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Solar energy, rather than nuclear, holds promise for Saudi Arabia

The fact is Saudi Arabia can generate enough power form the sun to take care of its and others’ energy needs….Minister of Petroleum, Ali Al-Naimi, said: “Saudi Arabia aspires to export as much solar energy in the future as it exports oil now.”

Alternatives to nuclear energy under focus – Arab News 7 June 2010, …………..Official studies from the German government has shown that the risk of getting cancer significantly increased in children growing up in the neighborhood of a nuclear power station, particularly leukemia. Other disadvantages have to do with nuclear waste. The EIA has shown that a typical nuclear reactor produces 20-30 tons or waste per year that can’t be disposed of with Plutonium 239 remaining dangerous for as much as 10,000 years and radioactive for 240,000 years. Most countries reuse nuclear waste to create energy but this just creates more waste while others utilize the waste through their national defense departments…. Continue reading

June 7, 2010 Posted by | renewable, Saudi Arabia | , , , , | Leave a comment

In USA renewable energy electricity growing, coal-fired dwindling

Why the Renewable Energy Sector Will Prevail Simple Math Proves Cleantech SuperiorityBy Nick HodgeThursday, May 20th, 2010 Numbers Don’t Lie In 2005 — just 5 years ago — there were 5,000 MW of installed solar capacity in the United States.Today, there are more than 23,000 MW — a rise of 360%.In 2005, there were just 9,000 MW of installed wind capacity in the U.S.; today, there are more than 35,000 MW — a rise of 289%.Now consider this…In 2005, the United States consumed 1.037 billion short tons of coal to produce electricity.Today, we use even less than that (about 936.5 million short tons in 2009) for a loss of about 9.7%. Why the Renewable Energy Sector Will Prevail

June 6, 2010 Posted by | renewable, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Solar thin films promise cheaper, more efficient energy

to produce considerably more material a lot more rapidly and much more cost efficiently.

University of Illinois Scientists Show Us Little Known Techniques to Produce More Productive Solar panels, Original article for Antinuclear, by Shannon Combs, 2 June 2010, Although silicon is actually the market standard semiconductor in the majority of electronic devices, which includes the photovoltaic cells that photovoltaic panels use to transform sunshine into power, it is hardly the most efficient material readily available. Continue reading

June 3, 2010 Posted by | renewable, USA | , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Role of Biomass in the Green Energy revolution

Coming of the Green Industrial Revolution, THE HUFFINGTON POST, Stephan B. Tanda, 2 June 2010, “……. The use of fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases and compounds the problem of climate change. To wean us off our addiction to fossil carbon sources, we need a more sustainable resource, and I believe that alternative is biomass – biological materials that can be used for industrial production, transportation, heat and electricity. Continue reading

June 3, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | , , , , | 1 Comment

Small scale renewable energy to benefit from bank pledge

Community groups and smaller developers eager to utilise the Government’s new feed–in tariffs regime would benefit from the fund

Co-op bank pledges £200m to UK renewables,  guardian.co.uk,   by Zara Maung 1 June 2010, Extra funding for renewable energy will be welcomed as project financing gets tougher The Co-operative Bank increased its support for renewable energy today, by pledging to lend an additional £200 million to the sector in 2010.

The bank also committed to expanding its UK specialist renewables team in Manchester and creating Scotland–based teams at its corporate banking centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The investment follows a £400m renewable energy fund set up by the Co-op in 2007, Continue reading

June 2, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, UK | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Potential for wind and solar power to provide electricity for 5 U.S. states

A Bullish View of Wind Power Out West, NYTimes.com, By JOHN COLLINS,  RUDOLF, June 1, 2010, Wind energy has plenty going for it: it is clean, unlimited in supply and the most economical source of renewable power. Its clearest drawback is unreliability: sometimes the wind just does not blow.But that intermittency – long considered a major shortcoming – may have little impact on the potential for wind to power much of the electric grid in the western United States, according to a new study by the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab. Continue reading

June 2, 2010 Posted by | general | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Big future for renewable energy in Scotland

Scottish hopes over renewable energy, FT.com, By Andrew Bolger,  May 31 2010 There is a growing consensus over the scale of the economic opportunity that renewable energy offers the UK economy – and Scotland in particular.The Offshore Valuation Group, a coalition of government and industry organisations, estimates that wind and wave power – using only a third of the available resource – could generate electricity equivalent to the current level of North Sea oil and gas production. The group also forecasts renewables could create 145,000 new jobs and make Britain a net exporter of electricity by 2050. FT.com / Companies / Utilities – Scottish hopes over renewable energy

