Order Focus: RENA and Tempress Systems win 100MW advanced cell line contract from US-based Nexolon

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 11:52 (PV-Tech)

Wafer producer Nexolon, which plans to invest more than US$115 million to become a major US-based PV module manufacturer has selected the n-PASHA Alliance (RENA, ECN and Tempress Systems) to provide its advanced n-type solar cell technology for bi-facial module production. Read more

Intersolar EU 2013: REC displays bi-facial solar module for Middle East market entry

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 11:23 (PV-Tech)

REC is expanding its regional sales footprint by opening its first sales operations in Dubai, UAE and is displaying at Intersolar Europe a bi-facial PV module concept said to be ideal for desert conditions. Read more

Pufin Power, Eurener partner on “Made in Europe” PV modules

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 8:41 (Solarserver)

Pufin Power BV (Maastricht, The Netherlands) and the Eurener Group (Alicante, Spain) have signed an agreement to partner in solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing and sales, which will allow the companies to produce PV products entirely made in Europe. This will include Pufin's PV manufacturing subsidiaries in three nations, as well as the manufacturing and marketing facilities of the Eurener Group, which will allow the production of 150 MW of PV products annually. Read more

Suntech's European subsidiary granted six-month moratorium on creditor claims

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 8:35 (Solarserver)

A court in Switzerland has granted Suntech Power Holdings Company Ltd.'s (Wuxi, China) European subsidiary a definitive moratorium on creditor claims for six months, which may be extended thereafter. This follows a two-month moratorium on creditor claims granted in April 2013, and the company notes that most of Suntech Power International Ltd.'s (SPI, Schaffhausen, Switzerland) debt is inter-company debt. Suntech's Chinese subsidiary has also been declared insolvent, and is currently restructuring. Read more

SMA’s manufacturing facility declared zero scope 2 carbon neutral

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 12:23 (Solarpowerportal)

Inverters manufactured by SMA Solar Technology AG have been officially crowned zero carbon following an independent audit. Read more

Applications to Massachusetts SREC program spike to 619 MW in May 2013

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 11:45 (Solarserver)

Developers in the US state of Massachusetts applied for solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) for 619 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in May 2013, according to data from the state's Department of Energy Resources (DOER), as cited by SRECTrade (San Francisco, California, U.S.). These projects bring the state to 906 MW registered in the program, well in excess of a 400 MW cap. DOER announced both emergency regulations to address the excess applications and a proposal for a new regulation to increase the program by 1.2 GW on June 7th, 2013. Read more

Liquid phase crystallization technology promises Masdar PV 14% module efficiencies

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 10:09 (PV-Tech)

An R&D collaboration between Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and silicon thin film manufacturer, Masdar PV could potentially enable module efficiencies above 20%. Read more

Liquid phase crystallisation technology promises Masdar PV 14% module efficiencies

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 10:09 (PV-Tech)

An R&D collaboration between Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and silicon thin-film manufacturer, Masdar PV, could potentially enable module efficiencies above 20%. Read more

China Sunergy starts to ship PV modules from Turkey Plant

Monday, 6.17.2013 - 12:09 (Solarserver)

China Sunergy Co., Ltd. (Nanjing, China) on June 14th, 2013 announced that it has begun shipping solar photovoltaic (PV) modules from its plant in Istanbul, Turkey, and will deliver a total of approximately 6.4 MW from mid-June to August 2013 to a “well-known” French customer. Read more

Pufin and Eurener make 100% European solar module play

Monday, 6.17.2013 - 11:13 (PV-Tech)

An industrial partnership between Pufin Group and Eurener Group expects to fill the gap left by Chinese rivals impacted by anti-dumping duties within the EU and capitalise on the expected increase in demand for solar cells and modules made within Europe. Read more

SolarWorld saved but not out of the water

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 10:50 (PV-Tech)

A cash injection from Qatar Solar Technologies and bondholder settlements on some of its debts would seem to have pulled SolarWorld from the brink of bankruptcy. Read more

Belectric secures 30% credit increase

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 10:38 (PV-Tech)

