of electricity from offshore wind farms to the onshore grid.

Lord Turner: ‘We must act now to meet energy targets’. By Sarah Arnott, 10 September 2010  The Independent Lord Turner, the chairman of the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC), is calling for a “step change” in government policy if Britain is to meet its 2020 renewable energy targets. Continue reading

September 10, 2010 Posted by | renewable, UK | , , , , , | Leave a comment

China outpacing the world in renewable energy investment

In the second quarter of 2010, China attracted $11.5 billion in asset-financing for clean technologies, more than Europe and the U.S. combined, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

China Supplants U.S. at Top of Ernst & Young Ranking for Renewable Energy,  Bloomberg, By Alex Morales – Sep 9, 2010 China overtook the U.S. to lead a quarterly index of the most attractive countries for renewable energy projects for the first time, according to a list compiled by the global accounting firm Ernst & Young. Continue reading

September 9, 2010 Posted by | China, renewable | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

First step for France to turn from nuclear to renewable energy

this may help chart a new developmental roadmap for the French energy industry, which has until now focused primarily on nuclear energy.

French government to tap potential for renewable energy, istockanalyst.com, 6 Sept 10, France has unveiled a new renewable energy investment program which will see its government provide E1.35 billion to support the development of cutting-edge clean energy technologies. Continue reading

September 7, 2010 Posted by | France, renewable | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Prolonging Germany’s aging nukes threatens renewable energy development

Germany’s largest utilities are focusing on wind power as their preferred renewable energy technology, while households and farmers are tapping solar energy to earn above-market rates for electric power.

Germany’s Extension for Nuclear Power Threatens Offshore Wind Investments, Bloomberg, By Jeremy van Loon – Sep 7, 2010 The German government’s plan to extend the phase-out of nuclear power risks hampering investment in offshore wind turbines, a technology that may provide much of the country’s renewable energy by the middle of this century. Continue reading

September 7, 2010 Posted by | Germany, renewable | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Smart grids part of the move to renewable energy

Large companies such as Switzerland’s ABB, a rival of Germany’s engineering giant Siemens, say smart grids are a huge trend in the energy sector…….

Smart grids play key role in modern energy infrastructure. | Deutsche Welle | 06.09.2010, How do you ensure a steady supply of electricity from fickle renewable sources such as solar, wind and biomass? ‘Smart grids’ that manage and distribute flows of electricity could be the answer. Continue reading

September 7, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | , , , , | Leave a comment

Unstoppable move to renewable energy offers investment promise

“with the needs for energy security and energy demand from countries like China, the move to renewables is unstoppable, and you’re increasingly seeing renewable energy companies that are good value,”

China Goes Green, Keeps Bankers and Investors Busy – WSJ.com. By NISHA GOPALAN, 6 sept 10, Propelled in part by the backing of powerful Beijing bureaucrats, green-themed Chinese companies are set to reap billions of dollars from public offerings to new investors in coming months…. Continue reading

September 7, 2010 Posted by | China, renewable | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moving into wind energy – away from nuclear power?

the decision left the country’s largest nuclear operator without a direct role in what the nuclear industry hopes is a renaissance…

Exelon withdrew its application for a construction and operating license for a twin-unit nuclear plant in Victoria County, Tex.,….

A Nuclear Giant Moves Into Wind, NYTimes.com, By MATTHEW L. WALD, August 31, 2010, John Rowe, chief executive of Exelon.Exelon Corporation John Rowe, chief executive of Exelon.Exelon, a nuclear giant that recently backed away from building new nuclear plants, is moving into wind. Continue reading

September 1, 2010 Posted by | renewable, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

USA using less fossil fuels, and more renewables

Hey kids, we used less energy and more renewable tech in 2009! | ZDNet, By Heather Clancy | August 30, 2010, Well, here’s a refreshing bit of news for a Monday afternoon: A new data set released by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory reports that we used a lot less coal and petroleum last year, compared with 2008. Meanwhile, there were demonstrable increases in the use of renewable energy sources, especially generation systems based on wind technologies.
The researchers attribute the decrease in coal and petroleum use to lower electricity demand, a shift to natural gas as a fuel source, and wind power production offsets……Hey kids, we used less energy and more renewable tech in 2009! | ZDNet

August 31, 2010 Posted by | renewable, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Desert solar farms could use self-cleaning solar panels

The researchers found that 90 percent of deposited dust can be removed by the transparent screen in fewer than 60 seconds.