June 1, 2010 Posted by | renewable, UK | , , , , , | Leave a comment

New efforts to make California a leader in renewable energy feed in tariffs

Can California Lead the Nation on Feed-In Tariffs? | SolveClimate.com Reviews are mixed, as efforts get underway in the state to pass a somewhat improved FIT bill by Leslie Berliant – May 31st, 2010i
California legislators have struggled to pass a “feed-in tariff” for renewable power that actually works. But a new push looks to fix past mistakes and make California a national model for a financing technique that has helped to turn Germany and Spain into world leaders in solar energy. Continue reading

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

Egypt to invest hugely in renewable energy

Egypt Government to Invest in Wind, From $110 Billion Renewable Energy Budget  Green Prophet,  May 28, 2010 The Egyptian government has announced plans to generate 1,000 megawatts of wind power this year. Speaking at the energy forum for the Middle East and North Africa 2010, Egypt’s Electricity Minister Hassan Younis said that the country is ready to increase its capabilities in alternative energy projects by 2027. He said the planned projects are estimated to cost the government around $110 billion. Continue reading

May 29, 2010 Posted by | Egypt, renewable | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

USA: National institute fro Renewable Technology launched

Green Technology -Innovate Texas Announces Formation of National Institute for Renewable Energy   MCNet.com, 27 May  By Calvin Azuri,

Innovate Texas Foundation, in collaboration with the Texas Tech University System and The Wind Alliance, have announced the formation of the National Institute for Renewable Energy (NIRE) at the Windpower 2010 Conference in Dallas. NIRE, an independent public-private collaboration formed to develop nation’s wind and renewable energy resources, will help in solving key scientific and technology challenges faced by the wind power industry.

Green Technology -Innovate Texas Announces Formation of National Institute for Renewable Energy

May 28, 2010 Posted by | renewable, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Switzerland: thousands rally against nuclear power

Swiss anti-nuclear protest gathers 4,000 Solothurn, Switzerland (GenevaLunch), 26 May 2010, – More than 4,000 people gathered in Goesgen, canton Solothurn, in northern Switzerland Monday, for a peaceful protest against the continuing development of nuclear energy in the country. The protest had participants from 83 groups in Switzerland, France, Germany and Austria. One of their key points was that switzerland’s nuclear power plans are preventing the rapid development of alternative energy programmes. GenevaLunch » Swiss anti-nuclear protest gathers 4,000

May 26, 2010 Posted by | EUROPE, politics | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tony Blair joins nuclear promoting, supposedly “green” firm

Khosla Ventures is an investment group that says it specialises in environmentally-friendly technologies, including solar, wind and – ahem – nuclear energy start-ups..

Blair goes from “greenwash” to landing green job New Statesman, by Jason Stamper – 25 May 2010 Former PM lands green energy advisory role. The decision by Silicon Valley-based Khosla Ventures to hire Tony Blair as strategy adviser on green energy will surprise some environmental campaigners. Continue reading

May 26, 2010 Posted by | general | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Western electric grid can harness wind and solar power

Should these utilities succeed in coordinating their efforts and realize even 27 percent wind and solar power, they would cut carbon emissions by 25 to 45 percent. It would also lessen fuel and emissions costs by 40 percent, depending on the future prices of natural gas.

Western States Could Reach 35% Renewable Power by 2017, The Energy Collective, by Taylen Peterson on 05/24/2010 , The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) says the western US electric grid could harness up to 35 percent of its energy from wind and solar power within seven years — and without any major upgrades to the existing electric network.  Continue reading

May 25, 2010 Posted by | renewable, USA | , , , , | Leave a comment

UK govt closes scheme to fund small scale reneweble energy

Cameron axes renewable energy grant,  FT.com, May 24, 2010  by Jim Pickard David Cameron, in his original incarnation as Tory leader, was an advocate of the green agenda; cycling everywhere, visiting the Arctic (albeit by plane) and fixing a wind turbine to the roof of his west London home. (No matter that he was forced to take it down due to complex planning issues).Yet the new prime minister has just axed a major scheme (the “Low Carbon Buildings Programme”) that gave grants for households and companies to put solar panels or wind turbines on their premises. So far it has helped 20,000……………The Renewable Energy Association says:”The announcement has increased the sense of uncertainty faced by the UK’s infant renewable heat industry.” Cameron axes renewable energy grant | Westminster Blog | FT.com

May 25, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , | Leave a comment

China launches world’s biggest solar energy venture

China’s Solar Valley: biggest solar energy production base in world, SmartPlanet, By Andrew Nusca | May 21, 2010 China is in the process of building what it calls “the biggest solar energy production base in the world.”Called “Solar Valley,” the experimental venture has claimed the land of tens of thousands of farmers in an effort to construct China’s answer to California’s Silicon Valley, according to a new Washington Post report.

The $740 million project, which is located near the northern city of Dezhou, is supposed to demonstrate how China can both promote and profit from cleantech. China’s Solar Valley: biggest solar energy production base in world – SmartPlanet

May 22, 2010 Posted by | China, renewable | , , , , | Leave a comment