German solar EPC firm Belectric has agreed a 30% extension to its credit line. Read more

Hanwha Q CELLS equips Japan’s ‘largest’ PV project

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 10:22 (PV-Tech)

German manufacturer Hanwha Q CELLS is to supply modules to what is said to be Japan’s largest solar power plant. Read more

Barker: UK is ‘the most exciting growth market for solar in Europe’

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 10:21 (Solarpowerportal)

Greg Barker has hailed the potential of the British solar industry, stating that the market is now the most exciting growth market in the whole of Europe. Read more

TSMC Solar produces 15.7% efficient CIGS PV module

Wednesday, 6.19.2013 - 9:00 (Solarserver)

TSMC Solar Ltd. (Taichung, Taiwan) has produced a copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar photovoltaic (PV) module with a 15.7% efficiency, as confirmed by TÜV SÜD (Munich). This 1.09 square meter “champion” module sets a new record for commercial-sized CIGS PV modules, and was produced using current manufacturing equipment and materials at the company's factory in Taichung. This also surpassed the company's previous record of 15.1% in January 2013. Read more

Rethinking Solar Array Field Conventions

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 20:14 (Renewable Energy World)

How strange that the development of many solar array fields has largely become an exercise in massive excavation, grading and stormwater management. This is ironic when we consider that such projects carry the “sustainable” tag. Yet there is a better way. Such terrains can be developed with minimal disturbance to the site footprint, within an existing regulatory framework and with less impact to sensitive environmental features. Read more

Mercom: Global solar market to increase to 38 GW in 2013 as center shifts to Asia

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 18:41 (Solarserver)

Mercom Capital LLC (Austin, Texas, US) has released its “Global Solar Forecast” predicting that solar photovoltaic (PV) installations will increase 23% in 2013 to 38 GW, led by China and Japan. The company expects Japan alone to install more than 7 GW in 2013, compensating for declining demand in Germany and Italy. Mercom also warns of the dangers of the trade war between the EU and China intensifying. Read more

China's central government proposes measures to support the nation's solar PV industry

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 15:54 (Solarserver)

At a meeting of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Premier Li Keqiang discussed measures to support the nation's solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, including policies to stimulate domestic demand. Read more

Three Key Features of Los Angeles' New Local Solar Program

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 15:11 (Renewable Energy World)

Officially launched in January after years of development, a new CLEAN (feed-in tariff) program from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (the city’s municipal electric utility) promises 100 MW of new local renewable energy by 2016.  In absolute size, the program will be among the largest CLEAN programs in the U.S., but compared to the siz Read more

Solar Frontier produces 14.6% efficient CIGS solar PV module

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 15:08 (Solarserver)

Solar Frontier has produced a 14.6% efficient copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS or CIS) solar photovoltaic (PV) module on a mass production line at its factory in Miyazaki, Japan. Read more

From the Sea to the Pump: Is Kelp a Viable Biofuel?

Friday, 6.14.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Brown kelp macroalgae — the strange, foul-smelling seaweed so often found washed up on the Pacific Northwest’s volcanic sand beaches — could ultimately offer an almost unlimited global supply of commercial-quality ethanol or biomethane. Read more

Clock’s Ticking to Submit Nominations for the Projects of the Year Awards

Wednesday, 6.12.2013 - 13:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A solar installation built adjacent to a natural gas-fired power plant in Florida; a hydroelectric plant needed to meet an expected 6 percent annual growth in Chile; a coal-fired power plant that also burns biomass in Virginia; and a solar power plant built on a former lignite mining strip in Germany. These projects and more are some of the past wi Read more

Top 12 Ways to Transform Biofuels Using Materials Already Around Us

Tuesday, 6.4.2013 - 17:33 (Renewable Energy World)

Great ideas abound for new feedstocks and novel infrastructure. We admire so many of them: jatropha, carinata, switchgrass, sweet sorghum, blender pumps, systems-at-sea, and so much more. Read more

Heating with Wood Biomass Making Inroads Across Northeast, Gaining Policy Support