Self-cleaning solar panels could find use in the dusty environs of Arizona, the Middle East or Mars, Scientific American, By Larry Greenemeier, Aug 22, 2010, The best places to collect solar energy are also some of the dustiest on Earth and beyond, a quandary that leads to inefficiencies in how well the cells are able to convert strong sunlight into renewable electricity. The solution, according to new research, is to coat solar cells with material that enables them to chase away dirt particles on their own with the help of dust-repelling electrical charges. Continue reading

August 23, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | , , , , , | 1 Comment

Renewable energy growth outpaces coal, gas and nuclear

Both the US and Europe added more renewable power capacity in 2009 than they added coal, gas, and nuclear capacity. Globally, 80,000 megawatts of renewable capacity was added, with China adding nearly half the total

Renewable Energy Investment is Growing – 24/7 Wall St., Paul Ausick, 21 Aug 2010, An international policy network called the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, or REN21, has released its global status report for 2010. Continue reading

August 21, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Huge tidal energy project successfully started

Tidal energy has the potential to be a billion dollar industry in Maine within the next seven to ten years, creating hundreds of jobs.

Largest Ocean Energy Device Ever Installed In U.S. Waters Generates Electricity at Design Capacity Advanced Technology Revolutionizes the U.S. Ocean Energy Industry Renewable Energy World, August 18, 2010, PORTLAND, ME,  Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), an industry leader in tidal, river and deep-water ocean current energy technology and projects, announced today that its Beta Power System, the largest ocean energy “power plant” ever installed in U.S. waters, has successfully generated grid-compatible power from tidal currents at its Cobscook Bay site in Eastport, Maine…….. Continue reading

August 19, 2010 Posted by | renewable, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Push for renewable energy, not nuclear, in South Africa

Greenpeace pushes for renewable energy in SAfrica, Google hosted news, By MIA SNYMAN (AP) – 19 Aug, 2010, JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has renewable resources that can provide solutions to the country’s energy problems and create jobs — while fighting global warming, Greenpeace officials said Wednesday.”Greenpeace’s estimate that 78,000 green jobs could be created is conservative,” Glen Mpufane, who heads a development group, who joined a Greenpeace forum on green jobs on Wednesday…..
Environmental groups in South Africa are campaigning for a major move toward renewable energy rather than nuclear and coal energy……

The Associated Press: Greenpeace pushes for renewable energy in SAfrica

August 19, 2010 Posted by | renewable, South Africa | , , , , | Leave a comment

USA govt robs renewable energy jobs to pay other jobs

“These rescissions put into jeopardy the green jobs that the administration have touted as part of our clean energy future and put us further behind the rest of the world,” wrote Al Gore

Another $1.5B removed from DOE renewables loan guarantee program to help fund U.S. jobs bill,  Photovoltaics International, 12 August 2010 | By Tom Cheyney | News > Market Watch “…..President Barack Obama signed a $26 billion funding bill passed by the House of Representatives in special session on Tuesday.

What was good news for stuggling public sector employees was not so good for the solar industry. To help fund the bill, the House decided to take $1.5 billion from the coffers originally designated for the Department of Energy’s renewable energy loan guarantee program. Continue reading

August 17, 2010 Posted by | renewable, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Scotland goes for tidal energy in a big way

“We are at the start of a new industrial boom, akin to the development of the North Sea oil and gas fields,” said Cornelius. “If we receive the same support from all levels of government that the oil and gas industry received to make the North Sea the success that it is, then the future is very bright for marine power and even brighter for Scotland.”

World’s largest tidal turbine unveiledNew 1MW marine energy system by Atlantis to be deployed later this summer  guardian.co.uk,  Rachel Fielding  Friday 13 August 2010 The world’s largest tidal turbine was yesterday unveiled at a facility in Invergordon, Scotland, marking the culmination of a decade of development activity and moving tidal power one step closer to commercial viability. Continue reading

August 14, 2010 Posted by | renewable, UK | , , | Leave a comment

Facebook should be booming – but with Renewable Energy

big electricity consumers like Facebook can also play an important role by using its influence to demand policies that dramatically increase the supply of renewable electricity being put on the grid,

Facebook update: Switch to renewable energy now Facebook update: Switch to renewable energy now | Greenpeace International Greening Facebook from within   Facebook recently announced it will build a massive data centre in Oregon, U.S., packed full of the latest energy efficient computers to serve the hundreds of millions of friends connecting on their near-addictive social networking website. But the company plans to run the place on electricity made by burning coal–Yes, the dirtiest source of energy and largest single source of global warming pollution in the world. Continue reading

August 12, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | , , , , | Leave a comment