Tuesday, 6.4.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

A quiet revolution is taking place across the northeast, as heating with wood finds broad new acceptance in applications from residential wood pellet stoves and boilers, to institutional and industrial pellet and chip heating of schools and factories, to district heating of downtown centers and college campuses. Read more

Molecular Switch for Cheaper Biofuel

Monday, 6.3.2013 - 15:37 (Renewable Energy World)

Lignocellulosic waste such as sawdust or straw can be used to produce biofuel — but only if the long cellulose and xylan chains can be successfully broken down into smaller sugar molecules. To do this, fungi are used which, by means of a specific chemical signal, can be made to produce the necessary enzymes. Read more

DoD awards $16M Towards Parity-cost, Drop-in, Non-food Biofuels

Tuesday, 5.28.2013 - 19:02 (Renewable Energy World)

In Washington, the DoD will award three contracts totaling $16 million to Emerald Biofuels, Natures BioReserve and Fulcrum Biofuels for drop-in military biofuels, according to Sharon Burke, assistant secretary of defense for operational energy, who relayed the news initially to Bloomberg. Read more

First-class Biofuel from the Depths of the Forest

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Tops and branches from tree-felling sites are reborn in the laboratory as compact pellets. However, the energy industry will not act until the price is right. Read more

Out of the Shell: Oil Giant's Big Biofuels Ambitions

Tuesday, 5.14.2013 - 16:22 (Renewable Energy World)

In this era of "repeal the RFS" efforts from API, would you be surprised that Shell regards the US Renewable Fuel Standard as "one of the more effective frameworks out there"? Read more

Rebuttal: What Determines CO2 Neutrality in Bioenergy Combustion?

Thursday, 5.9.2013 - 19:00 (Renewable Energy World)

The recently released research in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that if 10 percent of the world's energy needs were fulfilled by biofuels from dedicated crops then the consequence would be that global greenhouse gas levels would increase. The foundation of their model is that deforestation, in order to make room for energy crops, eliminates CO2 absorbing forests. They also note that the increased release of nitrous oxide from fertilization will have GHG effects. Read more

MLPs and REITs Back in the Spotlight: Will Washington Finally Level the Playing Field?

Thursday, 5.9.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

In our book Clean Tech Nation, which came out late last year, Clint Wilder and I offered up a Seven-Point Action Plan for Repowering America. One of our main action items was "Leverage Proven Investment Tools from the Oil, Gas, & Real Estate Sectors." Namely, level the investment playing field by opening up master limited partnerships (MLPs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs) to clean-energy projects. Read more

Celebrate Global Wind Day This Saturday

Friday, 6.14.2013 - 16:15 (Renewable Energy World)

The countdown to Global Wind Day marks more than just a wait for a fun-filled day spent outside discovering wind energy. It is also a chance for the public, politicians, and industry officials to discuss wind energy and its benefits, sharing ideas, exchanging opinions, and deepening their knowledge and understanding along the way. Across Europe, wi Read more

Manufacturing, Policy Clarity Needed To Advance UK’s Offshore Wind Success

Friday, 6.14.2013 - 14:26 (Renewable Energy World)

At industry trade body RenewableUK’s offshore wind event in Manchester, UK energy minister Michael Fallon has announced that the government will launch a new Offshore Wind Investment Organisation (OWIO) this summer, with the aim of increasing investment in the nation’s offshore wind sector. Read more

Service Lifts Take Wind Industry Higher

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:52 (Renewable Energy World)

Nacelle access solutions such as ladders and climb-assist technologies have been in place since there have been wind turbines, but as turbines get taller, service lifts (SLs) are becoming the solution of choice for new-built towers. Read more

Renewable Power Bridging the Digital Divide in Off-grid Africa

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 13:50 (Renewable Energy World)

We all know that wind energy can light homes and businesses, but how about powering "entrepreneurial spirit'" through education and information access? Read more

A New Spin On "Intelligent" Wind Energy

Thursday, 6.6.2013 - 19:53 (Renewable Energy World)

A handful of Danish organizations are exploring how to apply wireless sensor technology made ubiquitous in the consumer electronics world onto wind turbine blades to better predict changes in wind and adjust the turbine's operation, optimizing energy yield and minimizing loads on the structure. Read more

Major Markets Continue To Determine Wind's Path

Thursday, 6.6.2013 - 15:37 (Renewable Energy World)

Although its forecast for 2013 involves a "much more significant drop" in the global wind market than last year's prediction, downgrading from its advanced to its moderate scenario, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is ultimately bullish on wind, predicting that worldwide installed capacity will pass 500 GW by 2017. Read more

Why I Wanted to Be CEO of the American Wind Energy Association

Wednesday, 6.5.2013 - 21:29 (Renewable Energy World)

I've supported wind energy from the outside for many years, as a promising source of clean energy for America and hope for our future. Now I'm excited to get the chance to lead the U.S. industry and its campaign to make good on that promise. Read more

U.S. to Hold First Offshore Wind Farm Lease Auction

Tuesday, 6.4.2013 - 18:44 (Renewable Energy World)

Off-shore wind energy generation isn't new in places like Europe, but it presents a new frontier in the United States. The U.S. Department of Interior announced Tuesday that it will hold the first-ever competitive lease sale for renewable energy development on the outer continental shelf. Read more

First US Offshore Wind Turbine Launches in Maine

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 19:12 (Renewable Energy World)

Today marks a milestone for offshore wind energy in the U.S. with the official launch of a prototype floating turbine off the Maine coast, the first grid-connected offshore wind turbine deployed off the coast of North America. Maine Senator Susan M. Collins did the honors, with a (scored) bottle of Madeira. Read more

Wind Power in Africa to Increase Ten Times Over

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 15:51 (Renewable Energy World)

Wind power in Africa is likely to experience a huge boost in installed capacity over the next few years, according to an African Development Bank (AfDB) study. While wind power on the continent currently makes up only 1 percent of total electricity, or 1 GW, there is an additional 10.5 GW in the pipeline, the study, Development of Wind Energy in Af Read more

Repowering Gives New Life to Old Wind Sites

Monday, 6.17.2013 - 15:19 (Renewable Energy World)

By 2020, swapping aging wind turbines with more powerful modern units will have raised annual electricity generation at refurbished sites from 1524 GWh to 8221 GWh. A 2 MW wind turbine coming off the production line with a rotor diameter of 80 metres can generate four to six times as much electricity as the 1 GWh annual yield of a 500 kW wind turbine with a 40 metre rotor built in 1995. This is the fundamental thinking behind wind repowering. Read more

Hydropower Back on Political Agenda as Central Europe Floods

Wednesday, 6.12.2013 - 19:49 (Renewable Energy World)

There was an extra level of excitement and anticipation at the Renewable Energy World Europe and Power-Gen Europe Conference and Exhibition in Vienna last week. Not just because more than 13,000 of the world’s renewable energy and power industry had gathered to hear the latest developments and to see top power leaders debate Europe’s energy future, Read more

Krinner expands operations to North America

Friday, 6.7.2013 - 11:52 (PV-Tech)

Screw foundations manufacturer Krinner Schraubfundamente has opened a facility in Ontario, Canada, expanding its operations into North America. Read more

Congo Confident $12 Billion Hydropower Plant Will Proceed by 2015

Thursday, 5.30.2013 - 17:21 (Renewable Energy World)

The Democratic Republic of Congo will be ready to build the 4,800 megawatt Inga III hydroelectric plant by 2015, after two failed attempts to kick-start the $12 billion project, Minister of Energy Bruno Kapandji said. Read more

World Bank Announces Renewed Support for Large Hydropower

Wednesday, 5.29.2013 - 12:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Delegates at the International Hydropower Association World Congress, which took place last week in Kuching in Malaysian Borneo, have heard that the World Bank has reversed a two-decade old decision to turn its back on large hydropower investment. Read more

Warning Scotland Against Independence: Renewables Will Suffer, Says Ed Davey

Wednesday, 5.22.2013 - 15:31 (Renewable Energy World)

UK Energy Secretary Ed Davey has warned that Scotland will damage its standing as a prime mover in renewable energy if it votes to become independent. Read more

Attempt to undermine Missouri's RPS fails

Wednesday, 5.22.2013 - 12:11 (Solarserver)

A bill to substantially weaken the Renewable Energy Standard (RES) in the US state of Missouri has failed to pass by the end of the legislative session. HB 44 would have allowed utilities to count electricity from large, imported and in-state hydropower facilities in meeting the state's RES goals, thereby removing the incentive to build new renewable energy. The bill passed the Missouri House of Representatives but died in the state's Senate. Read more

Are Run-of-River Hydroelectric Systems Ready to Ride US Currents?

Thursday, 5.16.2013 - 15:17 (Renewable Energy World)

Reaping renewable energy from un-dammed portions of great American rivers like the Mississippi, Ohio, or even the Columbia is an idea that has been bandied about for decades. Read more

IHS: Hiked module prices could result in more Chinese bankruptcies

Wednesday, 5.15.2013 - 14:48 (PV-Tech)

Preliminary anti-dumping duties could increase PV module prices by 45% in June, further dampening an already demoralised European solar industry says a new report from market analysts at IHS. Read more

Three Ways to Increase Hydropower Efficiency and Revenues

Monday, 5.13.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Recently, the Department of Energy conducted a study with the Electric Power Research Institute on quantifying the value of hydropower, based on a 3 year examination of the Western Electric Coordination Council region. Read more

The Finnish hydrogen Roadmap: Hydrogen to Join Electricity in Ending Traffic Pollution

Tuesday, 5.7.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Global expectations for hydrogen are currently sky-high. Transport applications stand at the threshold of commercialisation, while ahead lies an investment boom in the hydrogen distribution network. The changeover to hydrogen based on natural gas would already mean a potential saving of billion in Finland's balance of payments. If hydrogen could then be produced from domestic renewable raw material, our car and bus traffic would eventually be practically self-sufficient and leave a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The above was revealed in the Finnish hydrogen roadmap published recently. Read more

The Finnish Hydrogen Roadmap: Hydrogen to Join Electricity in Ending Traffic Pollution

Tuesday, 5.7.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Global expectations for hydrogen are currently sky-high. Transport applications stand at the threshold of commercialisation, while ahead lies an investment boom in the hydrogen distribution network. The changeover to hydrogen based on natural gas would already mean a potential saving of billion in Finland's balance of payments. If hydrogen could then be produced from domestic renewable raw material, our car and bus traffic would eventually be practically self-sufficient and leave a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The above was revealed in the Finnish hydrogen roadmap published recently. Read more

Verizon to Invest $100 Million in U.S. Solar and Fuel Cells

Tuesday, 4.30.2013 - 19:49 (Renewable Energy World)

Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. phone company, plans to spend $100 million on solar systems and fuel cells to power 19 U.S. facilities. Read more

Verizon launches US$100 million solar and fuel cell energy project

Tuesday, 4.30.2013 - 17:43 (PV-Tech)

US communications company Verizon Communications has announced plans to invest US$100 million in a solar and fuel cell energy project which aims to generate enough electricity to power 19 of its facilities in the US. Read more

Hydrogenics to install 1 MW hydrogen energy storage system in Hamburg, Germany

Thursday, 4.11.2013 - 20:54 (Solarserver)

On April 8th, 2013, Hydrogenics Corp. (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) announced that it has received a contract to install a 1 megawatt (MW) hydrogen energy storage system to be deployed in the City of Hamburg, Germany. The energy storage system will employ advanced proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology for production of the hydrogen, using excess power generated from renewable energy in the region, primarily wind, Hydrogenics states. Read more

Breakthrough in Hydrogen Fuel Production Could Revolutionize Alternative Energy Market

Friday, 4.5.2013 - 18:25 (Renewable Energy World)

A team of Virginia Tech researchers has discovered a way to extract large quantities of hydrogen from any plant, a breakthrough that has the potential to bring a low-cost, environmentally friendly fuel source to the world. Read more

Sun Shines on Old Idea to Make Hydrogen

Monday, 11.5.2012 - 17:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Back in 1998, when gasoline prices were $1.03 per gallon, John Turner of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) dropped jaws all over the energy world by demonstrating that he could use sunlight to extract hydrogen from water at a remarkable 12.4% efficiency. Read more

Electronics and PV production technology: Optomec wins new customers for aerosol jet systems in two research labs

Friday, 7.27.2012 - 16:39 (Solarserver)

On July 25th, 2012, Optomec (Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.) announced that it has sold its Aerosol Jet deposition systems to each of CEA Liten (France), Innovation Lab (Germany) and the University of Sheffield (U.K.). The Aerosol Jet deposition systems are used for the development of next-generation technologies for electronic sensors and displays, 3D conformal electronic devices, fuel cells and solar cells, and other emerging printed electronics applications. Read more

Solid state hydrogen storage program to support solar power plants in Puglia, Italy

Monday, 7.23.2012 - 16:15 (PV-Tech)

A consortium of 7 partners supported with ?13.8 million in financing from European Commission?s Seventh Framework Programme for European Research and Innovation are to build a solid state hydrogen storage plant designed to balance power supply and demand of renewable energy installed in the Puglia region of Italy, which employs around 3.5GW of solar, wind, and biomass energy resources. Read more

AC Transit starts fueling buses with hydrogen made from solar-powered electrolysis

Tuesday, 4.17.2012 - 21:33 (Solarserver)

On April 13th, 2012, AC Transit (Emeryville, California, U.S.) and a coalition of regional transit partners serving 7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area announced the newest hydrogen production and dispensing station in Emeryville to fuel the latest generation of zero-emission fuel cell buses operating throughout the region. The hydrogen to fuel the fleet is produced in part by solar-powered electrolysis. Read more

IFC Study Says Over 60% of Geothermal Wells Drilled Globally are Successful

Monday, 6.17.2013 - 16:34 (Renewable Energy World)

International Finance Corporation has released a new report called “Success of Geothermal Wells: A global study” with data taken from both public and private sources. Read more

U.S. Army One Step Closer to Contracting $7 Billion in Renewable PPAs, Starts with Geothermal

Tuesday, 6.11.2013 - 21:04 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering and Support Center along with the Army Energy Initiatives Task force (ETIF) announced its first Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC) to support renewable energy projects on Defense Department Installations under the Renewable and Alternative Energy Power Production for DOD Installations. These first contracts focus on geothermal projects, but additional contracts will be awarded by technology in solar, wind and biomass throughout the remainder of 2013. Read more

Asia Pacific In Line to Lead Geothermal Boom

Monday, 6.10.2013 - 16:17 (Renewable Energy World)

More than 4 GW of geothermal power capacity are expected to come online worldwide between now and 2018, according to a new report. Read more

Deep Earth Plans Geothermal Plant Amid Canadian Oil Wells

Monday, 6.3.2013 - 16:21 (Renewable Energy World)

Deep Earth Energy Production Corp., a closely help developer, is planning Canada’s first geothermal power plant that will tap into heat resources underneath oil and natural gas fields in Saskatchewan, according to Chief Executive Officer Kirsten Marcia. Read more

New Zealand: Geothermal Expertise Tapped for Chile

Monday, 5.27.2013 - 17:22 (Renewable Energy World)

New Zealand and Chile are engaging in a strategic partnership in geothermal energy, according to several sources. The New Zealand Embassy in Santiago, Chile offers a Joint Statement from Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key and the Chilean President, Sebastian Piñera, issued in March 2013 from Chile. The purpose of the statement was to set out the framework for the relationship between the two countries, which are also linked by the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) signed in 2005 between Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. Read more

Geothermal Exploratory Fund May Spur $9.6 Billion Investment

Friday, 5.24.2013 - 15:11 (Renewable Energy World)

A proposed $500 million fund to help developers of geothermal power explore new sites for projects may leverage about $9.6 billion of new investment, unleashing as much as 2,400 megawatts of capacity, a report found. Read more

Geothermal Energy Interests Growing Steadily in Japan

Wednesday, 5.22.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Japanese companies are renewing their interest in geothermal energy after the March 2011 nuclear crisis shut down reactors for safety checks and the introduction of an incentive program for clean energy encouraged investment. Read more

Creating Awareness: Geothermal for a Cleaner, Sustainable Future in New York City

Wednesday, 5.22.2013 - 12:25 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called ground source heat pumps the “most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available.”  Geothermal heat pumps or exchangers, also known as geo-exchange, require no fossil-fuel burning on-site, use 70 percent of their energy from Earth’s renewabl Read more

Creating Awareness: Geothermal for a Sustainable Future in New York City

Wednesday, 5.22.2013 - 12:25 (Renewable Energy World)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called ground source heat pumps the “most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available.”  Geothermal heat pumps or exchangers, also known as geo-exchange, require no fossil-fuel burning on-site, use 70 percent of their energy from Earth’s renewabl Read more

Senate Committee Passes Geothermal Leasing Measure

Friday, 5.17.2013 - 16:28 (Renewable Energy World)

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met Thursday, May 16th, to vote on a series of measures that included S. 363, The Geothermal Expansion and Production Act. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Wyden (D-OR), and co-sponsored by Senators Murkowski (R-AK), Begich (D-AK), Crapo (R-ID), Risch (R-ID) and Merkley (D-OR). Read more

Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Not Just Clean, It’s Necessary

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

Myanmar is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and a youthful workforce, but with many of its people living in extreme poverty, the newly opening economy is attracting the interest of investors and aid workers alike. In the middle of the fastest growing region in the world, East Asia, Myanmar holds great promise as the next big market. Growth rates have exceeded 5 percent since 2010 when the country released human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi and held elections, and 8 percent growth rates are within reach. McKinsey analysts estimate that Myanmar could quadruple its GDP by 2030 to US$200 billion. Read more

Kenya Launches Renewable Energy Portal

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 13:05 (Renewable Energy World)

  The lack of access to comprehensive, accurate and reliable information on the renewable energy regulatory landscape in Kenya has been a significant barrier to private sector participation. Types and number of licenses/clearances, application procedures, associated costs, contacts of related government agencies, expected turn-around time and the s Read more

Yingli Green strikes 3GW PV project pipeline in China

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 12:38 (PV-Tech)

Qujing municipal government in Yunnan province China has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Yingli Green Energy to provide around 21 PV power plants in the region with a total planned capacity of 3GW. Read more

CEC proposes plan for California utilities to reach 1.325 GW of energy storage by 2020

Tuesday, 6.18.2013 - 11:51 (Solarserver)

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has proposed a procurement plan energy storage targets for the state's three private utilities, to reach a cumulative total of 1.325 GW by 2020. The CEC calls for “viable and cost-effective” storage systems from among emerging technologies, with the goals of optimizing the state's grid, integrating renewable energy generation, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. Read more

Brits believe financial barriers threaten energy efficiency adoption

Monday, 6.17.2013 - 18:43 (Solarpowerportal)

More than nine in ten people believe that fuel poverty levels in the UK will continue to increase if nothing is done to improve the adoption of energy efficiency, according to a survey published by the Rexel Foundation and Opinion Way. Read more

Asia’s Biggest CSP Plant Sells Power at Half Price in India

Monday, 6.17.2013 - 15:48 (Renewable Energy World)

Godawari Power & Ispat Ltd. started Asia’s biggest CSP plant as India limps toward clean energy targets with prices almost half the global average. Read more

DECC: Energy saving measures could increase a property’s value by 14% on average

Monday, 6.17.2013 - 13:43 (Solarpowerportal)

New research published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has revealed that energy saving improvements could add significant value to properties across England. Read more

Trendspotting in Renewables Investment: Who Is (and Who Isn't) Investing, and Why?

Friday, 6.14.2013 - 18:54 (Renewable Energy World)

Investment in renewable energy is changing, with those who were once the backbone of the market pulling out and new entrants increasingly taking up the slack. Read more

Labour makes manifesto pledge on 2030 decarbonisation target

Friday, 6.14.2013 - 15:55 (Solarpowerportal)

Labour’s next manifesto will include a commitment to decarbonise the UK’s energy sector by 2030, the party announced this week. Read more

Skorupska appointed as head of Renewable Energy Association

Friday, 6.14.2013 - 13:34 (Solarpowerportal)

Energy industry chemist Dr Nina Skorupska has been named as the new chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association. Read more

Tesla Adding Chargers for U.S. Coast-to-Coast Electric Vehicle Range

Friday, 5.31.2013 - 13:27 (Renewable Energy World)

Tesla Motors Inc. is expanding a network of fast-charging stations, letting owners of its luxury electric cars drive coast-to-coast this year with devices able to repower them in 20 to 30 minutes. Read more

Springtime for Tesla

Monday, 5.13.2013 - 18:42 (Renewable Energy World)

In my past couple blog posts, I've written about the electric car market and inventor Nikola Tesla , but I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to talk about Telsa Motors and the very big waves the company has been making lately. Tesla is having a very, very good May so far. Stock prices raised eyebrows on Wall Street, the company turned its first Read more

Antaris Solar constructs second solar carport for GÖDE Group

Wednesday, 5.8.2013 - 13:42 (PV-Tech)

Antaris Solar has constructed a second solar carport for GÖDE Group at its headquarters in Waldaschaff, Germany. Antaris Solar is the PV arm of the GÖDE Group. Read more

Another Electric Car Maker Loses Power

Thursday, 5.2.2013 - 20:23 (Renewable Energy World)

After selling just 100 units of its product, electric car manufacturer Coda Holdings has filed for Chapter 11 in a Delaware bankruptcy court. Coda Automotive's only vehicle was its Coda Car, an all-electric sedan with four doors and a battery pack. The company has its headquarters in Los Angeles. Coda Cars have an EPA-rated battery range of about 8 Read more

Where Are All the Electric BMWs?

Tuesday, 2.5.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

One way or another, Germany of the future will have hushed autobahns traveled by millions of purring electric cars and e-car recharging hubs as ubiquitous as gas stations are today. Yet, of the one million e-cars that Chancellor Merkel insists will be on Germany?s roads in 2022, there are only 5,578 today. Germany?s e-cars are still in the factory. Read more

Do EVs Make Good Cents or Sense?

Thursday, 1.3.2013 - 14:00 (Renewable Energy World)

David Herron of Torque News stated in his article ?60 kWh Tesla Model S rated at 208 mile electric driving range by EPA:  ?The 85 kilowatt-hour Model S, $77,400 for 265 miles range, or $292/mile of range. The 60 kilowatt-hour Model S, $67,400 for 208 miles range, is $324/mile of range. The other electric cars cost a lot more per mile of driving ran Read more

Australian government begins new trials for smart energy; announces funding for solar career paths

Saturday, 11.24.2012 - 16:10 (Solarserver)

The Australian Government announced a series of innovative trials aimed at giving consumers more control over their energy use are set to begin in Newcastle and the Upper Hunter region, Australia. The trial will be run by EnergyAustralia in a partnership with Ausgrid. The trials are part of the Australian Government's AUD 100 million (USD 104.1 million) Smart Grid, Smart City project. Read more

Battery Maker A123 Systems Files for Bankruptcy

Tuesday, 10.16.2012 - 18:28 (Renewable Energy World)

A123 Systems Inc., the electric car battery maker that received a $249 million federal grant, filed for bankruptcy protection after failing to make a debt payment that was due yesterday. Read more

A123 Surges on China Grid-stabilization Contract

Monday, 7.23.2012 - 20:58 (Renewable Energy World)

A123 Systems Inc., a U.S. maker of lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, surged the most in a month after winning a contract to supply a 2-megawatt system to China's Ray Power Systems Co. to help regulate grid frequency. Read more

?Eco Park? solar car port given green light

Wednesday, 7.11.2012 - 13:18 (Solarpowerportal)

Poole-based renewables specialist, H2Eco, has launched an all-new solar car port system designed and manufactured in Dorset. The ?Eco Park? is an integrated parking solution which combines an architectural car parking canopy with a solar photovoltaic system. Read more